How to identify a Multi-Wing fan blade

Step 1. Find the code on the blade root

The code is moulded or stamped into the blade near the root bushing. Wipe the area with a cloth — dust, grease, and oxidation often hide the markings.

Typical codes look like 2ZR, 4ZL, 5ZR PAG, or 7ZL. Some older blades only show a series letter and rotation (Z-R or Z-L).

Step 2. Read the series number

The number before the series letter indicates the blade profile family:

• 1Z — smallest Z-series profile, electronics cooling and compact HVAC
• 2Z — compact Z-series profile, HVAC extract and small industrial cooling
• 4Z — mid-range Z-series profile (the most widely installed industrial blade), HVAC, condensers, warehouse extract, process cooling
• 5Z — large Z-series profile, cooling towers, mine main fans, large industrial extract
• 6Z — increasing-arc Z-series profile (reversible paddle), heavy-duty cooling towers and mining ventilation
• 7Z — widest-chord Z-series profile, dust extraction and high-pressure forced-draft duty
• TR7Z / TR8Z — truly reversible Z-series blades for bidirectional duty (timber kilns, food processing, smoke extraction)
• 1W, 2W, 3W — small to mid W-series sickle blades for HVAC and refrigeration
• 5W, 6W, 7W, 8W, 9W — large W-series airfoil and paddle blades for cooling towers and high-airflow duty
• 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 6H — H-series compact blades for small HVAC, refrigeration, and compressor cooling
• 10G — the largest thermoplastic fan blade made; extreme-diameter cooling towers
• 8D, 8M — broad-paddle moulded blades for compact condenser and dry-cooler units
• PMAX3 / PMAX4 / PMAX5 — high-pressure engine cooling blades (compact, mid-range, large)
• PMAX6 — legacy first-generation PressureMAX; limited SA stock remains
• EMAX4 — efficiency-optimised HVAC/R and condenser blades
• If your code shows 3Z, 1G, PMAX7/8/9, EMAX3, EMAX6, or TR11W, these are Multi-Wing variants not held in SA stock; we can special-order with a 4-5 week lead time.

Step 3. Identify the rotation letter

The letter after the number tells you which direction the fan rotates:

R — right-hand (clockwise) rotation when viewed from behind the motor looking at the fan.

L — left-hand (counter-clockwise) rotation from the same viewpoint.

Fitting the wrong rotation reverses the airflow direction — critical to get right on replacement. If you are unsure, stand behind the motor and watch the fan spin before switching it off.

Step 4. Identify the material

The material is usually printed after the code (e.g. 5ZR PAG) or identifiable by colour and feel:

• PAG — glass-filled nylon, matte black, hard and rigid. Standard material for general industrial duty, rated −60°C to +120°C.
• PPG — polypropylene, slightly softer feel, chemical-resistant. Used where acid fumes or corrosive exhaust are present.
• PAGAS — anti-static glass-filled nylon, sometimes identifiable by a darker shade. Mandatory for ATEX-classified zones: coal mines, grain silos, petrochemical.
• Aluminium — cast metal, silver finish, noticeably heavier. Used above 80°C or where maximum structural strength is needed.

Step 5. Check hub compatibility

Multi-Wing Z-series hubs come in 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 16 blade configurations. Larger Z profiles (4Z, 5Z, 6Z, 7Z, TR7Z, TR8Z) fit all seven hub sizes. Smaller profiles (1Z, 2Z) fit 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12-blade hubs only (not 16).

W-series hubs run 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, and 13 blade configurations. 1W, 6W, and 8W also support a 3-blade LP (low-pressure) hub.

Count the blades on the existing hub, or check the hub's stamped number. This determines how many replacement blades to order. If you're unsure which hub your blade fits, send us the code on WhatsApp and we'll confirm.