Fire hoods, or fire rated back boxes, are a requirement under UK Building Regulations to maintain the fire integrity of the ceiling where speakers are installed below habitable spaces or in areas of escape (ie. a landing or hallway). If the area above a speaker is an uninhabited loft or roof space, then a fire hood may not be necessary. However, Building Regulations are open to a certain amount of interpretation, so in the interests of fire safety and slowing the spread of fire, it could be argued that all in-ceiling and in-wall speakers require hoods. If in doubt always fit a fire hood. In addition to fire safety, speaker hoods do have additional benefits which should not be overlooked, even if they aren’t strictly required under UK Building Regulations… 1. Fire & acoustic hoods are constructed using sound absorbing materials which help to reduce sound transmission to adjacent rooms and outside. 2. Fire hoods create a specific volume of air around the back of a speaker which acts as a ‘cabinet’ and helps to increase acoustic performance by improving bass extension and dynamics. 3. A hood protects the speaker driver and electronics from debris, dust and vermin damage which could reduce performance over time.