2018 Ceiling Fan FTC Energy Guide Labels

Why are the airflow ratings on our site different than the EnergyGuide?

The testing method required by the EPA has changed between 2017 and 2018 and fans tested with the new method will have different CFM numbers than the previous testing method for the exact same fans. Due to the transition between old and new testing methods, the airflow ratings and the comparison graphs we use on our website may differ from the government mandated FTC EnergyGuide label you will find printed on your box or published online. Even more, our airflow ratings are based on the information supplied to us by the manufacturer at high speed, while the Energy Guide labels as of 2018 derived from the new testing method display a weighted average between low and high speeds instead of just high speed. Because some manufacturers are still supplying data using the old test method yet printing data on their labels using the new method, there may be noticeable differences between what you see online and what you see on the box. These discrepancies will occur until all of the preboxed fans from last year are sold through and we have no way of knowing which label or test result will be printed on your box.

More Details About New Testing: As of January 2018 the testing was performed on high speed only with the fan confined in a cylinder, 8" larger in diameter than the fan, with sensors below it. The CFM and CFM/Watts were then calculated from the high speed data. The new procedure eliminates the cylinder and fans are now tested in an open room on both their lowest and highest speeds. The CFM airflow presented on the new labels is now a weighted average of the two speeds, so it will be SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER than the high speed ratings from previous years. We do not believe using the weighted average is the best way to compare ceiling fans because it does not give you a true picture of the fans potential. So we will continue to publish the high speed data as long as it is available so you will have the best comparative tool. We will also publish the weighted average airflow as it becomes available. The original high speed data from the cylinder test will eventually be replaced by the data taken from the new tests as that data becomes available. Until that time, there will be inconsistencies in the airflow ratings published on our website.