Recessed lighting involves installing a light fixture into the ceiling, with the housing held securely between ceiling joists or even just hollow spaces, if it is a retrofit. This type of lighting is much in demand because it opens up a room; with the entire light fixture and housing held in the ceiling, there’s more space where a hanging light would have been, creating a streamlined look. Recessed lights also increase the amount of light in the room, as they are higher up. Many people use them to highlight certain spaces, often using two to three lighting fixtures at different angles.

Currently, there exist four categories for recessed housing, set forth by Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1598: IC (insulation contact) rated new, Non-IC rated new, IC rated remodel, and Non-IC rated remodel. Housing for recessed lighting is designed to prevent flammable material from coming into contact with the light, which produces heat. When looking to install recessed lighting, you should be aware of whether there is any insulation in or near the space you’ve chosen for your lighting fixture. What type of housing you need depends on whether the house is in construction or in the midst of a remodel and whether the insulation is direct contact with the house. BK Electric Services can help you decide this.