Recessed light fixtures

Q: Can I install recessed light fixtures in a cathedral ceiling? There’s insulation right underneath the drywall, and I understand that recessed light fixtures need to have clearance around them because of the heat they generate. What can I do?

A: What you need is a recessed fixture that carries an ‘IC’ rating. These letters stand for ‘insulation contact’, and it means that no clearance is necessary around the light fixture itself. Non-IC recessed lights typically require a minimum of three inches of separation from insulation materials because of the heat generated. Also, since IC fixtures are designed to be airtight, they stop the upward migration of warm, moist indoor air into cathedral ceiling spaces. Without this feature, damaging levels of condensation would develop in your roof frame during winter, causing water damage, rot and a big reduction in thermal performance.