How To Calculate Fire Load
Warning
It is important to correctly determine fire load because disobeying fire-load laws is against the law and dangerous.
According to United States law, the fire load of a building is a number measured in kilograms-per-square meter. The fire load of a compartment, which can be a building or container, represents the maximum amount of combustible material that is safely stored in that compartment. With a few pieces of information and a relatively simple math equation, you are able to correctly determine the fire load of a compartment.
Step 1
Determine the weight of combustible materials in the compartment for which you wish to calculate fire load. This value is represented by "W" and is measured in kilograms.
Step 2
Determine the value of these materials in calories. This value is represented by "C" and is measured in kilojoules/kilogram.
Step 3
Determine the area of the compartment. This value is represented by "A" and is measured in square meters.
Step 4
Multiply M by C and divide the total by A to determine the fire load. The equation looks like this:
fire load = (M x C) / A