How Many F20 Altitude Generators Do I Need?
How many F20 altitude generators does your room need? Start with the room volume. For Box Altitude planning, sleeping rooms use approximately one F20 per 16 m³, while altitude training rooms use approximately one F20 per 12 m³.
These are preliminary sizing guides, not guaranteed maximum capacities. Final requirements depend on target altitude, room leakage, occupancy, local elevation, ventilation, cooling and how the room will be used.
If you are planning a bedroom, see the Altitude Bedroom System. For a broader budget view, read How Much Does an Altitude Room Cost?.
Step 1: calculate your room volume
Measure the internal length, width and ceiling height in metres.
Length × width × ceiling height = room volume in cubic metres (m³)
Example: a 3 m × 4 m room with a 2.4 m ceiling is 28.8 m³.
Bedroom sizing: approximately 16 m³ per F20
For sleeping applications, use approximately one F20 per 16 m³ as an initial planning allowance.
| Bedroom volume | Typical starting point |
|---|---|
| Up to 16 m³ | 1 × F20 |
| Over 16 to 32 m³ | 2 × F20 |
| Over 32 to 48 m³ | 3 × F20 |
| Over 48 to 64 m³ | 4 × F20 |
| Over 64 m³ | Project-specific design |
A 28.8 m³ bedroom would therefore normally begin with a discussion around two F20 generators.
Training-room sizing: approximately 12 m³ per F20
Training rooms are more demanding because exercising occupants generate more heat and carbon dioxide and the room is commonly opened more often. As a practical starting point, use approximately one F20 per 12 m³.
| Training-room volume | Typical starting point |
|---|---|
| Up to 12 m³ | 1 × F20 |
| Over 12 to 24 m³ | 2 × F20 |
| Over 24 to 36 m³ | 3 × F20 |
| Over 36 to 48 m³ | 4 × F20 |
| Over 48 m³ | Project-specific design |
Commercial rooms also need a review of maximum occupancy, exercise type, cooling load and ventilation strategy.
Why floor area alone is not enough
Altitude systems control the air volume in the room, so ceiling height matters. A 12 m² room with a 2.4 m ceiling is 28.8 m³; the same floor area with a 3 m ceiling is 36 m³. That difference can change the generator requirement.
What can change the final F20 count?
Target simulated altitude
Higher simulated altitudes can require more system capacity to reach and maintain the selected oxygen concentration.
Room leakage
Large or uncontrolled air leaks can increase the amount of hypoxic airflow required. Doors, windows and penetrations are assessed as part of the project.
Occupancy
A one-person bedroom and a multi-athlete training room are different applications. More occupants can increase the ventilation and system demands.
Local elevation
The building's actual elevation affects the relationship between ambient oxygen pressure and the target simulated altitude.
Ventilation and cooling
Air conditioning and fresh-air requirements need to work with the altitude system rather than against it. Training spaces in particular require a room-specific design.
Examples
Example 1: 16 m³ bedroom
A bedroom measuring approximately 2.8 m × 2.4 m × 2.4 m is about 16.1 m³. This would typically start around a one-F20 bedroom discussion, subject to the room assessment.
Example 2: 28.8 m³ bedroom
A 3 m × 4 m × 2.4 m bedroom is 28.8 m³. Using the 16 m³-per-F20 sleeping guide, the starting point would generally be two F20s.
Example 3: 60 m² training room with 2.4 m ceiling
60 m² × 2.4 m = 144 m³. Using the 12 m³-per-F20 training-room guide, the preliminary starting point is 12 F20 generators, before reviewing occupancy, training intensity, cooling and ventilation.
Example 4: 86.5 m² training room with 2.4 m ceiling
86.5 m² × 2.4 m = 207.6 m³. Using the 12 m³-per-F20 guide, the preliminary starting point is approximately 18 F20 generators. The final commercial design still needs a full project assessment.
How this affects altitude bedroom cost
The Australian Box Altitude Bedroom System currently starts from AU$10,900 for a suitable sleeping room requiring one F20. Larger rooms require additional capacity and are quoted individually.
For more detail, see How Much Does an Altitude Bedroom Cost? and How to Convert a Bedroom Into an Altitude Room.
Altitude bedroom or altitude tent?
If whole-room conversion is not practical, an altitude tent controls a smaller volume around the bed. Compare both approaches in our Altitude Bedroom vs Altitude Tent guide.
Get a room-specific estimate
Send the room length, width, ceiling height, location, number of occupants, intended use and target altitude to Box Altitude. We can then confirm the appropriate generator configuration for the project.
Use the Altitude Room Calculator or request a room assessment.
The sizing ratios above are preliminary planning allowances only. Final system design depends on the specific room and operating conditions.