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Scope

Intermittent supply and exhaust fans rated at ≤ 3 sones by manufacturer, unless rated flow ≥ 400 CFM
Intermittent supply and exhaust fans rated at ≤ 3 sones by manufacturer, unless rated flow ≥ 400 CFM

For intermittent supply or exhaust fans, select quiet fans with a sone rating of 3.0 or less. The sone rating should be listed on the product label or in the manufacturer's license.

See the Compliance Tab for links to related codes and standards and voluntary federal energy-efficiency program requirements.

Description

Exhaust fans are often installed in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to provide intermittent, localized ventilation. Fans that are overly noisy are more likely to be turned off quickly, perhaps too quickly to work effectively, for example to remove all the moisture in the bathroom after a shower or in the kitchen after boiling water. To improve indoor air quality and moisture control, quiet fans should be specified and installed. Fan noise is measured in sones; the lower the sone, the quieter the fan. Exhaust or supply fans installed for intermittent use should have a sone rating of 3 or less. For comparison, a quiet refrigerator operates at about 1.0 sone.

Fans exempted from this requirement include fans with a rated flow rate equal to or greater than 400 CFM, HVAC air handlers, and remote-mounted fans. To be considered exempt, a remote-mounted fan must be mounted outside the habitable spaces, including bathrooms and hallways, and there must be at least 4 feet of ductwork between the fan and intake grille.

For more on exhaust fan ratings, see Continuous Supply/Exhaust Fan Ratings and Bathroom Fan Ratings.

How to Select Low-Sone Supply and Exhaust Fans

  1. When specifying and purchasing exhaust or supply fans that will be used intermittently for local exhaust within the home, select quiet fans with a sone rating of 3.0 or less. The sone rating should be listed on the product label or in the manufacturer’s literature.
Manufactures label found on exhaust fan housing shows sone rating of 2.5
Figure 1. The manufacturer’s label found on this exhaust fan housing shows a sone rating of 2.5. (Source: PNNL).

Ensuring Success

In homes where a fan is installed to provide intermittent supply or exhaust, the HERS rater should inspect to ensure that the fan’s noise level is rated at less than or equal to 3.0 sones by the manufacturer (not required on fans with flow rates equal to or greater than 400 cubic feet per minute).

Region

No climate specific information applies.

Training

Right and Wrong Images

Sone rating is greater than 3.0
Sone rating is greater than 3.0
Sone rating is greater than 3.0
Source
Courtesy Of
EPA
Sone rating is 3.0 for this intermittent exhaust fan
Sone rating is 3.0 for this intermittent exhaust fan
Sone rating is 3.0 for this intermittent exhaust fan
Source
Courtesy Of
EPA
Sone rating is greater than 1 on a continuous exhaust fan
Sone rating is greater than 1 on a continuous exhaust fan
Sone rating is greater than 1 on a continuous exhaust fan
Source
Courtesy Of
EPA
Sone rating is less than or equal to 1 on a continuous exhaust fan
Sone rating is less than or equal to 1 on a continuous exhaust fan
Sone rating is less than or equal to 1 on a continuous exhaust fan
Source
Courtesy Of
EPA
The fan does not have an ENERGY STAR label
The fan does not have an ENERGY STAR label
The fan does not have an ENERGY STAR label
Source
Courtesy Of
EPA
The fan does have an ENERGY STAR label
The fan does have an ENERGY STAR label
The fan does have an ENERGY STAR label
Source
Courtesy Of
EPA

More Info

References and Resources

Publication Date
·
Author(s)
ENERGY STAR
·
Organization(s)
U.S. Department of Energy,
DOE,
ENERGY STAR
Description
Factsheet describing the benefits of purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR rated fans and ventilation products.

*For non-dated media, such as websites, the date listed is the date accessed.

Contributors to this Guide

The following authors and organizations contributed to the content in this Guide.

Sales

Building Science-to-Sales Translator

High-Efficiency Fans = High-Efficiency Fans

Image(s)

Technical Description

High-efficiency exhaust fans and ceiling fans are more energy efficient and quieter than standard fans.

High-Efficiency Fans
Sales Message

High-efficiency fans minimize the wasted energy exhausting air while being virtually silent. What this means to you is odors and contaminants are efficiently removed without the noise. Isn’t it time homes used advanced technology components?

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Disclaimer

This content is a work created with funding provided by the United States Department of Energy under Contract no DE-AC05-076RL01830 for the operation of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The information and guidance provided by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the content are intended solely for educational purposes only and do not constitute formal training or certification. It is provided with the explicit understanding that neither the United States Government nor the United States Department of Energy, nor the Contractor, nor any or their employees, nor any jurisdiction or organization that has cooperated in the development of these materials, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness or any information, apparatus, product, software, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Viewers assumes full responsibility for all actions that they may take from information provided in this content including ensuring the safety, code compliance, and proper functionality of any products they choose to install. Installation and use of such products should be performed in accordance with local regulations and manufacturer instructions.