ORIENTAL MOTOR
Safety Standards for Fan Motors
Hiroshi SAJI
With upgraded performance and density of HVAC (separate Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
systems, demands for fan motors are increasing throughout the world. To meet such demands, Oriental
Motor has a number of products which have safety recognition. Described here are the standards of
Canada, Europe, Japan and the U.S.A.. And I also talk about the points to look at when using Fan Motors.
1. Introduction
Recent equipment have a tendency to generate greater heat
and HVAC (separate Heating, Ventilating, and airconditioning) systems for them have been rapidly improved to
have higher performance and package density. At the same
time, the HVAC systems have been designed to be more
international. This is not exceptional to fan motors, either. Fan
motors have been requested to be certified by EN/IEC
standards and the CE Mark in addition to the conventional UL
and CSA standards. Positively in response to such requests,
Oriental Motor has also commercialized products approved
for overseas safety standards and voltage specifications.
These approved products have the merits below.
- Simplified safety evaluation of each component
- Reduction in application cost
- Reduction in application time
- Simplified application forms
- Management-free after certification
2. Fan Motor Safety Standards
Below will be explained representative safety standards by
which fan motors are certified: UL Standards (the United
States of America), CSA Standards (Canada), EN Standards
(the European Union), and Electrical Appliance and Material
Safety Law (Japan).
2.1 UL Standards
UL Standards include the following standards for fan
motors:
- UL507 Electric Fans
This provides standards concerning general
constructions of fan motors of 600 V or lower,
excluding protection of fan motors against
overheating (see UL2111) and evaluation of insulation
systems of Class E or higher (see UL1446).
- UL1917 Solid-state Fan Speed Controls
This provides standards for control circuits for
variable-speed fans of single-phase 300 V or lower.
1
RENGA No.160
- UL2111 Overheating Protection for Motors
This provides standards for protection of motors
against overheating.
- UL1446 Systems of Insulating Materials-General
This provides standards for insulation systems.
Oriental Motor products are UL-recognized and have the
“UL Recognized Component” mark on them.
2.2 CSA Standard
CSA standards include the following standards for fan
motors:
- C22.2 No.113 Fans and Ventilators
This provides standards for general requirements for
fans. Oriental Motor products are CSA-certified and
have the CSA mark on them or UL-recognized and
have a c-UL mark (Component mark) on them.
2.3 EN Standards
EN standard include no standard for fan motors. Therefore,
the EN standards below are applied to fan motors.
- EN60950 Safety of information technology equipment,
including electrical business equipment
This provides standards for generals of information
technology equipment and business equipment.
Oriental Motor products are certified by TÜV Rheinland,
VDE, or DEMKO by mainly performing a 48-hour humidity
test on fan motors or testing motors under a test condition
specified by Annex.B and have its mark on them.
2.4 Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law
The Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law includes
the following technical standards for fan motors.
- Ministry Ordinance Appendix 8-1 and 2 (41) that
establish technical standards of the Electrical Appliance
This law is provided to prevent the occurrence of dangers
and troubles resulting from defective electrical appliances
used in general homes and offices. This law is written for
fans, ventilators, circulators and blowers. Oriental Motor’s fan
motors that are designed and sold as components of
ORIENTAL MOTOR
equipment are not in the scope of this law. However, the
Oriental Motor’s MU series have been certified by the Japan
Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratories
(JET) and have the PSE mark and the safety certification
mark (S mark) on the nameplates.
3. Safety Standard Requiring Test for Fan
Motors
Each standard has requirements of fan motors. Table 1 lists
test items required by UL, CSA, and EN standards. (See Page
5.) Further, when a running fan motor is locked by an
overload, when the ambient temperature goes up abruptly, or
when anything increases its input, the temperature of the fan
motor quickly goes up. If this status continues for a short
period, the fan motor may lose its internal insulation
performance and shorten the service life. In an extreme case,
the winding may be damaged and the motor may catch fire.
Table 2 shows the details of a motor locking test to check the
protection of the fan motor against damages by overheating.
