Heat loads
Required cooling
Total heat load—
In kilowatts—
In cooling tons—
Recommended unit (+20%)—
For critical rooms use N+1 redundancy: install at least one extra unit so cooling continues during a failure or maintenance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much cooling does a server room need?
Add the heat from IT equipment, people and lighting. IT watts × 3.412 gives BTU/hr; add 600 BTU/hr per person and lighting watts × 3.412, then add a safety margin.
How do I convert watts to BTU?
Multiply watts by 3.412 to get BTU per hour. For example, 1000 W of IT load produces about 3,412 BTU/hr of heat.
What is a cooling ton?
One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTU/hr. Divide the total heat load in BTU/hr by 12,000 to get the required tonnage.
Why add redundancy?
Critical rooms use N+1 cooling so that if one unit fails or is serviced, the remaining units still meet the full load and the equipment stays online.
This is a simplified estimate of sensible heat load. A detailed HVAC design also accounts for room construction, outdoor climate, humidity and airflow. Confirm with a mechanical engineer for critical facilities.