BEHIND THE SCENES OF CEILING FAN TESTING MEASURES

BEHIND THE SCENES OF CEILING FAN TESTING MEASURES

Hunter’s engineering team and certified lab technicians sets the industry standard for rigorous safety and performance testing. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at just a few of the safety and regulatory tests done on Hunter ceiling fans.

We want to give you peace of mind when you install a Hunter ceiling fan. We test to the levels at least twice the industry standard and conduct tests that are not even a part of the standard yet. We want you to hang your fan knowing that it’s safe, reliable, and has gone through rigorous testing measures. Materials, motor, blade shape and pitch -- every element is meticulously engineered and designed to deliver optimized airflow, defining a new industry standard for airflow. Hunter’s testing lab is based at our Memphis, Tennessee, headquarters. It’s an Intertek level-four satellite lab, which is the highest satellite lab rating attainable. Certified lab personnel conduct the testing, the compliance department writes the reports, and then submit them to Intertek to review and authorize Hunter to make the product bearing Intertek’s ETL listing mark. While there are quite a few tests conducted on our ceiling fans, here are four that you may not have heard of:

CFM Test

An engineer at Hunter actually developed the CFM regulatory test several years ago, and it was later adopted by ENERGY STAR®, the EPA-backed program which certifies energy efficient products. The CFM test has evolved over the years, but the basic test that Hunter developed is still at its core. The CFM test calculates the cubic feet per minute (CFM), or how much air a ceiling fan moves. It measures the volume of air and the rate at which the air moves while the fan runs on all speeds. (Hint: You can find our fans’ airflow information on the Energy Guides on the packaging and website page for each ceiling fan.) 

Blade Iron Shake Test

Hunter developed the blade iron shake test several years ago. It tests the strength and durability of a ceiling fan blade iron design. The test is designed to simulate a blade iron’s lifespan in a matter of minutes. It’s currently not required as a part of the UL testing standards, but UL is considering adopting this test as a part of the ceiling fan standard. The ceiling fan blade iron is what connects the ceiling fan blade to the body of the fan. During the blade iron shake test, certified lab technicians attach a weighted blade to the blade iron. The weight and length of the blade depends on the size of the fan the blade iron is designed for. The blade iron is then attached to a machine specific to this test, and the blade iron is shaken 20,000 times while the weighted blade is attached to it. If the blade iron breaks or cracks before making it through 20,000 cycles, it fails the test. A failing blade iron will be sent back to the designers and engineers to redesign.

Accelerated Life Test

Hunter engineers perform the Accelerated Life Test (ALT) on all the electronic components, light bulbs, and related ceiling fan parts to confirm their reliability and longevity. The test cycles through low to high temperatures, low to high humidity, and low to high voltage ranges. In a matter of five weeks, Hunter test years’ worth of usage to ensure our ceiling fans will remain functional over time.

 

Rain Test

Outdoor ceiling fans must be able to operate despite rainy or humid conditions. Our certified lab technicians run a rain test on our wet-rated outdoor ceiling fans. In the span of four hours, six bathtubs worth of water from pressurized hoses is sprayed onto the ceiling fan while it runs and is connected to electricity. This is testing to ensure there are no electrical hazards when the wet-rated fan is exposed to water. If it fails, it’s back to the drawing board for the fan design.Hunter engineers work hard to go above and beyond industry standard testing, so when you hang a Hunter ceiling fan in your home you can be comfortable knowing it is safe and secure.