Calculator

ICU Electrical Load Calculator

Estimate ICU connected load and recommended electrical capacity from bed count, load per bed, fixed equipment, power factor, and reserve margin.

Calculator Inputs

Legend

ICU Electrical Load Calculator guidance

Total kW = beds x load per bed + fixed load. kVA = kW / power factor. Recommended capacity includes reserve margin.

Input meaning

  • ICU beds: enter the measured, quoted, or hospital-approved value.
  • Biomedical load per bed: enter the measured, quoted, or hospital-approved value in kW.
  • Fixed equipment load: enter the measured, quoted, or hospital-approved value in kW.
  • Power factor: enter the measured, quoted, or hospital-approved value.
  • Reserve margin: enter the measured, quoted, or hospital-approved value in %.

Result interpretation

  • Use the result as a planning estimate, not as a final approval by itself.
  • Record the assumptions used so Procurement, Biomedical, Facilities, Finance, and vendors can review the same basis.

Assumptions

  • Final ICU electrical design must include essential power, UPS, isolation panels where required, HVAC, lighting, and code compliance.
  • Use measured loads and engineering diversity factors for final design.

Biomedical use

  • Use this calculator during RFQ preparation, technical evaluation, acceptance planning, service review, or biomedical workload planning.

How to identify the required values

Use these examples and common working ranges to choose values from gauges, labels, manuals, datasheets, RFQs, service reports, CMMS records, or hospital planning assumptions.

FieldExample valueCommon rangeTip
ICU bedsExample: 1.Use operational ICU beds plus approved expansion beds.Use operational beds plus approved expansion beds.
Biomedical load per bedExample: 2 kW.ICU biomedical equipment load is often modeled around 1-3 kW per bed before HVAC/lighting.Include bed-level biomedical devices only; HVAC and lighting belong in facility design.
Fixed equipment loadExample: 0 kW.Include central stations, refrigerators, procedure lights, network racks, and shared devices.Include shared ICU equipment and fixed devices.
Power factorExample: 0.85.Use 0.8-0.95 if not measured; final design should use measured or engineered values.Use measured or engineered power factor for final design.
Reserve marginExample: 25 %.Common preliminary electrical reserve is 20-30%; final reserve follows engineering design.Use ICU expansion and essential-power margin agreed with electrical engineering.

Common ranges are starting points for hospital planning. For final procurement, acceptance testing, electrical design, medical gas design, radiation shielding, dialysis water systems, or clinical use, replace the example values with site-specific data and vendor-confirmed figures.

Input Checklist

Confirm these values before relying on the output for procurement, PM, or service planning.

  • ICU beds
  • Load per bed
  • Fixed equipment load
  • Power factor
  • Reserve margin

Safety And Engineering Notes

Use calculator outputs as planning estimates and verify critical systems with calibrated measurement or qualified engineering review.

  • Final ICU electrical design must include essential power, UPS, isolation panels where required, HVAC, lighting, and code compliance.
  • Use measured loads and engineering diversity factors for final design.

Related Calculators

Continue with calculators in the same biomedical planning area so estimates for power, gas, water, imaging, staffing, procurement, or lifecycle cost stay connected.