Calculate sensible heat ratio (SHR), sensible and latent load breakdown, and equipment sizing implications.
| Space Type | Typical SHR | Latent Load Source | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office / Commercial | 0.85–0.95 | People, ventilation OA | Low Latent |
| Retail | 0.80–0.90 | People, OA, infiltration | Low Latent |
| Restaurant / Kitchen | 0.65–0.75 | Cooking, high OA, steam | High Latent |
| Gym / Fitness | 0.65–0.75 | Heavy occupancy sweat load | High Latent |
| Natatorium / Pool | 0.30–0.55 | Evaporation from water surface | High Latent |
| Hospital Patient Room | 0.70–0.80 | People, OA requirements | Med Latent |
| Warehouse | 0.90–0.98 | Minimal occupancy | Low Latent |
| Humid Climate (summer) | 0.70–0.80 | OA humidity, infiltration | High Latent |
This sensible vs latent split calculator finds the sensible heat ratio (SHR) and the breakdown of a cooling load into dry sensible heat and moisture-removal latent heat. Enter the loads directly in BTU/hr, or enter supply airflow with room and supply dry-bulb temperatures and humidity ratios and let the tool compute each component.
SHR is the single number that tells you whether a space is mostly a cooling problem or also a humidity problem. The tool plots the split, reports total tons, and flags low-SHR cases where supplemental dehumidification — reheat, a dedicated dehumidifier, or a desiccant wheel — is usually needed.
| Quantity | Equation |
|---|---|
| Sensible heat ratio | SHR = Sensible ÷ (Sensible + Latent) |
| Sensible load | Q‑sens = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT (°F) |
| Latent load | Q‑lat = 0.68 × CFM × ΔW (gr/lb) |
| Total cooling | Tons = (Sensible + Latent) ÷ 12,000 |
The airside constants follow ASHRAE Fundamentals: 1.08 for sensible heat (specific heat × density × 60) and 0.68 for latent heat when the humidity-ratio difference ΔW is in grains per pound of dry air. SHR is the sensible fraction of the total; equipment SHR is typically 0.70–0.80, so a lower space SHR signals a need for supplemental dehumidification.
This calculator handles one step. AIM Works runs the complete MEP design workflow — thermal load calculations, duct & pipe networks, equipment selection, code compliance, and an AI design assistant — in one tool.