Paul writes from New London, Connecticut: "I am renovating a kitchen built in 1890. No insulation previously existed. I gutted the room and have installed recessed light fixtures. I am now ready to install my insulation. A tag on the fixture says do not install insulation within 3 inches. What are the alternatives? Should I just leave that area free of insulation?" Answer: You could switch to IC-rated light fixtures which can be in contact with insulation, or build three-inch boxes around the ones you have. IC-rated light fixtures are intended for direct contact with insulation. IC stands for Insulated Contact. An IC-rated fixture must therefore, by definition, be approved for zero clearance insulation cover by an OSHA NRTL laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory (commonly referred to as UL).