Demand Loads for Ranges, Dryers, and Fastened-in-Place Appliances

Big appliances are never all running full-blast at the same time, so the code lets you count less than the full nameplate for them. Three rules handle the big three: the range table, the dryer minimum, and the 75% appliance demand factor.

1. Electric ranges — Table 220.55

For household cooking equipment over 1¾ kW, you use Table 220.55 instead of the nameplate. The most-tested fact: for one range rated not over 12 kW, the demand load from Column C is 8 kW. (CEC Table 220.55)

So a single 8-, 10-, or 12-kW range all calculate at 8 kW of demand.

Ranges over 12 kW — Note 1. For a range individually rated more than 12 kW (up to 27 kW), increase the Column C demand (the 8 kW) by 5% for each additional kilowatt above 12. (CEC Table 220.55, Note 1)

Worked example: a 16 kW range → 16 − 12 = 4 kW over → 4 × 5% = 20% increase → 8 kW × 1.20 = 9.6 kW demand.

2. Electric clothes dryers — 220.54

Each household electric clothes dryer is counted at 5,000 watts (VA) or the nameplate rating, whichever is larger. (CEC 220.54)