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5
Cooling Load Rules of Thumb

H V A C E Q U AT I O N S , D ATA , A N D R U L E S O F T H U M B
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5.01 Offices, Commercial

A. General
1. Total Heat 300–400 sq.ft./ton (Range 230–520).
2. Total Heat 30–40 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 23–52).
3. Room Sens. Heat 25–28 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 19–37).
4. SHR 0.75–0.93.
5. Perimeter Spaces 1.0–3.0 cfm/sq.ft.
6. Interior Spaces 0.5–1.5 cfm/sq.ft.
7. Building Block cfm 1.0–1.5 cfm/sq.ft.
8. Air Change Rate 4–10 AC/hr.

B. Large, Perimeter
1. Total Heat 225–275 sq.ft./ton.
2. Total Heat 43–53 Btuh/sq.ft.

C. Large, Interior
1. Total Heat 300–350 sq.ft./ton.
2. Total Heat 34–40 Btuh/sq.ft.

D. Small
1. Total Heat 325–375 sq.ft./ton.
2. Total Heat 32–37 Btuh/sq.ft.

5.02 Banks, Court Houses, Municipal Buildings, Town Halls

A. Total Heat 200–250 sq.ft./ton (Range 160–340)

B. Total Heat 48–60 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 35–75)

C. Room Sens. Heat 28–38 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 21–48)

D. SHR 0.75–0.90

E. Air Change Rate 4–10 AC/hr.

5.03 Police Stations, Fire Stations, Post Offices

A. Total Heat 250–350 sq.ft./ton (Range 200–400)

B. Total Heat 34–48 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 30–60)

C. Room Sens. Heat 25–35 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–40)

D. SHR 0.75–0.90

E. Air Change Rate 4–10 AC/hr.

5.04 Precision Manufacturing

A. Total Heat 50–300 sq.ft./ton

B. Total Heat 40–240 Btuh/sq.ft.

C. Room Sens. Heat 32–228 Btuh/sq.ft.

Cooling Load Rules of Thumb 47
D. SHR 0.80–0.95

E. Air Change Rate 10–50 AC/hr.

5.05 Computer Rooms

A. Total Heat 50–150 sq.ft./ton

B. Total Heat 80–240 Btuh/sq.ft.

C. Room Sens. Heat 64–228 Btuh/sq.ft.

D. SHR 0.80–0.95

E. Air Flow 2.0–4.0 cfm/sq.ft.

F. Air Change Rate 15–20 AC/hr.

5.06 Restaurants

A. Total Heat 100–250 sq.ft./ton (Range 75–300)

B. Total Heat 48–120 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 40–155)

C. Room Sens. Heat 21–62 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–80)

D. SHR 0.65–0.80

E. Air Flow 1.5–4.0 cfm/sq.ft.

F. Air Change Rate 8–12 AC/hr.

5.07 Kitchens (Depends Primarily on Kitchen Equipment)

A. Total Heat 150–350 sq.ft./ton (at 85ºF space)

B. Total Heat 34–80 Btuh/sq.ft. (at 85ºF space)

C. Room Sens. Heat 20–56 Btuh/sq.ft. (at 85ºF space)

D. SHR 0.60–0.70

E. Air Flow 1.5–2.5 cfm/sq.ft.

F. Air Change Rate 12–15 AC/hr.

5.08 Cocktail Lounges, Bars, Taverns, Clubhouses, Nightclubs

A. Total Heat 150–200 sq.ft./ton (Range 75–300)

B. Total Heat 60–80 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 40–155)

C. Room Sens. Heat 27–40 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–80)

D. SHR 0.65–0.80

E. Spaces 1.5–4.0 cfm/sq.ft.

48 PA RT 5

F. Air Change Rate 15–20 AC/hr. Cocktail Lounges, Bars, Taverns,

Clubhouses

G. Air Change Rate 20–30 AC/hr. Night Clubs

5.09 Hospital Patient Rooms, Nursing Home Patient Rooms

A. Total Heat 250–300 sq.ft./ton (Range 200–400)

B. Total Heat 40–48 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 30–60)

C. Room Sens. Heat 32–46 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 25–50)

D. SHR 0.75–0.85

5.10 Buildings w/100 percent OA Systems

(e.g., Laboratories, Hospitals)

