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314.27(C) Outlet Boxes for Support of Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan

Revision

Change Summary

  • Revision will now generally require all outlet boxes mounted in a location acceptable for the installation of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan in the ceilings of habitable rooms of dwelling units to be listed for the sole support of ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan or an outlet box complying with the applicable requirements of 314.27 and providing access to structural framing capable of supporting of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan bracket or equivalent. This requirement is applicable only in locations acceptable for the installation of a ceiling-suspended(paddle) fan.
NEC® Text

314.27 Outlet Boxes
(C) Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets.
Outlet boxes or outlet box systems used as the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan shall be listed, shall be marked by their manufacturer as suitable for this purpose, and shall not support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 32 kg (70 lb). For outlet boxes or outlet box systems designed to support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 16 kg (35 lb), the required marking shall include the maximum weight to be supported.
Where spare, separately switched, ungrounded conductors are provided to a ceiling-mounted outlet box, Outlet boxes mounted in the ceilings of habitable rooms of dwelling occupancies in a location acceptable for the installation of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan in one-family, two-family, or multifamily dwellings, the outlet box or outlet box system shall be listed for sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan shall comply with one of the following:
(1) Listed for the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans
(2) An outlet box complying with the applicable requirements of 314.27 and providing access to structural framing capable of supporting of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan bracket or equivalent.

Material taken from the National Electric Code® is reprinted with permission from NFPA 70®, 2020 edition.
National Electrical Code®, Copyright 2019, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. All rights reserved.

Expert Analysis

Many new homes were and still are being built with multiple ungrounded conductors provided to the ceiling-mounted luminaire outlet box with most of these “spare” or unused conductors provided to accommodate future installation of a ceiling fan.

314.27(C) Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets

New for the 2020 NEC is a requirement that all outlet boxes mounted in the ceilings of habitable rooms of dwelling units [in a location acceptable for the installation of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan] be listed for the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan or an outlet box complying with the applicable requirements of 314.27 and providing access to structural framing capable of supporting of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan bracket or equivalent must be installed. This requirement will predicate the installation of an outlet box listed for the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan at most dwelling unit ceiling-mounted luminaire locations regardless of the existence of a “spare” separately switched ungrounded conductor or not.

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