ACHR News
search
Ask ACHR NEWS AI
cart
facebook twitter instagram linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHR News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • New HVAC Products
    • Featured Products
    • Manufacturer Reports
    • HVAC Data
    • Legislation
    • ACHR NEWS Centennial
  • RESIDENTIAL
    • Air Conditioners
    • Furnaces
    • Residential Heat Pumps
    • Ductless
    • Residential IAQ
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Components & Accessories
  • COMMERCIAL
    • Air Handlers
    • Rooftop Units
    • Chillers and Cooling Towers
    • Commercial Heat Pumps
    • Boilers and Hydronics
    • VRF/Ductless
    • Commercial IAQ
  • REFRIGERATION
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Leak Management
  • CONTRACTOR PRO
    • Geothermal
    • Homeowner Study
    • VRF and VRV Ductless
    • Unitary Trends
  • EDUCATION
    • Training and Education
    • Business Management
    • Service and Maintenance
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research >
      • HVAC Brand Awareness Report
      • VRV, VRF, VRVZ Report
      • Unitary Trends Report
      • Water Heat Professionals Report
    • Webinars
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProducts Info
    • White Papers
  • EVENTS
    • HVAC Contractor Forum
    • Industry Events and Webinars
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • AHR Expo 2025 Videos
    • Podcasts >
      • ACHR News Podcast
      • HARDI Podcasts
      • AHR Expo Podcasts
      • ACCA Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Quizzes
    • eBooks
    • HVAC Talkback
  • HVAC GROUP
    • ACHR NEWS >
      • Current Issue
      • Digital Edition
      • Subscribe
    • Distribution Trends
    • SNIPS NEWS >
      • Join SNIPS NEWS
    • Engineered Systems News >
      • Join ES News
    • HVACR Directory
    • Contests
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • My Account
HVAC ContractingNewsService and MaintenanceTechnicalVentilation

Understanding the Formula to Calculate BTUH

Where does the 1.08 factor come from?

By Carter Stanfield
Johnston Community College.
Johnston Community College. (Courtesy of HVAC Excellence)
June 20, 2021

You may be familiar with the formula BTUH = CFM x ΔT x 1.08. This same formula is often rearranged to use for determining airflow by measuring the heat input and temperature rise.
CFM=BTUH/( ΔT x 1.08)

To get the BTU per hour (BTUH) with electric strips you use the formula:
BTUH = volts x amps x 3.41 BTUH/watt

Together the formula looks like:
CFM = (volt x amps x 3.41)/ ( ΔT x 1.08)

The factor 3.41 comes from physics. It is the number of BTUs produced by one watt-hour of electricity. But where does the 1.08 factor come from? The "magic number" 1.08 is convenience factor. It is basically a bunch of math combined into one factor as a shortcut. You may recall that the specific heat formula is used for changing the temperature of something. The specific heat formula is:
BTU = weight x ΔT x Specific Heat

This has one big problem: we don’t measure airflow by weight, but by volume. AHRI Standard air weighs 0.075 pounds per cubic foot. We can convert a volume to a weight by multiplying the volume by 0.075 lbs/ft3. Another issue is that we tend to measure airflow by the minute and BTUs by the hour. You can fix that by multiplying times 60. Finally, we need the specific heat of air, which is 0.24. When you multiply the air volume by 0.075 to turn CFM into pounds per minute, multiply pounds per minute by 60 to get pounds per hour, and multiply by the specific heat of air 0.24, you end up with 1.08 (60 x .075 x 0.24 = 1.08). The number is not really a constant because the volume of the air varies a lot with temperature, which changes the "magic number."

This formula is accurate for dry air at around 70°F, but it is not accurate when the air temperature gets very much colder or warmer than 70°F. For example, 1.08 really does not work with flue gas or airflow in freezers because the air volume has changed, which changes the convenience factor. At 400°F the air only weighs 0.043 lbs/ft3. So the convenience factor changes to 0.62(60 x 0.043 x 0.24 = 0.62). At 0°F, a cubic foot of air weighs 0.086 lbs/ft3. This changes the convenience factor to 1.24 (60 x 0.086 x 0.24 = 1.24). The weight per volume also changes with elevation and humidity, although the change due to humidity is small. Even the specific heat changes as the air temperature changes, but again, the changes are small.

This is all to say that if you are dealing with air around room temperature, feel free to use the 1.08 convenience factor. However, if you are dealing with air at a much different temperature, you should look up the weight of air at the temperature you are working with. The table below lists the weight of a cubic foot of air at different temperatures so that you can perform correct air calculations at temperatures other than 70°F.