A. Total Heat 100–300 sq.ft./ton

B. Total Heat 40–120 Btuh/sq.ft.

5.11 Medical/Dental Centers, Clinics, and Offices

A. Total Heat 250–300 sq.ft./ton (Range 200–400)

B. Total Heat 40–48 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 30–60)

C. Room Sens. Heat 32–46 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 25–50)

D. SHR 0.75–0.85

E. Air Change Rate 8–12 AC/hr.

5.12 Residential

A. Total Heat 500–700 sq.ft./ton

B. Total Heat 17–24 Btuh/sq.ft.

C. Room Sens. Heat 12–20 Btuh/sq.ft.

D. SHR 0.80–0.95

5.13 Apartments (Eff., One-Room, Two-Room)

A. Total Heat 350–450 sq.ft./ton (Range 300–500)

B. Total Heat 27–34 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 24–40)

C. Room Sens. Heat 22–30 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–35)

D. SHR 0.80–0.95
Cooling Load Rules of Thumb 49

5.14 Motel and Hotel Public Spaces

A. Total Heat 250–300 sq.ft./ton (Range 160–375)

B. Total Heat 40–48 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 32–74)

C. Room Sens. Heat 32–46 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 25–60)

D. SHR 0.75–0.90

5.15 Motel and Hotel Guest Rooms, Dormitories

A. Total Heat 400–500 sq.ft./ton (Range 300–600)

B. Total Heat 24–30 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–40)

C. Room Sens. Heat 20–25 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 15–35)

D. SHR 0.80–0.95

5.16 School Classrooms

A. Total Heat 225–275 sq.ft./ton (Range 150–350)

B. Total Heat 43–53 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 35–80)

C. Room Sens. Heat 25–42 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–65)

D. SHR 0.65–0.80

E. Air Change Rate 4–12 AC/hr.

5.17 Dining Halls, Lunch Rooms, Cafeterias, Luncheonettes

A. Total Heat 100–250 sq.ft./ton (Range 75–300)

B. Total Heat 48–120 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 40–155)

C. Room Sens. Heat 21–62 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–80)

D. SHR 0.65–0.80

E. Spaces 1.5–4.0 cfm/sq.ft.

F. Air Change Rate 12–15 AC/hr.

5.18 Libraries, Museums

A. Total Heat 250–350 sq.ft./ton (Range 160–400)

B. Total Heat 34–48 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 30–75)

C. Room Sens. Heat 22–32 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–50)

50 PA RT 5

D. SHR 0.80–0.90

E. Air Change Rate 8–12 AC/hr.

5.19 Retail, Department Stores

A. Total Heat 200–300 sq.ft./ton (Range 200–500)

B. Total Heat 40–60 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 24–60)

C. Room Sens. Heat 32–43 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 16–43)

D. SHR 0.65–0.90

E. Air Change Rate 6–10 AC/hr.

5.20 Drug, Shoe, Dress, Jewelry, Beauty, Barber,

and Other Shops

A. Total Heat 175–225 sq.ft./ton (Range 100–350)

B. Total Heat 53–69 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 35–115)

C. Room Sens. Heat 23–54 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 15–90)

D. SHR 0.65–0.90

E. Air Change Rate 6–10 AC/hr.

5.21 Supermarkets

A. Total Heat 250–350 sq.ft./ton (Range 150–400)

B. Total Heat 34–48 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 30–80)

C. Room Sens. Heat 25–40 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 22–67)

D. SHR 0.65–0.85

E. Air Change Rate 4–10 AC/hr.

5.22 Malls, Shopping Centers

A. Total Heat 150–350 sq.ft./ton (Range 150–400)

B. Total Heat 34–80 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 30–80)

C. Room Sens. Heat 25–67 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 22–67)

D. SHR 0.65–0.85

E. Air Change Rate 6–10 AC/hr.

Cooling Load Rules of Thumb 51

5.23 Jails

A. Total Heat 350–450 sq.ft./ton (Range 300–500)

B. Total Heat 27–34 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 24–40)

C. Room Sens. Heat 22–30 Btuh/sq.ft. (Range 20–35)

D. SHR 0.80–0.95

5.24 Auditoriums, Theaters

A. Total Heat 0.05–0.07 tons/Seat

B. Total Heat 600–840 Btuh/Seat

C. Room Sens. Heat 325–385 Btuh/Seat

D. SHR 0.65–0.75

E. Air Flow 15–30 cfm/Seat

F. Air Change Rate 8–15 AC/hr.

5.25 Churches

A. Total Heat 0.04–0.06 tons/seat

B. Total Heat 480–720 Btuh/seat

C. Room Sens. Heat 260–330 Btuh/seat

D. SHR 0.65–0.75

E. Air Flow 15–30 cfm/seat

F. Air Change Rate 8–15 AC/hr.

5.26 Bowling Alleys

A. Total Heat 1.5–2.5 tons/alley

B. Total Heat 18,000–30,000 Btuh/alley

C. Air Change Rate 10–15 AC/hr.

5.27 All Spaces

A. Total Heat 300–500 cfm/ton@20F $T

B. Total Heat 400 cfm/ton ± 20%@20F $T

C. Perimeter Spaces 1.0–3.0 cfm/sq.ft.

52 PA RT 5

D. Interior Spaces 0.5–1.5 cfm/sq.ft.