Oriental Motor’s fan motors are equipped with a thermal
protector or impedance protection against overheating.
4. CE Marking
To distribute equipment in the EU region, the manufacturer
must attach the CE mark to the equipment to indicate that the
equipment conforms to the related EC Directive.
To check whether the equipment satisfies the requirements
of the EC Directive, the manufacturer must examine whether
the equipment conforms to the EN standards for the EC
Directive (or IEC standards or the like if the EN standards are
not available).
Then the manufacturer must prepare a self-declaration to
declare that the equipment conforms to the Directive and
attaches the CE mark to it. In some cases, when the
equipment is very hazardous, the conformity assessment by a
national authority is required. In this case, the manufacturer
prepares a self-declaration after obtaining the approval type
certificate by this conformity assessment.
However, the EC Directive does not require all components
in the equipment be certified by standards. When the
equipment includes any non-certified part, the manufacturer
must test and ensure that the part is safe in its intended use.
Below will explain the major EC Directives for fan motors
and equipment that uses a fan motor and their handling.
4.1 Machine Directive
This directive covers electrical equipment including a
moving part that may injure its user. Generally, this directive
is applied to final products such as machine tools and the like.
Therefore, a fan motor itself need not have the CE mark.
When installing Oriental Motor’s fan motor in the
equipment that must conform to the Machine Directive, the
manufacturer must design so that the user may not easily
access the fan blades or provide an optional finger guard (see
5.2.1) for the fan motor.
4.2 Low Voltage Directive
This directive covers electrical equipment designed for use
with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000 V for
alternating current and between 75 and 1500 V for direct
current. This directive is applicable to AC fan motors among
Oriental Motor’s products. The conformity to this directive is
based EN60950. This directive is not applicable to Oriental
Motor’s DC fan motors because it is designed for use with a
voltage rage of under 75V for direct current.
4.3 EMC Directive
This directive covers electrical equipment that may give
electromagnetic interferences (EMI) and receive
electromagnetic interferences (EMS). The EMC directive as
well as the Machine Directive is also applied to final
products.
With respect to electric parts, the European Commission
has published “Guideline of the Application of Council
Directive 89/336/EEC” which gives careful and easily
understandable explanations of directive contents and
procedures. This guideline says the EMC Directive is
applicable to all electric parts having a direct function (which
is related to electromagnetic interference and works by itself).
The manufacturer who sells such electric parts is requested to
offer specifications and installation conditions conforming to
the EMC Directive for end users. Oriental Motor’s fan motors
self-declare the CE marking by the EN standards below.
Applied standards
- EN61000-6-4 For Emission Tests (EN55011 Group 1,
Class A)
Measurement of electromagnetic interference
- EN61000-6-2 For Immunity Tests
Radioactive electromagnetic field immunity test
Conductive electromagnetic field immunity test
Static discharge test
As an example, Figure 1 shows the result of measurement
of electromagnetic interference of the MDS series
MDS1225-24.
Further, Article 5.4 of the guideline states that “An
induction motor can be considered as excluded from the EMC
Directive as it does function satisfactorily by the inherent
nature of its physical characteristics without additional
measures when used as instructed by the manufacturer in the
intended electromagnetic environment.”
Therefore, AC fan motors directly connected to a
commercial power source need not have any measure for the
EMC.
RENGA No.160
2
ORIENTAL MOTOR
Figure 1 Measurement of MDS1225-24 Electromagnetic Interference
5. Products Certified by and Conforming to
Safety Standard and Tips to Use Them
Pollution Degree 2 and Overvoltage Category III.
Oriental Motor products are loosely classified into two
categories: Safety standard certified products that were
designed upon the requirements of the above safety standards
and certified by the third-party intervention and safety
standard conforming products that were designed in
conformance to the safety standards.
5.1.3 Plug cord set
5.1 Safety Standard Certified Products
The products and optional parts below are certified by a
mandatory third-party intervention.
