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Section

6
Preliminary Load Calculations

6.1.0 Introduction
6.1.1 Prescriptive Unit Lighting Power Allowance (ULPA) (W/ft2), Gross
Lighted Area of Total Building
6.1.2 Typical Appliance/General-Purpose Receptacle Loads (Excluding
Plug-In-Type A/C and Heating Equipment)
6.1.3 Typical Apartment Loads
6.1.4 Typical Connected Electrical Load for Air Conditioning Only
6.1.5 Central Air Conditioning Watts per SF, BTUs per Hour per SF of Floor
Area, and SF per Ton of Air Conditioning
6.1.6 All-Weather Comfort Standard Recommended Heat-Loss Values
6.1.7 Typical Power Requirement (kW) for High-Rise Building Water
Pressure–Boosting Systems
6.1.8 Typical Power Requirement (kW) for Electric Hot Water–Heating System
6.1.9 Typical Power Requirement (kW) for Fire Pumps in Commercial
Buildings (Light Hazard)
6.1.10 Typical Loads in Commercial Kitchens
6.1.11 Comparison of Maximum Demand
6.1.12 Connected Load and Maximum Demand by Tenant Classification
6.1.13 Factors Used in Sizing Distribution-System Components
6.1.14 Factors Used to Establish Major Elements of the Electrical System
Serving HVAC Systems
6.1.15 Service Entrance Peak Demand (Veterans Administration)
6.1.16 Service Entrance Peak Demand (Hospital Corporation of America)

6.1.0 Introduction
The following tables are provided to assist the user in estimating preliminary
loads for various building types. Considerable judgment should be used in the
application of these data. Power densities typically are given in watts per square
foot (W/ft2) or volt-amperes per square foot (VA/ft2) and are used interchangeably
because unity power factor is assumed for preliminary load calculations.

These tables give estimated connected loads. To these the user must apply a
demand factor to estimate the actual demand load. Demand factors for buildings
typically range between 50 and 80 percent of the connected load. For most building
types, the demand factor at the service where the maximum diversity is experienced
is usually 60 to 75 percent of the connected load. Specific portions of the system may
have much higher demand factors, even approaching 100 percent.

6.1
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6.2 Section Six

6.1.1 Prescriptive Unit Lighting Power Allowance

(ULPA) (W/ft2), Gross Lighted Area of Total Building
TABLE 6.1.1

6.1.2 Typical Appliance/General-Purpose

Receptacle Loads (Excluding Plug-In-Type
A/C and Heating Equipment)
TABLE 6.1.2

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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Preliminary Load Calculations 6.3

6.1.3 Typical Apartment Loads

TABLE 6.1.3

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)

6.1.4 Typical Connected Electrical

Load for Air Conditioning Only

TABLE 6.1.4

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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6.4 Section Six

6.1.5 Central Air Conditioning Watts per SF,

BTUs per Hour per SF of Floor Area, and
SF per Ton of Air Conditioning

TABLE 6.1.5

6.1.6 All-Weather Comfort Standard

Recommended Heat-Loss Values

TABLE 6.1.6

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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Preliminary Load Calculations 6.5

6.1.7 Typical Power Requirement (kW) for High-

Rise Building Water Pressure–Boosting Systems

TABLE 6.1.7

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)

6.1.8 Typical Power Requirement (kW)

for Electric Hot Water–Heating System

TABLE 6.1.8

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)

6.1.9 Typical Power Requirement (kW) for Fire

Pumps in Commercial Buildings (Light Hazard)
TABLE 6.1.9

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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6.6 Section Six

6.1.10 Typical Loads in Commercial Kitchens

TABLE 6.1.10

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)

Note: As an alternative to the preceding table, you may use 25 W/ft2 for
commercial kitchens using natural gas for cooking or 125 W/ft2 for electric
cooking. The applicable square footage in calculating kitchen floor area
should include cooking and preparation, dishwashing, storage, walk-in
refrigerators and freezers, food serving lines, tray assembly, and offices.

6.1.11 Comparison of Maximum Demand

TABLE 6.1.11

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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Preliminary Load Calculations 6.7

6.1.12 Connected Load and Maximum

Demand by Tenant Classification

TABLE 6.1.12

(From IEEE Std. 241-1990. Copyright 1990 IEEE. All rights reserved.)

6.1.13 Factors Used in Sizing

Distribution-System Components

TABLE 6.1.13

(From IEEE Std. 602-1996. Copyright 1996 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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6.8 Section Six

6.1.14 Factors Used to Establish Major Elements of

the Electrical System Serving HVAC Systems

TABLE 6.1.14

Note: For a primary cooling system comprised of electrical centrifugal

chillers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, and cooling tower
fans, a factor of 1.7 kVA/ton provides a good estimate.
(From IEEE Std. 602-1996. Copyright 1996 IEEE. All rights reserved.)

6.1.15 Service Entrance Peak Demand

(Veterans Administration)

TABLE 6.1.15

(From IEEE Std. 602-1996. Copyright 1996 IEEE. All rights reserved.)
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Preliminary Load Calculations 6.9

6.1.16 Service Entrance Peak Demand

(Hospital Corporation of America)

TABLE 6.1.16

(From IEEE Std. 602-1996. Copyright 1996 IEEE. All rights reserved.)