How NOT To Hang A Ceiling Fan!

[Charles (in GA)]

Had lunch in a local Moe's Southwest Grill. They have the typical, no ceiling, open to the roof sheet, structure exposed, ducts and conduit exposed, setup, all painted flat black.

Well, I started looking at the ceiling fans............. Tell me this is code somewhere........ anywhere............... NOT!!!!

4 in square box mounted to the bar joist, flat 4" cover plate with center knockout, 1/2 set screw type conduit fitting screwed in the knockout, about 3 ft of EMT to another 1/2 set screw conduit fitting screwed into an octagon box, to which the fan mount and ball socket is attached, then a 6" downrod to the fan.

If you look close at the 4" cover plate and set screw conduit fitting, there is a shiny spot where the fitting has loosened and walked in the knockout hole after the flat black paint was sprayed.

Charles

 

[mrb]

maybe there's a wire rope inside the conduit holding it all together

 

[Charles (in GA)]

maybe there's a wire rope inside the conduit holding it all together

Yea, I hope. But if they didn't have the forethought to use a long downrod, so do 'ya think....... Naaaaa! And I didn't get a pic of it, but this particular fan, the blade tips were passing within about 3 inches of a wall mounted television. Not sure what the TV's are for, I've never seen them turned on. They are older, heavy, CRT type.

Charles

 

[ptschram]

I am no longer the biggest nerd on the planet!

Thank you sir, I stand in awe.

No really, I'm the kinda guy who would do the same, maybe not take pics though.

 

[burleymike]

My wife always tells me to knock it off when we go out. I do the same thing, lets hope those wire nuts are tight because when the fan comes loose they will be holding the fan.

 

[Pointbock]

lets hope those wire nuts are tight because when the fan comes loose they will be holding the fan.

wonder if they taped them?

 

[Zeke]

I heard once that a question on the AL electrician's test was, "What color is a green ground wire?"

Don't know how it is in GA.

 

[kbs2244]

Not the frist time I have seen it.
What they are trying to avoid is the amount of sway you get with out of balance blades if you go to a real long down pipe.
The EMT fittings are a bit stiffer.
I don't know if the code even addresses this.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Not the frist time I have seen it.
What they are trying to avoid is the amount of sway you get with out of balance blades if you go to a real long down pipe.
The EMT fittings are a bit stiffer.
I don't know if the code even addresses this.

Code does not allow EMT or its system components to be used to support ANYTHING!

314.27(D) says that boxes used to support paddle fans must be specifically listed for the purpose (which I'm sure the standard 4" square box and cover are not, even though the octagon box may actually be a fan box, no way to tell from the floor). 358.12(5) appears to prevent EMT from being used to support luminaires or other equipment

Charles