5.1.1 AC fan motor
The AC fan motor is built in equipment connected to the
AC power supply. It conforms to Class I equipment against
electric shock. Therefore, as the motor has only the basic
insulation, the equipment including the AC fan motor must
have protective grounding (PE) and a means to keep the
user’s hands off the fan. The fan installation condition is
Pollution Degree 2 and Overvoltage Category II. Oriental
Motor produces propeller, Sirocco, and cross-flow fan types
on a commercial basis.
5.1.2 DC fan motor (Propeller fan type )
The DC fan motor is built in equipment connected to the
DC power supply. It conforms to Class III equipment against
electric shock. Therefore, the DC fan motor is connected to
the insulation-enhanced SELV circuit (Safety Extra Low
Voltage Circuit) for use. The fan installation condition is
3
RENGA No.160
This is a plug type power cable for the MU series having a
plug whose blades are inserted into the power supply. The
plug cord set is certified by Electrical Appliance Type
Certification, UL Certification, and CSA Certification. (The
plug cord set is UL-certified only under condition that the
plug cord set is used for the MU series (as an unlisted
component). ) This plug cord set need not satisfy the
requirements of the EN Standards as it is an internal wiring
material used by Oriental Motor’s fan motors. The Standards
below are applied to the plug cord.
- Ministry Ordinance Appendix 4 that provides technical
standards of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety
Law
- UL498 Electrical Attachment Plugs and Receptacles
- UL817 Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords
- C22.2 No.21-M90 Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords
- C22.2 NO182.3-M1987 Special Use Attachment Plugs,
Receptacles, and Connectors
5.2 Safety Standard Conforming Product
The products and optional parts below are designed to
satisfy the structural requirements concerning protection of
human bodies against damages by touching moving parts that
are provided by safety standards of final equipment.
5.2.1 Finger guard
The finger guard prevents user fingers and foreign objects
ORIENTAL MOTOR
from touching the running blades of a fan motor. The finger
guard mounted on an Oriental Motor fan motor is designed to
conform to tests provided by the Electrical Appliance and
Material Safety Law, UL Standards, and CSA Standards as
listed below.
- Ministry Ordinance Appendix 8-1(2) that provides
technical standards of the Electrical Appliance and
Material Safety Law
- UL507 Electric Fans
- C22.2 No.113 Fans and Ventilators
With respect to the EN standards, the finger guard mounted
on an Oriental Motor fan motor complies with EN60529 class
IP2X (Allowing no solid objects of 12 mm or bigger in
diameter to pass through).
5.2.2 Filter
A filter unit comprises a filtering medium, a guard and a
retainer. The filtering medium removes dust and small
particles from air and keeps the inside of the apparatus clean.
The guard prevents user fingers and foreign objects from
touching the moving part. These components are ULcertified.
5.2.4 Cooling module
There are two types of cooling modules: a fan filter type
comprising a fan motor and a filter and a filter panel type with
a filter. The fan filter type cooling module blocks invasion of
user fingers and foreign objects into the module and the
moving part by a cover, media and a finger guard. The filter
panel type blocks them by a cover and a filtering medium.
Both cooling module types use certified MU-series fan
motors. Therefore they must have a protective grounding (PE)
and a means to keep the user’s hands off the fan.
6. Conclusion
I described the safety standards for fan motors and optional
parts. Table 3 lists Oriental Motor’s products certified by the
safety standards and Table 4 lists Oriental Motor’s products
conforming to the safety standards. Oriental Motor will make
our certified products complete to offer safer products and
support users by simplifying safety evaluation of each part
and reducing the certifying cost.
5.2.3 Screen
This aluminum mesh screen allows air to pass through but
blocks electromagnetic waves. It also prevents user fingers
and foreign objects from touching the moving fan blades.
Writer
Hiroshi SAJI
Techno-Research Company
RENGA No.160 (Japanese Original Edition): Published in September 2000
Copyright © 2004 ORIENTAL MOTOR CO., LTD.
