Updating ceiling fan

10 years ago

I am replacing an ancient(and inexpensive) ceiling fan in my master bedroom, which is 30' by 18'. The fan I like best is a 60" rather than the more standard 52" fan. Given the large size of the room, would the 60" work, or would it be overwhelming and I am better off to stick with a 52" fan?

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Comments (3)

PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
10 years ago
Just make sure you have a fan box installed in your ceiling, ceiling fan must be supported properly to avoid personal injury and damage to your surroundings. There are several acceptable ways to support a ceiling fan and that is the use of a special fan box which is designed with straps or it must be fastened to wood blocking located between the ceiling joists.

The National Electric Code requires that all fans 35 pounds and over must be supported with an outlet box or outlet box system that is listed for ceiling fan support. The manufacturer marks the outlet box system to indicate that it is acceptable for ceiling fan installations. If the original box is not listed for this purpose, it must be retrofitted and attached securely to the building framing, especially when using 52-60" fans.
User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
ALL paddle fans must have a box listed for fans, not just over 35 pounds. The only difference is that the box must have the maximum weight imprinted on it if the fan is over 35 pounds.

Old code;

(D) Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets.

Outlet boxes or outlet box systems used as the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan shall be listed, shall be marked by their manufacturer as suitable for this purpose, and shall not support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 32 kg (70 lb). For outlet boxes or outlet box systems designed to support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 16 kg (35 lb), the required marking shall include the maximum weight to be supported.

New code;

314.27(C) Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets.

Outlet boxes or outlet box systems used as the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan shall be listed, shall be marked by their manufacturer as suitable for this purpose, and shall not support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 32 kg (70 lb). For outlet boxes or outlet box systems designed to support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 16 kg (35 lb), the required marking shall include the maximum weight to be supported.

Where spare, separately switched, ungrounded conductors are provided to a ceiling mounted outlet box, in a location acceptable for a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan in single or multi-family dwellings, the outlet box or outlet box system shall be listed for sole support of a ceiling suspended (paddle) fan.
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PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
10 years ago
Those are great answers from the construction experts and I learned something new too. Regarding the aesthetics and how it will look in your large room: the 60 inch should look good. It would be nice if you have a ceiling higher than 8 feet. If you have a volume ceiling and you need to hang the fan lower then the ceiling, you might hang it around 10 feet or 12 feet from the floor.