What's the load calculation rule of thumb for a restaurant space? For example in a residential building, it's 30 BTU/SF or 1 CFM/SF. The location is in New Jersey.
I would normally do these calculations long hand for small restaurants however,if you check out the web, certain states such as MA will publish worksheets for your purpose.
I've done 100 to 200 sq. ft./ton in restaurants depending on the equipment they have in there. Obviously calculating the actual heat gain is the better way to do it, but as we all know sometimes you don't have that information.
I have uploaded a JPEG Trane cooling and Heating Load Estimate Worksheet. Note that if the kitchen is fitted with a pull push ventilation system over their cooking equipment you may reduce the heat gain for the AC system under the Equipment Heat Gain section.