MEP
Load Calculation
An engineering calculation that determines the heating, cooling, or electrical demand a building system must handle.
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In the Field
Mechanical engineers run Manual J for HVAC loads; electrical engineers size panels and feeders from load schedules. Never oversize HVAC just to be safe — oversized equipment short-cycles and causes humidity problems.
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Rule of Thumb
A rough residential HVAC rule is 400–600 sq ft per ton of cooling, but a real Manual J can shift that by 50% depending on insulation and climate.