Minimum height under blades: what are the safety rules?

Minimum height under blades: what are the safety rules?

Ceiling fans are high-speed devices.

Let’s take the case of a common blade fan[1]. Its rotation speed often exceeds 200 rpm. That’s 50 km/h at the tip of the blades!

A head-on collision with a spinning blade at 50 km/h can be a nasty experience, particularly if you are hit on the hand or head.

To take this into account, let’s look at the safety rules that have been laid down to limit the risk of injury.

[1] diameter 1.32 m                  

Overseas, regulations ahead of the game?

Ceiling fans have been around for a long time in these regions.

The first regulations in the French overseas departments and territories to describe safety height rules for air blowers is the RTAA DOM.[i]. The current application sheet, contains the following recommendation [ii]:

More recently, the thermal regulations for Guadeloupe, drawn up with the active participation of the CSTB [iii]and published at the end of 2019, are even more precise:[iv]

RE2020: what are the rules on blade height?

Ceiling fans were not widely used in mainland France for a long time. This is now changing with the arrival of the RE2020, which strongly promotes the use of fans to improve summer comfort.

The regulations state that the model of fan 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:

1. The ceiling fans that can be taken into account are the fans fixed to the frame.
2. They are installed in such a way as not to present a danger to the occupants.

So only ceiling-mounted fans are considered.

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.

Standard NF EN CEI 60335-2-80: 2.30 m under the blades!

Standard NF EN 60335-2-80, which can be found on the AFNOR website, concerns the safety of electric fans for domestic and similar purposes. It falls within the scope of the Low Voltage Directive n° 73/23/CEE of 19/02/1973 modified by 93/68/CEE of 22/07/199312.

This standard specifies that: “the installation instructions must indicate that the fan must be installed in such a way that the blades are more than 2.30 m above the ground”.

Figure 1: Minimum blade height

CE marking and ceiling fans

Ceiling fans sold in the EU are subject to CE marking.

It certifies that the product conforms to current European standards and complies with the applicable essential health, safety and environmental protection requirements.

These essential requirements include the Low Voltage Directive.

The Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/UE)  applies to ceiling fans.

The directive explicitly refers to standard EN 60335-2-80, as can be seen on page 54 of the ‘Summary of references of harmonised standards published in the Official Journal – Directive 2014/35/EU‘:

The Low Voltage Directive was transposed into French law by Decree no. 2015-1083 of 27 August 2015, relating to the placing on the market of electrical equipment intended for use within certain voltage limits.

This decree amends the French Consumer Code. It sets out the obligations of manufacturers, importers and distributors regarding the compliance of electrical equipment with European Union safety requirements.

What are the legal consequences of installing ceiling fans with blades less than 2.30 m above the ground?

Standard NF EN 60335-2-80 specifies that: ‘the installation instructions must indicate that the fan must be installed in such a way that the blades are more than 2.30 metres above the ground for fans intended to be mounted at a high level [v]’.

This standard is the written expression of the rules of the trade and of the minimum safety requirements for professionals.

Players who fail to comply with the instructions for use and the rules of the trade expose themselves to a number of legal risks.

As a result, installers who fail to follow the installation instructions run the risk of being held liable in tort [vi], contract[vii], or even criminal law, particularly in the event of an accident. An installer who fails to comply with the installation instructions will not be able to take legal action against the manufacturer in the event of an accident caused by the installation height being too low, and may even lose the benefit of his insurance policy cover.

Secondly, a player who fails to prescribe an installation that complies with the installation instructions could be prosecuted for misleading consumers. Such instructions would lead consumers to believe that fan installations below 2.30 m blade height are safe and reliable, when this is not the case.

Why 2.30 m?

The standard does not explain where this value comes from. However, it is likely to be based on the average height of a man with his arm raised.

The architect Le Corbusier, for example, designed his housing units from 1945 onwards, on his return from a trip to the USA, on the basis of the average height of a man, i.e. 1.83 m (6 feet was in fact the average height of men in the USA). We get 2.26 m with arm raised.

Figure 2: The Modulor (Le Corbusier)

In these conditions, a height of 2.30 m limits the risk of hand injury caused by the blades.

Extra-flat draught excluders: a solution to improve safety?

In the United States, the term “hugger fans” (extra-flat or flush fans, i.e. fans flush with the ceiling) is used to describe extra-flat fans suitable for homes with low ceilings.

This family has developed well internationally, particularly in countries such as Australia and Singapore where the air blower is a common product.

In terms of performance (airflow, power consumption, etc.), they are fairly similar to long-stem fans, so they fulfil their purpose perfectly.

In a country such as France, the most common ceiling height in new buildings (in any case in housing) is 2.50 m.

With such a height, compliance with the 2.30 m rule logically suggests fans with a distance between the ceiling and the base of the blades of no more than 20 cm. This is clearly restrictive, but in terms of safety, it is fully justified.

In short, the future looks bright for extra-flat fans!

[i] Thermal, Acoustic and Ventilation Regulations
[ii] See page 12
[iii] Scientific and Technical Centre for Building
[iv] See page 38
[iv] Fans designed to be mounted at a high level are known as ceiling fans. They differ from floor-mounted fans and wall-mounted fans. In the latter two cases, the units are fitted with safety grilles to prevent them from colliding with the blades.
[v] Article 1240 of the Civil Code
[vi] Articles 1231 et seq. of the Civil Code