Request for Ceiling Fans

All the clients request for ceiling fans in tropical climates.

If we provides cross ventilation in rooms we as architects could discourage ceiling fans.

The theory behind ceiling fans is that by blowing air on to the body the sweat is dried out causing some comfort. When the air is hot the density is reduced and the air rises to the ceiling level. When the ceiling fan is functioning the hot air at the ceiling level is blown back to the body level which causes the air at body level to raise again.

The whole theory of high ceiling and opening at high level for hot air to escape is lost.

It is a misconception that ceiling fans help the room to be cooler. It gives a cool feeling but the reality is it moves the hot air around room.