Commercial Ceiling Fans

There is a wide variety of fan designs, so you can pick a style and color that matches your building interior. The product selection ranges from decorative ceiling fans for residential use, to big commercial ceiling fans for warehouses and other large buildings.

Regardless of the application, you should look for a ceiling fan with a solid manufacturer warranty, and it should also be UL Listed to ensure safety. Getting a professional installation is also important - ceiling fans have moving parts that must be firmly supported to avoid accidents. When purchasing industrial fans that will have a long operating schedule, energy efficiency is also a key factor to keep your power bills low.

If you’re looking for commercial ceiling fans in Canada, Lumenco offers many options for any type of project. Our broad product selection includes Canarm commercial ceiling fans and other popular brands.

Purchasing a Commercial Ceiling Fan: Factors To Consider

Commercial ceiling fans are often purchased based on their appearance, and the finishes available include brass, bronze, chrome, iron and nickel. However, there are also many technical factors that must be considered:

Dimensions of the ventilated space: The size and number of ceiling fans is determined by the ventilation needs of building interiors. When ceiling fans are undersized or too few, they will not provide enough airflow. However, an oversized ventilation system will create a drafty and uncomfortable environment, while wasting electricity.

Type of ventilation controls: There are both manual and remote controls for ceiling fans, and they often allow multiple speeds. Many industrial fans use variable frequency drives (VFD), which allow a gradual adjustment from 0 RPM to maximum speed, while saving electricity. Also, commercial ceiling fans with lights are often compatible with dimmers and other lighting controls.

Lighting requirements: Depending on how your indoor space is designed, lighting fixtures may be installed separately or included in ceiling fans. You can also use a combination of fans with and without lights, and Lumenco has the right products for any building interior.

Manufacturer warranties: When commercial ceiling fans and lighting fixtures are covered by a solid warranty, you can avoid the cost of early replacements.

What Does CFM Mean in Commercial Ceiling Fans?

You will notice that the capacity of a commercial ceiling fan is described in CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute. In other words, this describes how much air can be moved by the fan in one minute.

Depending on their diameter and motor power, the typical airflow of commercial ceiling fans ranges from 2,000 to 10,000 cfm. As you might expect, a higher CFM value requires a higher electricity input in kilowatts.

• Ventilation rate increases with fan diameter, since air is being moved over a larger area.

• Ventilation rate also increases with the number of blades in a ceiling fan, simply because there are more blades sweeping the air.

• Finally, the ventilation rate also increases with wattage, since a more powerful motor can move air faster.

Commercial Ceiling Fan Installation

Commercial ceiling fans have mechanical and electrical requirements. They need a support that can bear not only their weight, but also the torque of the motor. Ceiling fans also require an electric circuit that can power their motors, and also any light bulbs attached to them.

Ceiling fans are often mounted on a rod, which must be firmly attached to the ceiling structure. This rod separates the fan blades from the ceiling, which is necessary for effective ventilation. When the mounting rod is too short, and there is not enough space between the fan and the ceiling, air cannot circulate effectively.

Commercial ceiling fans with AC motors can be wired directly to the power supply, which makes their installation easier. DC motor fans require an external transformer, but they have a higher energy efficiency - especially in applications where multiple fans are needed.

Ceiling fans with light bulbs may have their lamps exposed, or enclosed in a glass cover that matches the fan design.

Light Bulbs for Commercial Ceiling Fans

Commercial ceiling fans often have standard lamp sockets, which makes them compatible with a wide range of light bulbs. However, they become more energy efficient when equipped with LED bulbs.

• Typically, LED bulbs consume 80-90% less power than incandescent or halogen lamps of the same brightness, and 30-40% less power than compact fluorescent lights (CFL).

• LED bulbs also have a longer service life, saving plenty of lamp replacements over time. Their typical service life is 25,000 hours, while most CFLs last for 8,000-12,000 hours, and halogen lamps last for 2,000 hours or less.

When your ceiling fans have efficient motors and LED bulbs, they can provide adequate ventilation and lighting at the lowest possible cost.