Indoor Outdoor Ceiling Fan - Choosing UL Ratings

Ceiling fans that are intended for outdoor installations come in two distinct UL rating categories, wet or damp. When purchasing an indoor outdoor ceiling fan for your home, always check the UL or Underwriters Laboratories rating. UL is a testing facility that has been testing electrical and insulation materials since 1894. A UL rating is recognized all over the world but it is a requirement for all electrical fixtures sold in the United States regardless of where a product is manufactured. The damp and wet UL ratings for electrical fixtures that are sold in the U.S. are easy to understand because they cover most outdoor conditions that occur in this continent.

A "damp" rating means the fan was designed for climates with high humidity but not for direct exposure to rain and snow. A ceiling fan with a damp rating can be installed in a covered patio or porch but only if there is no chance that wind-driven rain can reach it. Damp rated fans are also recommended for bathrooms because of its non-corrosive case and well protected wiring. Damp fans can safely be installed high up in greenhouses, barns, and even indoor swimming pool areas as long as there is no chance of water reaching the fan housing.

A "wet" rated fan can be exposed to wet conditions of wind, snow, and rain. The wiring and electrical components of a wet rated fan are safely housed in a waterproof case that is typically treated with materials that will not corrode in wet conditions. Even the fan blades are built strong enough to withstand extremely wet conditions without warping. A wet rated fixture is a little more expensive to purchase but the peace of mind is well worth the investment. If your home is fairly new then the indoor outdoor ceiling fans are likely going to be wet rated fans because most building codes require that outdoor fans have a wet rating.

When purchasing a used indoor outdoor ceiling fan for you home, always check the rating first because an item that is unrated may not have been tested for safety in outdoor conditions. I would not invest any money in a fixture that is unrated by the UL testing facility because the UL is an OSHA-recognized facility that has been doing this for a long time and is well trusted as such.

Check out these recommended resources for your next DIY home improvement project whether you are shopping for outdoor ceiling fans or have questions on how to install your outdoor ceiling fan.

Copyright 2009 Roy Yazzie. All Rights Reserved.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

Indoor Ceiling Fans and Outdoor Ceiling Fan Ratings

Indoor ceiling fans should be installed indoors only because installing them outside will cause electrical hazards when they are exposed to natural elements in the environment like rain or water. Their warranty will not be carried also if they are used inappropriately. You can refer to the following ratings if you want to determine their usability.

EPA Energy Star Rating

An Energy Star Logo on any equipment ensures the user of an energy cost saving and environmental friendly instrument. This is granted by the U.S, Department of Energy to electrical appliances or other gadgets that have passed their rigid testing. In the case of fans, they require that the lighting should be different from the fan speed control.

Underwriters Laboratories or UL Rating

This rating will determine if the outdoor ceiling fan is for "wet" or "damp" places. UL, under the umbrella of OSHA, will also test if the electrical materials or appliances are efficient and safe for consumers' use. UL has now rated billion of products worldwide.

A "damp" rating by UL indicates that the electrical material can be used in damp places. It does not mean however, that you can expose them to rain or snow. You can place these fans in greenhouses, patios, indoor swimming pools and other outdoors places but with rooftops. They can also be used in bathrooms instead of indoor fans. They should be enclosed in electrical boxes though with non-corrosive covers, that the National Electrical Code would approve.

A "wet" rating by the UL means that the fan is weather resistant and can withstand rain, wind and snow. This is because the fan has a sealed motor and wiring that is encased in a non-corrosive material. The fan blades are made of sturdy material that can withstand extreme heat or cold. This fan can also be EPA and OSHA approved.

NFPA Rating

The National Fire Protection Association developed all the electrical safety codes and fire safety in all electrical appliances. It was also the first one to establish the first National Electrical Code. Up to this day, volunteers are increasing worldwide and the association has gained worldwide acceptance and recognition.

Indoor ceiling fans are different from outdoor fans with their casings and make, but they both are rated by the same organizations who ensures that all electrical equipment undergo quality control testing and meet the high-standard requirement for the different rating companies.

Still interested to learn more about the fantastic indoor ceiling fans? Visit EveryCeilingFans now for all the quality tips, guides and reviews you need on other great fans like the Fanimation ceiling fan.

Understand Ceiling Fan Ratings to Get the Best Fan

Ceiling fans now need a quality rating system check and public statement of that inspection. There are five sections to this QRS and each must be met the standards set by the government in order to be sold to the public. For each fan in the store, there is a public document stating that fan's QRS levels. The five sections tested are quality, CFM (cubic feet per minute) airflow, wind speed, efficiency, and watts of electricity used.

