GUIDE TO CHOOSING AND PREPARING
A CEILING FAN SITE

READ BEFORE STARTING

These guidelines are designed to help you select the best location for your fan and to prepare the site prior to installing the fan.

Proper ceiling fan location and attachment to the building structure are essential for safety, reliable operation, maximum efficiency, and energy savings.

CAUTIONS

    • Read this entire guide and the manufacturer’s installation instructions carefully before beginning.
    • To reduce the risk of personal injury, attach the fan directly to the support structure of the building according to these guidelines, and use only the hardware supplied with the fan.
    • The fan mounting must be able to support the full weight of the fan and light kit.

WARNINGS

    • To avoid possible electrical shock, before inspecting and preparing the site, disconnect the power by turning off the circuit breakers to the outlet box or lead cables and associated wall switch location. If you cannot lock the circuit breakers in the off position, securely fasten a prominent warning device, such as a tag, to the service panel.
    • All wiring must be in accordance with national and local electrical codes. Anyone who is unfamiliar with wiring should contact a qualified electrician.

DO YOU NEED HELP?

To prepare a fan site and install the fan you must be able to

    • Locate ceiling joist or other suitable support in ceiling
    • Drill holes for and install wood screws
    • Identify and connect electrical wires
    • Lift the full weight of the fan

If you need help installing the fan, contact your fan dealer, a licensed installer, or an electrician.

CHOOSING THE FAN SITE

Within the room where you want to install the fan, choose a fan site where

    • No object can come in contact with the rotating fan blades during normal operation
    • The fan blades are at least 2.13 m above the floor
    • The fan blades have no obstructions to air flow, such as walls or posts, within 0.6 m of the fan blade tips
    • The fan is directly below a joist or support brace that will hold the outlet box and the full weight of the fan See Figure 1 for the minimum mounting distances.

Figure one - Fan clearances

USING AN EXISTING FAN SITE

If you are preparing a new fan site, go to the next section, “Preparing a New Fan Site.”

If you plan to use an existing fan site, complete the following checklist for the support brace, ceiling hole, outlet box, and wiring. If you cannot check off every item, see the next section, “Preparing a New Fan Site,” for instructions on properly preparing the site for your new fan.

FAN SUPPORT SYSTEM

    • Fan must attach directly to building structure
    • Fan support system must hold full weight of fan and light kit

CEILING HOLE

    • Outlet box clearance hole directly below the joist or support brace

OUTLET BOX

    • Approved octagonal 100 mm outlet box (or as specified by manufacturer)
    • Outlet box secured to joist or support brace by M4 wood screws and washers through inner holes of outlet box
    • Outer holes of outlet box aligned with joist or support brace
    • Bottom of outlet box recessed a minimum of 1.6 mm into ceiling

WIRING

    • Electrical cable secured to outlet box by approved connector
    • 150 mm of lead wires extend from outlet box

See Figure 2 for an adequate existing fan site.
Figure two - existing fan site

If your existing fan site is suitable, refer to the manufacturer’s installation manual for instructions on how to install your ceiling fan and any attachments.

PREPARING A NEW FAN SITE

STANDARD DRYWALL AND PLASTER CEILINGS

To prepare the fan site on a standard drywall or plaster ceiling, follow four steps:

Step 1: Cutting the Ceiling Hole

Step 2: Installing the Support Brace (if necessary)

Step 3: Installing the Outlet Box

Step 4: Preparing the Wiring

Note: If you have a concrete ceiling, see “Preparing Concrete Ceilings”

Step 1: Cutting the Ceiling Hole

    1. Locate the site for the hole directly below the joist or support brace that will hold the outlet box and fan.
    2. Cut a 100 mm diameter hole through the drywall or plaster of the ceiling as shown in Figure 3. You will use the hole to install the support brace and outlet box.

Figure three - Cutting the Ceiling Hole

Step 2: Installing the Support Brace

If there is a ceiling joist directly above the hole which will allow the outlet box to be recessed a minimum of 1.6 mm in the ceiling, go to Step 3: Installing the Outlet Box.

If there is not an adequate ceiling joist available, do the following:

    1. Attach a 40 mm x 80 mm support brace between two joists. The support brace must allow the bottom of the outlet box to be recessed a minimum of 1.6 mm into the ceiling. See Figure 3.
    2. Check the support brace to ensure it will support the full weight of the fan and light kit.

Step 3: Installing the Outlet Box

    1. Obtain an approved octagonal 100 mm outlet box, plus two M4 x 40 mm wood screws and washers, available from any hardware store or electrical supply house.
    2. Orient the outlet box so that both the inner and outer holes in the box align with the joist or support brace.
    3. Drill pilot holes no larger than the minor diameter of the wood screws (2 mm) through the inner holes of the outlet box.
    4. Attach the outlet box directly to the support brace or joist with two M4 x 40 mm wood screws and washers. The bottom of the outlet box must be recessed a minimum of 1.6 mm into the ceiling as shown in Figure 4.

Figure four - Installing Outlet Box

Step 4: Preparing the Wiring

    1. Make sure the circuit breakers to the fan supply line leads and associated wall switch location are turned off. If you cannot lock the circuit breakers in the off position, securely fasten a prominent warning device, such as a tag, to the service panel.
    2. Thread the fan supply line through the outlet box so that the fan supply line extends at least 150 mm beyond the box as shown in Figure 5.
    3. Attach the fan supply line to the outlet box with an approved connector, available at any hardware store or electrical supply house. Refer to Figure 5.
    4. Make certain the wiring meets all national and local standards.

Figure Five - Wiring for Fan

PREPARING CONCRETE CEILINGS

    1. Locate the electrical supply mains in the ceiling. Before hanging the fan or any attachments, be sure that the mains protrude from the ceiling by at least 150 mm.
    2. You will need to use an electric drill with a masonry bit to install two M5 x 30 mm expansion anchors. You must purchase the expansion anchors separately. For more detail, consult the manufacturer’s installation instructions included with the fan.

INSTALLING THE FAN

You have now successfully prepared your ceiling fan site. For instructions on how to install your ceiling fan and any attachments, please refer to the manufacturer’s installation manual.