314.27 Outlet boxes for ceiling fans
What changed in 314.27
In dwellings, ceiling outlet boxes in habitable rooms where a paddle fan could go must now be fan-rated or give access to framing that can hold a fan.
Point by point
- New trigger: any ceiling outlet box in a habitable room of a dwelling, at a spot suitable for a paddle fan.
The full lesson is in the Pro Version
Get the whole breakdown
- 4 more points on exactly what changed
- The 2017 rule next to the 2020 rule, side by side
- Why it changed
- What to do and check on the job
One membership unlocks every NEC® change lesson for 2020, 2023 and 2026, plus every video, quiz, flashcard and the Testing Center.
Checking your membership…
This section across NEC® editions
2020 NEC®RevisedYou're here
In dwellings, ceiling outlet boxes in habitable rooms where a paddle fan could go must now be fan-rated or give access to framing that can hold a fan.
2023 NEC®Revised
Weight-supporting ceiling receptacle rules in 314.27(E) were rewritten around the new WSCR and WSAF terms. The habitable-room fan box rule carries over from the 2020 NEC®.
Open the 2023 page →2026 NEC®Revised
The dwelling fan box rule now covers ceiling boxes at the usual fan spot in living and sleeping areas, plus any spot picked for a fan, not every habitable room.
Open the 2026 page →More 2020 changes in Article 314
This is a plain-English summary, not the NEC®'s exact wording. Always check the full section in the NEC® edition your area has adopted, plus any local amendments.
NEC® and National Electrical Code® are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Electrical Exam Coach is not affiliated with or endorsed by NFPA.
Find it faster on test day