I've just bought a ceiling fan by post, and wasn't aware of the weight of the thing. I'm wondering if the ceiling joists are up to holding it. The fan is about 14kg; the ceiling joists are an odd size, slightly under 4" by 1 1/2". The whole lot appears to be designed to be suspended from the joist by just 2 screws.
Should I not even attempt this? Any thoughts welcome, thanks!
The message from Mike Scott contains these words:
Considering how much weight I've got in my loft on the same size joists I don't reckon you've got anything to worry about.
For a start, do you ever walk in the loft? If so you must be putting more load than that on the joists as you walk about.
Quite so. I've seen 3' fans on this joist size without any problem.
NT
About 2 people per year are killed in the US by these things falling down when operating.
Oh no - how awful!
Mary
The message from snipped-for-privacy@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) contains these words:
Bet it doesn't say what the failure mode is though.
The fan or the people? ;-)
There were no details -- it was the last item on a list of deaths caused by electrical installations in the US, which I found when searching for such statistics a while back.
_Is_ it an electrical installation? Or a pneumatic installation? The fact that they are powered by electricity is really irrelevant in view of their mass and mechanical motion!
:-)
There used to be rules regarding ceiling fans in commercial premises, such as that they had to be fastened to joists using studding (screwed rods) rather than woodscrews.
Neighbour asked Spouse to fit a ceiling fan in his sitting room the other day.
Spouse was appalled at the design of the thing, only small wood screws to fix it and electrical connection was to the ceiling light wiring. Because of its position there were no nearby joists to screw the fan to and he had to screw to laths - although he did use longer ones with bolts to try to get it more stable. Spouse told Neighbour that he didn't think it would be safe, Neighbour insisted that he needed it. Spouse told Neighbour that he wouldn't be responsible if it fell down, Neighbour said it wouldn't fall down, it was a 'good make'. Spouse said if it came down while it was moving it could cause a lot of damage. Neighbour said it wouldn't.
We wouldn't have one in any case but certainly not of that design.
Mary
_Please_ don't tell Prescott!
====================== Not when he's standing under one, anyway.
Cic.
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I wonder how many people are killed by garish christmas lights on the outside of their houses ...
Owain
No, just seat him under one and hope.
Mary
>
I wish ...
125,000,000 to 1 I like thoes odds.
surely those are more likely to come undone than woodscrews? 3" screws should be very secure.
thats dodgy, they need to be securely mounted to either a joist or a noggin, and yes the fitter would be held responsible. Laths are insecure.
NT
Not if you peen over the ends of the studding after fitting the nuts.
Whoever said 3" screws was not reading. I said "very small" - which is not
3".Spouse is very careful and capable. As I said, there were no joist within reach. He did the best he could.
Mary
The message from Frank Erskine contains these words:
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