Calculating your air conditioning requirements

Heat LoadNorth Window BTU = North Facing windows
The amount of heat generated is known as theLength (m) x Width
heat gain orheat load. Heat is measured in either(m) x 165
British Thermal UnitsIf there are no blinds on the windows multiply the
(BTU) or Kilowatts (KW). 1KW is equivalent toresult(s)by 1.5.
3412BTUs.Add together all the BTUs for the windows.
The heat load depends on a number of factors,Windows BTU = South Window(s) BTU + North
by taking intoaccount those that apply in yourWindow(s) BTU
circumstances and adding themtogether aOccupants
reasonably accurate measure of the total heatYou will have to take that into account people
can becalculated.who normallyworking in the space. The heat
Factors include:output is around 400 BTU perperson.
The floor area of the roomTotal Occupant BTU = Number of occupants x
The size and position of windows, and whether400
they haveblinds or shadesEquipment
The number of room occupants (if any)Clearly most heat in a room is generated by the
The heat generated by equipmentequipment.
The heat generated by lightingThis is trickier to calculate that you might think.
Floor Area of RoomThe wattageon equipment is the maximum
The amount of cooling required depends on thepower consumption rating, the actualpower
area of theroom. To calculate the area in squareconsumed may be less. However it is probably
metres:safer tooverestimate the wattage than
Room Area BTU = Length (m) x Width (m) xunderestimate it.
337Equipment BTU = Total wattage for all equipment
Window Size and Positionx 3.5
If, your room has no windows, you can ignoreLighting
this part of thecalculation. If, however there areTake the total wattage of the lighting and multiply
windows you need to take thesize and orientationby 4.25.
into account.Lighting BTU = Total wattage for all lighting x 4.25
South Window BTU = South Facing windowTotal Cooling Required
Length (m) x Width (m)x 870Add all the BTUs together.