Commercial General-Lighting and Receptacle Load (NEC 220.12 / 220.44)
Commercial general-lighting and receptacle load, with the NEC demand factors.
Example
You enter
- Gross floor area (ft²) 5000
- Unit load (VA/ft², Table 220.12) 3
- General-use receptacle straps 60
- Supply voltage (V) 208
You get
- Lighting load (VA) 15000
- Receptacle demand (220.44) 10400 VA
- Total demand (VA) 25400
- Total current (A) 122.1
Details, formula, and sources
Computes the commercial general-lighting load (area x the Table 220.12 unit load) plus the general-use receptacle load at 180 VA per strap (220.14(I)) with the 220.44 demand factor (100% of the first 10 kVA, 50% of the remainder), then the total VA and amps. The 125% continuous factor is applied at the OCPD; the energy code may set the lighting load and the AHJ governs.
lighting_va = area x unit load (Table 220.12); recep_va = straps x 180 VA (220.14(I)); recep_demand = recep_va <= 10 kVA ? recep_va : 10000 + 0.50 x (recep_va - 10000) (220.44); total = lighting + recep_demand; amps = total / V.
Commercial general-lighting and receptacle load, NEC 2023 Table 220.12, 220.14(I), and 220.44, by name.
NEC is free to read at nfpa.org/freeaccess. The 125% continuous-lighting factor is applied at the OCPD (210.20(A)), not here; the energy code may set the lighting unit load.
Estimate. AHJ and licensed electrician govern. Verify against the NEC edition adopted in your jurisdiction.
Field names used by the API: floor_area_ft2, unit_load_va_ft2, receptacle_count, supply_v, lighting_va, recep_demand_va, total_va, total_a
- Unit and strap loads the general-lighting unit load is from Table 220.12 by occupancy; each general-use receptacle strap counts at 180 VANEC Table 220.12, 220.14(I)
- Receptacle demand 100% of the first 10 kVA of receptacle load plus 50% of the remainderNEC 220.44