RENGA No.160
4
ORIENTAL MOTOR
Table 1 Test Items Required For Fan Motors
Test item
Related standard
AC input type
DC input type
Single-phase Three-phase
Spacings
UL507 24
Spacings for Bare Live Parts
C22.2 No.113 4.15
Structural check
-
Note
-
-
Clearances, Creepage distance and
EN60950 2.9
distances through insulation
Product specification check
Temperature test
Input Test
UL507 35 and 152.2
Rating
C22.2 No.113 6.2 and 6.3
Power Interface
EN60950 1.6
Temperature Test
UL507 36 and 152.3
Temperature Test
C22.2 No.113 6.4
Heating
EN60950 5.1
Temperature Test
UL1917 21
Humidity Conditioning Test
UL507 41
Insulation
EN60950 2.2
Permanence of Marking Test
EN60950 1.7.15
Dielectric Voltage Withstand Test
UL507 37 and 152.4
Dielectric Strength
C22.2 No.113 6.5
Electric Strength
EN60950 5.3
Dielectric Voltage Withstand Test
UL1917 25
Note
-
-
DC Offset Voltage Test
UL1917 22
Note
-
-
Earthing Test
EN60950 2.5.11
-
Earth Leakage Current
EN60950 5.2
-
Locked Rotor Test
UL507 40 or UL2111 7 and 14
Locked Rotor Endurance Test
UL507 40 or UL2111 9 and 16
Locked Rotor Temperature
C22.2 No.77 5.4
-
Locked Rotor Endurance Test
C22.2 No.77 5.6
Locked-Rotor Overload Test
EN60950 Annex B.5
Abnormal Operating Locked Rotor Test
UL507 152.5
Locked Rotor Test
C22.2 No.113 T.I.L. G-37B 4.4
-
-
Locked Rotor Overload Test for
EN60950 Annex B.7
Environmental test
Permanence of marking test
Protection-againstelectric shock
Malfunction test
Evaluation of insulation classes
DC Motors in secondary circuit
Reliability of Electronic Protection Circuit
C22.2 No.113 T.I.L. G-37B 4.5
-
-
Test for Motors with Capacitors
EN60950 Annex B.8
-
-
Test for Three-Phase Motors
EN60950 Annex B.9
-
-
Overload Test
UL1917 23
Note
-
-
Endurance Test
UL1917 24
Note
-
-
Short Circuit Test
UL1917 26
Note
-
-
Breakdown of Capacitor Test
UL1917 27
Note
-
-
System of Insulating Materials-General
UL1446
Note: UL1917 is applied to variable-speed fan motors of single-phase 300 V or less only.
Applied Standards (at February 2004)
· UL507 9th/UL2111 1st/UL1917 3rd
· C22.2 No.113: 1994/ C22.2 No.77: 1995
· EN60950: 2000
5
RENGA No.160
Applied to insulation systems of
UL1446 E and higher
ORIENTAL MOTOR
Table 2 Details of Malfunction Test Method
Test name
Locked Rotor Test (UL)
Locked Rotor Temprature (CSA)
Locked Rotor Overload Test (EN)
Applied
UL507 40
UL2111 7 and 14
standard
C22.2 No.77 5.4 and 5.6
EN60950 Annex B.5
<UL507, UL2111, C22.2 No.77>
<EN60950>
1. Lock the rotor.
1. Lock the rotor.
2. When the motor is impedance-protected
2. Use the maximum rated voltage as the test voltage.
Test the motor with an external capacitor of a normal
3. Test the motor of a normal connection regardless of
connection or shortcircuit connection whichever
Outline of
test
whether the motor is impedance-protected or with a
generates more heat.
thermal protector.
This test can be omitted when the temperature of the
4. Test duration
winding under test is under 100 degrees C.
Impedance protected: 15 days
3. When the motor is thermal-protected, test the motor with
a normal connection.
4. The test duration is 72 hours. (This is followed by the
Record temperatures for 72 hours from the beginning of
Endurance Test.)
Apparatus
used
Test method
with a thermal protector: 18 days
5. Temperature recording
the test.
Digital power meter, Thermograph, Stop watch, Digital multimeter, and Stabilized power supply
<When the motor is impedance-protected>
1. Determine the test condition.
Lock the rotor, apply a nominal test voltage to the fan
motor, measure the input to the motor with the capcitor
short- or normal-connected by the multimeter, and test
the motor of a capacitor connection which requires a
higher input.
