In the text of RE2020 concerning ceiling fans [i], it is stated that the fan model used ‘is valid for ceiling heights of less than 3m’.
The Order of 6 April 2022 on the RE2020 specifies two points in Article 4, paragraph VII:
- Ceiling fans that can be taken into account are fans fixed to the building.
- They are installed in such a way as not to present a danger to the occupants.
This means that only ceiling fans are taken into account.
Overseas, ceiling fans have been around for many years, and there is a wealth of feedback.
Secondly, of course, the safety of the occupants must be ensured. Compliance with the international standard NF EN CEI 60335-2-80 (see below) is the benchmark in this respect.
Several regulations describe safety height rules for ceiling fans. For example, in the current application sheet for the DOM RTAA, we can read the following recommendation [ii] :
Minimum height under blades in non-RE2020 regulations
When fans are installed under ceilings, a minimum height under the blades must be defined for safety reasons.
The minimum height between the finished floor and the fan blades is generally one of the recommendations provided by the manufacturer. This is usually set at 2.30 m if there is no protective device.
Guadeloupe’s more recent thermal regulations (published at the end of 2019) are even more explicit [iii]:
Recommendations for the installation of ceiling fans: constraints on ceiling height where there is a ceiling fan or ceiling fan cavity
- We recommend that you comply with the height of the blades specified in standard NF EN CEI 60335-2-80, i.e. a minimum of 2.30 m ;
- The height of the fan (distance between blade and ceiling), which varies according to the model, must also be taken into account when determining the ceiling height;
- If the fan height is not known at the time of construction, it is recommended that a minimum fan height of 0.3 m be used. In this case, a minimum fan height of 0.3 m is recommended, or the occupant should be told which fan models are compatible with the dwelling.
Minimum height under blades: what the standard says
Standard NF EN 60335-2-80 concerns the safety of electric fans for domestic and similar purposes. It falls within the scope of the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC of 19/02/1973 modified by 93/68/EEC of 22/07/199312.
In chapter 7.12.1, standard NF EN CEI 60335-2-80 specifies: ‘The installation instructions must indicate in substance that the fan must be installed in such a way that the blades are more than 2.3 m above the ground’.
The rule to be adopted to ensure user safety is therefore 2.30 m below the blades of ceiling fans.
With Exhale, the flattest ceiling fan on the market (18 cm), and the Samarat (20 cm), a fan with monobloc blades, you meet the safety standards of 2.30 m under blades, even for ceilings of 2.50 m.