I do not have the statistics concerning fires caused by overheated light outlets. They are available from the NFPA Records Department.
I do have the statistics of fire cause at switch and receptacle outlets, with the wood framing member being the first material ignited.
I wrote letters expressing my concern about gaps between outlet boxes and combustible material, allowing fire to be communicated to the stud. The response was; the code was changed from no gap allowed to the present allowance of 1/8 inch. To me, this was a step backwards. My understanding is, the proposals were from the sheetrock installation lobbyists, to allow router cuts.
I tried to get the State Building codes to address this issue, it was sandbagged.
The local Fire Marshall was not aware of the statistics.
Protection at light fixture outlets will be strictly a design issue and should be observed, by all the installers, in a common sense manner.
Install some form of heat shield between the lamps and the outlet boxes. Maybe we need to apply "Space Shuttle" technology.
