Hi. I am laying down insulation in my attic. Can insulation be placed directly over the light fixture box?. one of those ocatgon boxes? Does heat emit from those? Into the attic and cause the underside of my roof to heat up?.
How can I cover these boxes? Do I cover with insulation? Thanks

Check with the local building code but where I am we cover them even have to put a poly box over them so they don't leak air

check with the local building code but where i am we cover them even have to put a poly box over them so they don't leak air

What does a "poly" box look like? Do I put this over the electric octogon box?. I am in Ontario, Canada...
If I don't put a poly box, can I just cover them with blown insulation? My other bedrooms don't have anything except insulation on top of those boxes...
But this fixture that I am talking about feels warm... is that normal when the lightbulbs have been on?

Insulation can go directly on octagonal boxes. Code requires a vapour barrier - this can be either a flexible plastic 'box' that you install the octagonal box inside (which Stephen talked about), or some octagonal boxes have a vapour barrier built into them. Look for the yellow plastic hubbell boxes that have a black rubber liner in them. Whichever method you use, put the red tuck tape around to seal the ceiling vapour barrier to the box vapour barrier. Heat will not be a problem as long as you follow the light manufacturer's recommendations on bulb wattage and bulb type.

Pot lights are a different story. Insulation cannot go directly on pot lights unless the pot light is specifically certified for insulated ceilings. You still need a vapour barrier around a pot light. This can be a big flexible plastic 'box', or they also make vapour proof insulated ceiling pot lights.

You asked about what the vapour barrier boxes that fit around the octagonal boxes look like:

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/BCVB54_3.jpg

insulation can go directly on octagonal boxes. Code requires a vapour barrier - this can be either a flexible plastic 'box' that you install the octagonal box inside (which Stephen talked about), or some octagonal boxes have a vapour barrier built into them. Look for the yellow plastic hubbell boxes that have a black rubber liner in them. Whichever method you use, put the red tuck tape around to seal the the ceiling vapour barrier to the box vapour barrier. Heat will not be a problem as long as you follow the light manufacturer's recommendations on bulb wattage and bulb type.

Pot lights are a different story. Insulation cannot go directly on pot lights unless the pot light is specifically certified for insulated ceilings. You still need a vapour barrier around a pot light. This can be a big flexible plastic 'box', or they also make vapour proof insulated ceiling pot lights.

You asked about what the vapour barrier boxes that fit around the octagonal boxes look like:

http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/BCVB54_3.jpg

Where can I buy one of those boxes? Can I install it now (from the attic side?)... how big is it? Do I just place it over my electrical box that is there now?.
Before I asked this question, there was insulation covering the box. I moved it around because I was checking things out... I just want to be sure that it is (was) done right in the first place...
Bottom line: see photo: can I put insulation right on top of both boxes?. this plastic insulated box... do I need to put this plastic flexible box around the "shoebox" that is there now?
Now, I am confused... see photo for what I mean..

Yes, you can put insulation on either of those. Your choice on whether you put vapour barrier on. I suppose every bit helps a little, but it will be difficult to do because of the wires leading to the lights.