E. Building Block cfm 1.0–1.5 cfm/sq.ft.

F. Air Change Rate 4 AC/hr. minimum

G. Total heat includes ventilation. Room sensible heat does not include ventilation.

5.28 Cooling Load Calculation Procedure

A. Obtain Building Characteristics

1. Construction materials.
2. Construction material properties: U-values, R-values, shading coefficients, solar heat
gain coefficients.
3. Size.
4. Color.
5. Shape.
6. Location.
7. Orientation, N, S, E, W, NE, SE, SW, NW, etc.
8. External/internal shading.
9. Occupancy type and time of day.

B. Select Outdoor Design Weather Conditions

1. Temperature.
2. Wind direction and speed.
3. Conditions in selecting outdoor design weather conditions:
a. Type of structure, heavy, medium, or light.
b. Is structure insulated? If the structure is heated or cooled, the structure must be insu-
lated by code.
c. Is structure exposed to high winds?
d. Infiltration or ventilation load.
e. Amount of glass.
f. Time of building occupancy.
g. Type of building occupancy.
h. Length of reduced indoor temperature.
i. What is daily temperature range, minimum/maximum?
j. Are there significant variations from ASHRAE weather data?
k. What type of heating devices will be used?
l. Expected cost of fuel.
4. See Part 15 for code restrictions on the selection of outdoor design conditions.

C. Select the indoor design temperature to be maintained in each space. See Part 15
for code restrictions on the selection of indoor design conditions.

D. Estimate temperatures in un-conditioned spaces.

E. Select and/or compute U-values for walls, roof, windows, doors, partitions, etc.

F. Determine the area of walls, windows, floors, doors, partitions, etc.

G. Compute the conduction heat gains for all walls, windows, floors, doors, parti-
tions, skylights, etc.

H. Compute the solar heat gains for all walls, windows, floors, doors, partitions,
skylights, etc.
 Cooling Load Rules of Thumb 53
I. I nfiltration heat gains are generally ignored unless space temperature and
humidity tolerance are ­critical.

J. Compute the ventilation heat gain ­required.

K. Compute the internal heat gains from lights, people, and ­equipment.

L. C
 ompute the sum of all heat gains indicated in items G, H, I, J, and K earlier in
this ­list.

M. Include morning ­cool-­down for buildings with intermittent use and night setup.
See Part 15 for code restrictions on the excess HVAC system capacity permitted
for morning cool-­down.

N. C
 onsider equipment and materials that will be brought into the building above
the inside design ­temperature.

O. C
 ooling load calculations should be conducted using ­industry-­accepted methods
to determine the actual cooling load ­requirements.

P. C
 ooling load calculations are often performed using computer simulation pro-­
grams. These programs greatly simplify the calculation process; however, the
basic procedures and input information required are the ­same.

5.29 Cooling Load Peak Time Estimate (for Calculating

Cooling Loads by Hand)

MONTH OF PEAK ROOM COOLING LOAD FOR VARIOUS EXPOSURES

Window Characteristics Probable Month of Peak Room Cooling Load
Shade
% Glass Overhang N S E W NE SE SW NW
Coef.
25 0.4 0 July Sept. July July July Sept. Sept. July
25 0.4 1:2 July Oct. July Aug. July Sept. Sept. July
25 0.4 1:1 July Oct. July July July Sept. Oct. July
25 0.6 0 July Sept. July July July Sept. Sept. July
25 0.6 1:2 July Oct. July Aug. July Sept. Sept. July
25 0.6 1:1 July Dec. July Sept. July Sept. Oct. July
50 0.4 0 July Sept. July July July Sept. Sept. July
50 0.4 1:2 July Oct. July Aug. July Sept. Sept. July
50 0.4 1:1 July Dec. July Sept. July Sept. Oct, July
50 0.6 0 July Oct. July July July Sept. Sept. July
50 0.6 1:2 July Dec. July Aug. July Sept. Oct. July
50 0.6 1:1 July Dec. July Sept. July Sept. Dec. July

Notes:
1 Percent glass is the percent of gross wall area for the particular ­exposure.
2 The shading coefficient refers to the overall shading coefficient. A shading coefficient of 0.4 is approximately
equal to ­double-­pane glass with the ­heat-­absorbing plate out and the regular plate in, combined with ­medium-
­color Venetian ­blinds.
3 Although the room peak for south, southeast, and southwest exposures is September or later, the system peak
will likely be in ­July.
4 The value for the overhang is the ratio of the depth of the overhang to the height of the window with the over-­
hang at the same elevation as the top of the ­window.
5 The roof will peak in June or ­July.

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