The quality rating measures from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. It tests how well the fan was made, the noise level, the smoothness of the turn and the projected longevity. For this and more than any other section of the test, ceiling fans with a quality score of 4 or 5 are recommended.

CFM airflow measures how much air the fan can move in the room. There is a graph of the CFM airflow on the QRS sheet showing the levels while the fan is on high speed. This measurement is second only to quality in helping to make a ceiling fan choice. A CFM of 1400 or lower is the worst score where 10,000 CFM is the best possible. The range in CFM is due to the fact that not all rooms are the same size and a lower CFM is needed for a smaller room.

The wind speed is how well the fan will be able to cool off the room. This is done by a chill effect not the actual wind that moves. This measurement takes into account the CFM and blade span when calculated and figures out the wind velocity just beneath the fan. A large fan will create a larger column of air under the fan and therefore a lower wind speed causing the entire room to be cooled where a smaller fan will concentrate on the area beneath the fan.

The ceiling fan's efficiency is the CFM divided by the number of watts needed. This formula calculates the amount running the fan costs compared to the amount of comfort the fan affords the room. This rating is important but not nearly as important as the CFM simply because a good rating in efficiency will usually only save about $10 a year whereas a good rating in CFM will save on heating and air conditioning costs year round. The better way to get more air flow is to have a higher powered engine. This quality test is measured for the amount of energy the fan pulls when set at the highest level. It is best to have lower watts rather than higher but, again, the more power, the better the airflow and thus the better the CFM. This is not a very important criterion as virtually all ceiling fans use very little electricity to run at high speed.

Modern Ceiling Fans is a comprehensive information source on fans that are attached to the ceiling to include the flush mount, remote as well as vintage ceiling fans, their accessories and everything else you need to know.

Ceiling Fan Ratings - How to Choose the Best Ceiling Fan for Your Needs?

A ceiling fan can be used year round-to cool off your home in the warmer months and to circulate the warm air to keep your home livable in the winter months. Another good reason to buy a fan is to save some money on your utility bills-ceiling fans cut down a great deal on heating and cooling costs year round.

When choosing a ceiling fan for your home it is important to develop a rating system for yourself and then decide which fan to buy by the ceiling fan ratings you have assigned.

When deciding on your ceiling fan ratings, you should make a list of qualities you want in a fan. You should think about the look of the fan, the features of the fan, how the fan is made, etc.

Size

The size of the fan is very important. You don't want to get too big of a fan for the room and you definitely don't want a fan that is too small for the room. A good rule of thumb is that a one hundred foot square room, the fan should have blades of thirty six inches. If the room is between one hundred fifty and two hundred twenty five square feet should have fan blades that are forty eight inches long.

Type

Low ceilings require a different type of fan than a high ceiling fan. High ceilings require the fan to have down rods because down rods will circulate the air to the living space. Low ceilings should be fitted with a fan that is flush mount or hugger. A sloped ceiling needs to have an angled mount and you need to make sure that, no matter what type of fan you get, that the blades are at least seven feet up.

Components

You want a fan with high quality fan components. For example, the die cast motor housings are far better than stamped motor housings. This is because the die cast motor housings reduce the fan's noise and keep the fan stable. You will also want your fan to have bearings that are permanently lubricated and it should have an oil reservoir that is sealed.

Pitch

Pitch refers to the angle at which the blades sit on the fan. Typically, the pitch of the fan's blades will range from eight up to fifteen degrees. Air moves far better under a fan with a high pitched blade.

Special Features

Do you want your ceiling fan to have room lights? Do you want decorative blades that you can change out to change the look of the room? These special features will be a prominent part of your ceiling fan ratings.

After you have shopped around, compare your ceiling fan ratings. Obviously the fan with the highest rating should win-but that could also depend on how heavily you weigh each category. Once you have compared the ratings you will be set to buy the perfect ceiling fan for your home.

To Find More Ceiling Fan Ratings ratings and reviews for your home visit ceiling-fan-wizard.com

Copyright 2008 Ceiling-fan-wizard.com.

Mark is the editor Ceiling-fan-wizard.com which Provides you with the best ceiling fan reviews and ratings. To Find More Ceiling Fan Ratings ratings and reviews for your home visit http://www.ceiling-fan-wizard.com