Fans for cooling people guidebook
  • Executive summary
  • Practitioner Summary
    • Benefits of using fans
    • Elevated air speed and thermal comfort
    • Fan options and key characteristics
    • Design goals and fan selection
    • Ceiling fan integration with HVAC system
    • Managing occupants' expectations with fans
    • Design tools
    • Codes and standards
  • Full Guidebook
    • Benefits of using fans
    • Elevated air speed and thermal comfort
    • Ceiling fans
    • Other fan types
    • Design goals and fan selection
    • Ceiling fan installation and integration with HVAC system
    • Conventional HVAC vs. ceiling fans integrated HVAC
    • Managing occupants' expectations with fans
    • Design tools
    • Codes and standards
    • Case studies for practitioners
    • Case studies for researchers
    • Deep dive on indoor air quality
  • About this work
    • Acknowledgment
    • Version and copyright
    • How to cite this work
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  • Environmental conditions
  • Ceiling fans testing regulations
  • Fire safety
  • Seismic requirements

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  1. Practitioner Summary

Codes and standards

Overview of codes and standards

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Last updated 1 year ago

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This technical guide does not cover all codes and standards related to fans and air movement published worldwide, and it highlights only several commonly used materials for references and examples. It is also noted that the usage of these materials could be subjected to variations by countries. Users are advised to implement these materials with caution.

Environmental conditions

(2020) identifies factors that may affect thermal comfort in an indoor environment. Proposed in ASHRAE 55, the standard effective temperature (SET) is a reliable index in estimating the heat loss effect for increased air speed conditions.

Green Mark is a green building certification scheme established in Singapore to raise energy performance standards and emphasize other sustainability outcomes. suggests the indoor temperature setpoint could maintain at 26 °C [79 °F] or above if the space is designed with elevated air speed.

Ceiling fans testing regulations

specifies the instrumentation, facilities, test installation methods, and procedures to determine ceiling fan application data for occupant thermal comfort in a space.

Performance testing on small-diameter ceiling fans (≤ 2.1 m [7 ft]) is recommended by the .

Performance testing on large-diameter ceiling fans (> 2.1 m [7 ft]) is standardized by the .

A modified testing method for large-diameter fans, the , is developed to enhance ceiling fan testing effectiveness. CFEI is derived from the fan energy index equation in with substitute coefficient for large-diameter ceiling fans.

Fire safety

The primary concern with ceiling fans about the fire code is the interaction with fire sprinklers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards, , summarizes the requirements of ceiling fan installation concerning fire sprinklers in buildings. It is noted that specific fire safety requirements may vary by country. Users should always consult local codes and requirements for a specific project.

Seismic requirements

Seismic considerations and requirements are especially relevant for installations of ceiling fans, especially for large-diameter fans, long suspension rods, or other requirements for seismic support. An example can be found in the . Users should always consult local codes and requirements for a specific project.

ASHRAE Standard 55 – Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
A Technical Guide of Green Mark for existing non-residential buildings (2017)
ASHRAE Standard 216 – Methods of Test for Determining Application Data of Overhead Circulator Fans (2020)
ENERGY STAR qualified method
Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) Standard 230 – Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Circulating Fans for Rating and Certification (2015)
ceiling fan Energy Index (CFEI)
ANSI/AMCA Standard 208-18: Calculation of the Fan Energy Index
NFPA 13
American Society of Civil Engineer (ASCE 7) Standard