All fans must be UL-listed (certified by Underwriters Laboratories to be safe) for the location where they will be installed. Most ceiling fans  are UL-listed for dry, interior locations only; but there are two additional ratings, based on the likely level of moisture exposure:

•• “UL Listed for Damp Locations” is the rating you need for a fan that will be installed in a covered outdoor location where rain cannot reach the fan. This rating is also correct for fans installed in a bathroom with a tub or shower, and in small enclosed laundry rooms. 

•• “UL Listed for Wet Locations” is for fans that are installed completely outdoors (in a patio, for example) or close enough to the edge of a roofed area for rain to blow on it occasionally.  If you are replacing ceiling fans as part of a project that requires a building permit and inspections, the inspector will verify that the fans you install are correctly rated for where they are installed. But, even if there is no building inspector looking over your shoulder, getting a fan UL-approved for where you are installing it will save you from premature corrosion and failure later—not to mention, droopy blades.

    Also, see our article What are the code requirements for ceiling fan installation?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 
Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Here’s links to a few of our other articles about CEILING FANS:

• What is the minimum height of a ceiling fan above the floor? 

• What is the average life expectancy of a ceiling fan?

• Why are my ceiling fan blades drooping? 

• How does a home inspector check the ceiling fans? 

• What is the code requirement for ceiling (paddle) fans near or above a swimming pool? 

• How close can a smoke detector be to a ceiling fan?

• Does a home inspector check ceiling fans?

• Does code require a ceiling fan to be grounded?