Can a pancake box support a ceiling fan?

Presuming you don’t have access to the ceiling fan from above, you must either use a specially rated hanger and box to mount the fan between joists or, better yet, screw a fan-rated “pancake” box (so called because it’s very thin) directly to a ceiling joist.

What type of box can be used to support a ceiling fan?





Most building codes require ceiling fans to be mounted on special fan-rated boxes, which are made of metal or strong plastic and have deep-threaded holes for the mounting screws. The box must be mounted firmly, either by attaching it directly to a framing member or by using a fan-rated brace.

Is a pancake box rated for a fan?

Quite often, a fan rated pancake box is used when roughing in the ceiling fan installation. Many of these boxes only have a total volume of 6 or 8 cubic inches. One single 14-3 (with ground) Nonmetallic sheathed cable will completely fill the 8 cubic inch fan box to its maximum allowable capacity.

How do I know if my ceiling box can support a fan?

The National Electric Code requires that all fans 35 pounds and over must be supported with an outlet box or outlet box system that is listed for ceiling fan support. The manufacturer must have marked the outlet box system to indicate that it is acceptable for ceiling fan installations.

How much weight can a pancake box support?

Round Pan Electrical Boxes



Round pan, or “pancake,” options are shallow circular boxes that are most commonly used for ceiling- or wall-mounted light fixtures that weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Can you mount a ceiling fan to a plastic box?





Conventional metal or plastic rough-in boxes aren’t supposed to hold any more than 50 pounds, and most fans exert more force than that. Consequently, to hang one you need a support system consisting of a metal box attached to blocking or metal rods that you can secure to the ceiling joists.

How do you hang a ceiling fan in a pancake box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And you can use a half inch mounting box or a pancake. Box like this on five eighths – lots of lots of times ceilings are 5/8 okay so I'm just going to set this up here and I had a pre marked before.

Can you install a ceiling fan without an outlet box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Go ahead and install it without a box because when your fan cover goes over it it's basically a box. So what we'll do is we'll go ahead and install that here.

How do you reinforce a light box for a ceiling fan?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And go between the ceiling joists and lay that 2×4 down in there and then just come down here and shoot a screw up through the box up through into the 2×4.

How much weight can a ceiling electrical box hold?



All ceiling boxes are required to support at least 50 pounds (NEC 314.27(A)), so you can assume the box will be able to support a simple light fixture. Boxes that are designed to support ceiling fans must be labeled as such, and must have a label listing the weight it can support if over 35 pounds (NEC 314.27(D)).

How do you install a ceiling fan box without attic access?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: For this job you're going to need a couple tools for this job we will be using a battery power drill with a Philips tip bit a razor blade electrical tape and a mounting block.

Where are fan rated boxes required?

This is a big change for the 2020, to require fan boxes at most dwelling unit ceiling locations. The change reflects the fact that often homeowners will install a fan, and with most fans having remote controls, fans are installed at locations that do not have a spare conductor.

How much weight can a ceiling fan support?



Typically, a ceiling fan weights between 8 lbs. to 50 lbs. when fully assembled. Many junction boxes can support this weight while the fan is hanging still. However, a fan that functions as it typically operates puts additional stress on the object from which it is turned.

Can a ceiling fan be too heavy?

If you don’t see something like that, you’re going to need to take out some of the ceiling and replace to box with a fan box or run the risk of the fan being too heavy and falling down at the worst possible time.

How much does the average ceiling fan weight?

Ceiling fans vary widely depending on several factors. They range from as light as 1 pound to as heavy as 50 pounds. However, most fans weigh between 17 and 20 pounds.

Can my fan fall on me?

We all know that a ceiling fan that breaks free from a ceiling mount can be fatal. Though falling fans are rare incidents, one can’t rule out the possibility of serious injuries or even death if a heavy or high-speed fan happens to hit someone.

How much weight can a outlet box support?



A ceiling box can support a fixture of 50 pounds or less. A ceiling box rated for “fan support” can support a fan of 35 pounds or less.

How much does a 70 inch ceiling fan weigh?

Product information

Product Dimensions 60 x 50 x 20 inches
Item Weight 35.2 pounds
ASIN B07XLTR6ZY
Item model number 41371
Customer Reviews 4.6 out of 5 stars 482 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars

Is a 52 inch fan too big for a 12×12 room?

The ALA recommends a 29- to 36-inch fan for a room up to 75 square feet, such as a bathroom; a 36- to 42-inch fan for a medium-size room up to 144 square feet; and a 50- to 54-inch fan for a room around 225 square feet; 54- and 60-inch or larger fans are available for larger spaces.

Can a ceiling fan fall off?

The fan falls. A ceiling fan that breaks free from its ceiling mount can be deadly. Fans must be supported by an electrical junction box listed for that use, according to the National Electric Code, and a fan brace box will need to be installed.