2. Ground the motor via a 3A-fuse.
3. Apply the nominal test voltage to the fan motor and keep
on the test for 72 hours.
- Record the current and input just after starting the test.
- Record the current and input after the temperature
becomes steady.
<When the motor is equipped with a thermal protector>
1. Connect the fan motor normally.
2. Ground the fan motor via a 3A-fuse.
3. Apply the nominal test voltage to the fan motor and keep
on the test for 72 hours.
- Record the current and input just after starting the test.
- Record the current and input just before the thermal
protector opens.
1. Connect the fan motor normally.
2. Lock the rotor, apply a maximum rated voltage to the fan
motor, and keep on the testing for 72 hours.
- Record the current and input just after starting the test.
- Record the current and input just before the thermal
protector opens.
* After keeping this rotor-lock test for 72 hours (3 days),
perform a withstand voltage test and then keep on the
remaining rotor-lock test.
- The rotor winding temperature must not exceed the preset permissible temperature.
Judgment
condition
Class A
Class E
Class B
I.P.
Max
150C
165C
175C
T.P. 0-1h
Max
200C
215C
225C
1 hour or later Max
175C
190C
200C
2 hours and 72 hours Max
150C
165C
175C
- The 3A-fuse connected to the grounding must not be blown out. (UL/CSA Standard)
- The fan motor must not smoke or catch fire for a long time.
- The related parts such as the capacitor and the starting relay must not malfunction.
RENGA No.160
6
ORIENTAL MOTOR
Table 3 List of Certified Products
Type
Series
Voltage [V]
Runner diameter [mm]
□200 □180 □160 □140 □119 □104 □92
50/60Hz
MRS
MR
MRS
variable
speed
Propeller fan
MU
Type
Cross-flow fan
MB
Series
MF
Type
UL
CSA
EN
CE marking
JET LVD EMC
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase230V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Three-phase200/200, 230V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase100/100, 110, 115V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase200, 230/200, 220, 230V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Three-phase200/200, 220, 230V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase100/100, 115V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase200/200, 230V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase100V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase115V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase200V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Single-phase220, 230/230V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC5V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC12V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC24V
-
170
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC12V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC24V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC12V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
DC24V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Voltage [V]
Runner diameter [mm]
50/60Hz
160
120
100
Standard certification
80
60
50
UL
CSA
EN
CE marking
JET LVD EMC
Single-phase100/100, 110, 115V
-
-
Single-phase200, 230/200, 220, 230V
-
-
Three-phase200/200, 230V
-
-
-
-
-
Voltage [V]
Runner diameter [mm]
Standard certification
50/60Hz
300
150
UL
CSA
EN
Single-phase100/100, 110, 115V
Single-phase200, 230/200, 220, 230V
Series
Option
□42
MD
Sirocco fan
□52
Single-phase200/200, 230V
MRS
variable
speed
Series
□62
Single-phase100/100, 115V
MDS
Type
Standard certification
□80
Fan motor applicable
Plug cord
-
-
-
-
Standard certification
MRS
MR
MU
MDS
MD
MB
MF
FM
UL
-
-
-
-
-
-
CSA
EN
-
CE marking
JET LVD EMC
CE marking
JET LVD EMC
-
-
Table 4 List of Conforming Products
Type
Cooling module
Series
FM
Voltage [V]
Number of fanmotors
Standard certification for motors
50/60Hz
3
2
1
UL CSA EN DENAN
Single-phase100V
Single-phase115V
Single-phase200V
Single-phase220, 230/230V
* The mounted fan motors are certified by the CE marking (LVD).
Type
Series
for Sirocco fan for cross-fan Standard certification
for propeller fan
□200 □180 □160 □140 □119 □104 □92 □80 □62 □52 □42 120 100 80 L300 L150 UL CSA EN DENAN
Option
7
RENGA No.160
Finger guard
Filter
-
-
-
Screen
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-