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.
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.
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
- Locate the site for the hole directly
below the joist or support brace that
will hold the outlet box and fan.
- 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.
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:
- 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.
- Check the support brace to ensure
it will support the full weight
of the fan and light kit.
Step 3: Installing the Outlet Box
- 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.
- Orient the outlet box so that both
the inner and outer holes in the
box align with the joist or support
brace.
- Drill pilot holes no larger than the
minor diameter of the wood
screws (2 mm) through the inner
holes of the outlet box.
- 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.
Step 4: Preparing the Wiring
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Make certain the wiring meets all
national and local standards.
PREPARING CONCRETE CEILINGS
- 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.
- 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.
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