Ceiling Hugger Fan OK in Bathtub Area?

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gary

gary

Senior Member
Location
California
Occupation
Retired electrical contractor / general contractor
I have a client who wants me to install a "ceiling hugger" type fan in a small bathroom. I told him the NEC disallowed the installation of any part of a ceiling fan within 3' of a tub, but after re-reading the code I'm not so sure. Does the term "ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan" only apply to those types that hang from a down rod or does this article apply to all ceiling fans? I'm not sure I understand the rationale for the exclusion in either case.​



410.10 (D) Bathtub and Shower Areas.
No parts of cord connected luminaires, chain-, cable-, or cord-suspended luminaires, lighting track, pendants, or ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall be located within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold.

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Unfortuneately the 'hugger' fans are still a paddle fan that is prohibited. If the ceiling is high enough you can have one installed. Most of the time it is not high enough.

Some of the prohibited items make sense. Others are not so obvious. To know the reason you would need to see the original proposal, the reports and comments at the time this section was put into code - and/or when any changes were made to it.
 
I don't believe I ever installed a paddle fan in a bathroom. Seems like an odd request.

I also agree that a hugger is a fan but why it cannot be within 3' of the tub is beyond me esp. with plastic blades.
 
I think the biggest problem would be the wet location listing.
I don't see where a fan listed for a wet location would be a problem.

You could always talk to the AHJ and see if they will accept it.
 
mattsilkwood said:
I think the biggest problem would be the wet location listing.
I don't see where a fan listed for a wet location would be a problem.

You could always talk to the AHJ and see if they will accept it.
Click to expand...

A bathroom is not a wet location. I can install a wall sconce just outside the dimensions of a tub and it does not need damp location or wet location.
 
mattsilkwood said:
I think the biggest problem would be the wet location listing.
I don't see where a fan listed for a wet location would be a problem.

You could always talk to the AHJ and see if they will accept it.
Click to expand...


If the ceiling is a wet location, so is the rest of the bathroom.... do you put in-use covers on the GFCI?
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I don't believe I ever installed a paddle fan in a bathroom. Seems like an odd request.

I also agree that a hugger is a fan but why it cannot be within 3' of the tub is beyond me esp. with plastic blades.
Click to expand...

Move to FL we have plenty of ID 10 T's

And yes have had to install a few but they were in huge bathrooms and distance was met.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I don't believe I ever installed a paddle fan in a bathroom. Seems like an odd request.

I also agree that a hugger is a fan but why it cannot be within 3' of the tub is beyond me esp. with plastic blades.
Click to expand...

I will bet it has to do with the moving blades above the tub.
You can use the tub edge to get elevation and be too close to the moving blades.
It could possibly be used to hang wet clothes.
 
tkb said:
I will bet it has to do with the moving blades above the tub.
You can use the tub edge to get elevation and be too close to the moving blades.
It could possibly be used to hang wet clothes.
Click to expand...

410.10(D) prohibits more than just ceiling fans in the zone described. Yet other electrical equipment not mentioned in this section is permitted.

You could also use the sink or toilet that are possibly outside the zone mentioned to get elevation and be too close to moving blades.

In other rooms with ceiling fans you could use furnishings in the room to get closer.

I don't think the moving blades have anything to do with 410.10(D).
 
kwired said:
410.10(D) prohibits more than just ceiling fans in the zone described. Yet other electrical equipment not mentioned in this section is permitted.

You could also use the sink or toilet that are possibly outside the zone mentioned to get elevation and be too close to moving blades.

In other rooms with ceiling fans you could use furnishings in the room to get closer.

I don't think the moving blades have anything to do with 410.10(D).
Click to expand...

I agree ,it has nothing to do with blades as many have them over a bed and easy to reach.
It is just another safe guard to keep people from being stupid. This is an area where we need even more rules because of permitted receptacles in reach
 
It has to do with the static electricity from the moving blades, like in "Hunt for Red October". :grin:
 
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