Ceiling fans over ______ inches in diameter are required to be considered as an obstruction.

In the context of fire protection and sprinkler system design, ceiling fans play a significant role in ensuring that water distribution from sprinklers is not impeded. For safety regulations and to maintain the effectiveness of sprinkler systems, ceiling fans that exceed a specific diameter are classified as obstructions. Ceiling fans larger than 60 inches in diameter create an obstruction that can interfere with the water spray pattern from the sprinklers.

Understanding this requirement is vital for compliance with safety codes and for the effective design of sprinkler systems. When ceiling fans are larger than the specified size, additional measures may be necessary to ensure that the sprinkler system operates effectively, such as adjusting the location of the sprinkler heads or employing certain design strategies to avoid the obstruction's impact on water distribution.