Temperature Weight lb/ft3 Convenience Factor Temperature Weight lb/ft3 Convenience Factor
0°F 0.08625 1.24 175°F 0.06255 0.90
10°F 0.08441 1.22 200°F 0.06018 0.87
20°F 0.08265 1.19 225°F 0.05797 0.84
30°F 0.08096 1.17 250°F 0.05591 0.81
40°F 0.07935 1.14 275°F 0.05399 0.79
50°F 0.07780 1.12 300°F 0.05219 0.76
60°F 0.07631 1.10 325°F 0.05051 0.74
70°F 0.07487 1.08 350°F 0.04894 0.72
80°F 0.07349 1.06 375°F 0.04746 0.70
90°F 0.07217 1.04 400°F 0.04608 0.68
100°F 0.07089 1.02 425°F 0.04478 0.66
110°F 0.06965 1.00 450°F 0.04357 0.64
120°F 0.06846 0.99 475°F 0.04242 0.63
130°F 0.06730 0.97 500°F 0.04134 0.61
140°F 0.06619 0.95 525°F 0.04031 0.60
150°F 0.06511 0.94 550°F 0.03933 0.59

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

KEYWORDS: airflow management heating help HVAC service ventilation control

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

Carter Stanfield is co-author of Fundamentals of HVACR. He spent over forty years in HVACR education including serving as Program Director of the Air Conditioning Technology Department at Athens Technical College. You can find more articles by Carter Stanfield at hvacrfundamentals.blogspot.com and hvacrfundamentals.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • HVAC-enrollment

    The Trades Are Back: HVACR Programs See Nearly 30% Enrollment Spike

    A new wave of future technicians is entering the pipeline.  
    Training and Education
    By: Matt Jachman
  • 2025 Top 40 Under 40

    2025 Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals List

    The 11th annual Top 40 Under 40 list highlights those...
    HVAC Residential Market
    By: Hannah Belloli-Oster
  • LG Ductless Mini-Split Systems

    The 9 Types of Heat Pumps

    As the U.S. moves toward electrification, heat pumps are...
    Air Source Heat Pumps
    By: Joanna R. Turpin
Subscription Center
  • Create an Account
  • Start a Subscription
  • Manage My Account
  • Sign Up for Newsletters
  • Visit Customer Service
  • Update Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to The News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The News or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Piggy Bank
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Energy Prices, Inflation, and HVAC: What Today’s Homeowners Care About

  • Refrigerated Food
    Sponsored bySolstice Advanced Materials

    R-455A Refrigeration: A Cold Storage Solution for the Future

  • Airex Rooftop Units
    Sponsored byAirex Manufacturing Inc

    Consolidating Roof Penetrations: A Growing Trend in Multifamily HVAC Design

Popular Stories

HVAC-Price-Increase-graphic

HVAC Price Increase List: July 2026

Trade groups challenge EPA refrigerant rule

HVACR Trade Groups Challenge EPA Refrigerant Rule in Federal Court

heat-pump-tech-customer.jpg

DOE Updates $8.8B Home Energy Rebate Program Guidance

US-capitol-building-south.jpg

How the Bipartisan Housing Affordability Bill Impacts the HVAC Industry

Avant Bai and John Herrington

Leadership Transition Under Way at Midea America Corp.

View The ACHR NEWS
Centennial Anniversary Timeline

The ACHR News Timeline Chart
Submit a Letter
Submit a letter to our editors.

Events

November 6, 2025

Next-Gen Data Center Cooling: HVAC Innovation and Real-World Solutions

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

July 22, 2026

Designing VRF Systems Using A2L Refrigerant

In this session, we will cover how to design VRF systems for the U.S. market using new A2L refrigerants. These systems provide an advanced zoning solution by using inverter technology to deliver precise heating and cooling control across multiple zones and spaces.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Summer Staff

Are you fully staffed for the summer season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

See More Products
Designing Systems Using A2L Refrigerant - Free Webinar - 7/22/2026

Related Articles

  • Follow This Recipe to Calculate Costs

    See More
  • Simple Formula To Increase Sales

    See More
  • Supermarket Chicken Refrigeration Case

    Basic Refrigeration: Understanding The Refrigeration Cycle

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • fanfelaysdvd.jpg

    Understanding Fan Relays and Multiple Speed Motors

  • potentialrelaysdvd.jpg

    Understanding Potential Relays and Start Capacitors DVD

  • compressormotorwindingsdvd.jpg

    UNDERSTANDING COMPRESSOR MOTOR WINDINGS

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Alliance to Save Energy

    Coalition of business, government, environmental, consumer leaders promoting the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, national security.
  • A to Z Sales & Marketing

    We strive to revolutionize indoor living through innovative solutions that improve air quality, enhance comfort, and promote sustainable living for people around the world.
×

Sign Up. Stay Informed.

The #1 trusted source for the HVACR industry since 1926

SUBSCRIBE
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Letter
    • Directories
    • Store
  • ACCOUNT CENTER
    • Create an Account
    • Start a Subscription
    • Manage My Account
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Visit Customer Service
    • Update Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing