Are light kits designed and marketed for hugger fans covered by the same statutory requirements that apply to ceiling fan light kits, as defined by EPCA?
Paragraph 321(49) of EPCA defines the term “ceiling fan” as “a nonportable device that is suspended from a ceiling for circulating air via the rotation of fan blades.” (42 U.S.C. 6291(49)) Because Congress used the term “suspended” in the definition of “ceiling fan,” DOE understands that hugger-type ceiling fans (hugger fans), which are mounted flush to the ceiling without any suspension rod, are not “ceiling fans” within the meaning of the statute. 71 FR 71340, 71343 (Dec. 8, 2006). Paragraph 321(50) of EPCA defines the term “ceiling fan light kit” as “equipment designed to provide light from a ceiling fan” (42 U.S.C. 6291(50)) Thus, the use of the EPCA-defined term “ceiling fan” in the definition of a “ceiling fan light kit” raises the issue of whether light kits designed to be operated on hugger fans are subject to the energy conservation standard for ceiling fan light kits (see 10 CFR 430.32(s)). DOE’s response is dependent upon the applications for which a specific light kit is ca
