I am replacing a ceiling fan that was originally mounted to a beam along the peak of a 10ft vaulted ceiling. Two issues:

1) the bracket for the fan appears to have been attached directly to the beam. The wiring is protruding through a bored hole in the beam. The beam appears to have an outer thickness of about 1.5 inches before it becomes hollow.

2) I can't find a junction box or pan box the wiring was enclosed in, just shoved under the original fan cover

I'm not sure the set-up was safe, and am not sure how to proceed with the installation.

How can I ensure a safe installation?

Pics:

IMG00052 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47916948@N02/4393344342/)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4791694...n/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4791694...n/photostream/

Links to pictures:

IMG00053 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47916948@N02/4393344460/)

IMG00056 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47916948@N02/4392574139/)

IMG00052 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47916948@N02/4393344342/)

Personally I would mount the new fan the same way as the old one. Secure the mounting bracket to the beam with woodscrews, do the wiring inside the fan's canopy.

If you want to be fully legal and do it with a fan rated box, you will either need to find a pancake box or wiremold box that is fan rated. There may be other options that I am not aware of.