About
This tool allows designers to quickly select and layout ceiling fans in a given room to meet their airspeed requirements and other constraints.
The tool loads with a blank set of inputs. Users can click on the 'Show me an example' button to display an example use case for demonstration purposes. The user inputs are all contained in the left frame, within the area that has a light blue background. This includes expandable sections for describing: the room dimensions (e.g. ceiling height), the candidate fan types being considered by the designer, airspeed related constraints (e.g. the range of desired minimum airspeeds in the room), basic constraints (e.g. limit the range of acceptable blade heights), and advanced settings (e.g. the acceptable minimum mount distance). For the selection of candidate fan types, we have populated alist of fans with the characteristics of 9 anonymous (but real) fan types. Using the 'Add' button above the table, users can add specific fan types that they are considering, and then select the newly added candidate(s) for consideration.
The 'Which solution to display?' table (top right) then shows the set of solutions that are considered viable given the selected inputs - e.g. for this size room, for the selected candidate fan(s) - and selected constraints - e.g. this range of acceptable minimum air speeds in the room. Here, a viable solution is defined as one in which the ceiling fan meets safety requirements, conforms with recommended guidance, and provides results that are within the constraints defined by the user.
The tool's intent is to provide a relatively even coverage of air speeds across an entire room. With a single fan, the best way to achieve that is to place the fan at the center of the space. With multiple fans, the best way to achieve that is to locate adjacent fans at equal center-to-center spacing, with half that spacing between the fan center and any wall that is immediately adjacent to a fan. Thus, these are the solutions that the tool identifies. However, it is important to note that ceiling fans can be installed anywhere that meets manufacturer, safety and code related requirements for that fan and application - they certainly do not need to be centered in a room, or to be laid out in a perfectly uniform grid. Ceiling fans can be located so as to better co-ordinate with aesthetic, lighting and/or structural requirements, or located to best reach the intended target: people (e.g., above seated areas where furniture placement is known in advance, such as conference rooms). However, due to the limitations of the measurement data-set on which the models underlying this tool were built, the further the actual fan layout differs from that identified by the tool, the less accurate the airspeed estimates will be.
- For more detailed information, read the User Guide.
- For quick answers to questions, please take a look at the FAQs.
If these resources don't provide the information you are looking for, or if you would like to contribute to this tool, please contact Paul Raftery directly.