Is An 8’ Ceiling Too Low For Mounting a Ceiling Fan?

It is very common to have rooms with lower ceilings, and they can give you a hot experience as compared to larger rooms due to this reason. A ceiling fan can fix it but you may see it as a bit dangerous.

That takes us to the question can you use a ceiling fan on a 8’ high ceiling? Here’s what you want to know. 

It is permitted and possible to mount a ceiling fan on 8’ high ceilings if the bottom of the blades is at least 7’ away from the floor. To solve this, you need a low profile or hugger fan to ensure the blades are not too low and result in potential danger.

Let’s get started and read this guide and find out how you can mount a ceiling fan on a 8’ high ceiling safely. 

Can You Mount a Ceiling Fan On a 8’ High Ceiling?

The main issue one can think of when installing a ceiling fan on a lower ceiling is that you could be hit by the blades. Is this a real issue? Definitely, the height of the blades is the burning question. The rotating blades can cause serious damage if anything is caught in them so it will be good for you to take safety seriously.

The height of the blades decides whether the blades of the fan will touch your body part or not. The lower the ceiling, the lower the blades will be and easier to touch.

The rule is generally applied to the location, 7’ is the minimum distance from the floor to the blades which is permitted. And this law does make a lot of sense. This distance allows almost everyone to stand underneath the fan without any worry of getting caught their head or hair in the fan.

Since 7’ is less than 8’, I can conclude it safely that it’s possible to mount a ceiling fan If you get a ceiling fan that contains 12” or less of distance from the ceiling to the bottom of the ceiling fans. 

What Type Of Ceiling Fan Works On 8’ High Ceilings?

As I mentioned above, you can mount a ceiling fan on a 8’ high ceiling, if you can keep the blades at least 7’ from the floor. It shows that a fan with blades 12” or less from the ceiling is imperative. There are some ceiling fans known as “low-profile” and “hugger” fans that are designed with the blades very close to the ceiling. The dimensions can be seen in the product details of a ceiling fan. especially the fans that are used for lower ceilings, the manufacturer will give the details that how far the blades are from the ceiling.

If the dimensions are not available, you will have to do the distance measurement by yourself if you can reach it physically. Or go for another unit. Do not let the marketeers decide for it if the model displays; “low-profile”. Low-profile doesn’t actually mean anything so it will be ideal to have a look at the dimensions to ensure.

The main dimension you will consider is the distance from the bottom of the blades to the ceiling. To be more specific; you’re looking for a distance of at most 12”. Less is good too but you need to know that there is a relationship between the performance and the distance from the ceiling.

The closer the model of the fan is to the ceiling, the harder it is for the model to ‘suck’ up the air above the blades and push it down and deliver air. The closer the blades of the fan are to the ceiling, the smaller the distance on the sides gets. It shows that if the fan makes a low-pressure area above the blades, the pressure does not quickly equalize. As a consequence, the ceiling fan has to function harder to push the same airflow as with a bigger gap.

However, you have to get the job done with the space you have available. It indicates that a little reduced efficiency you will have to tolerate if you want to use a ceiling fan in low ceilings. As something is better than nothing, a slightly less effective model is better than nothing.

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How Can People Get Hurt By Ceiling Fans?

People can get hurt by ceiling fans in different ways such as by touching their heads and having concussions. The medical injuries caused by ceiling fans seem minimal, but they can be very serious in nature. 

There is no doubt in saying that only tall people are not get hurt by fans. People who carry something on their shoulders are also prone to get hurt themselves when they touch a low-hanging ceiling fan in their place. 

Ceiling fans can be more dangerous than people think. These are some of the ways that people can be injured by ceiling fans: 

  • Touching their heads on ceiling fans.
  • Hitting items against them.
  • Other body parts get in contact with ceiling fans, such as your arms, feet, and legs.
  • Items/clothes getting caught in ceiling fan.
  • Hair getting caught in ceiling fan.

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Is It Legal To Install a Ceiling Fan on a 7′ Ceiling?

In some places, it is legal to install a ceiling fan in a 7′ (2.1 m) ceiling, but this can be very dangerous. The blades of the ceiling fan must be at least 7′ (2.1 m) above the ground to fulfill safety standards. That is why it is against the safety guidelines to install a ceiling fan on a ceiling any shorter than 8’ (2.4 m). 

To evaluate new commercial or residential builds, inspectors can visit anytime. If any build is not meeting the city codes can get their build torn down and will not get a refund. Consult a contractor before you start any large build to save labor as well as money.

Contractors and architects are aware of ceiling fans and well-informed about them and are more than happy to assist you.

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