Estimate days of supply for personal protective equipment.
N95 Respirators
Surgical Masks
Face Shields
Isolation Gowns
Gloves (pairs)
Other
Selected PPE:–
Burn Rate:–
Days of Supply Remaining:–
Estimated Depletion Date:–
function calculatePPEBurnRate() {
// Get input values
var category = document.getElementById('ppeCategory').value;
var inventory = parseFloat(document.getElementById('currentInventory').value);
var usage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dailyUsage').value);
var resultArea = document.getElementById('results-area');
var statusBox = document.getElementById('statusMessage');
// Validation
if (isNaN(inventory) || inventory < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid current inventory amount.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(usage) || usage <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid average daily usage (must be greater than 0).");
return;
}
// Calculations
var daysRemaining = inventory / usage;
// Date Calculation
var today = new Date();
var futureDate = new Date(today);
futureDate.setDate(today.getDate() + Math.floor(daysRemaining));
// Format Date
var dateOptions = { year: 'numeric', month: 'long', day: 'numeric' };
var dateString = futureDate.toLocaleDateString('en-US', dateOptions);
// Update UI
document.getElementById('resCategory').innerText = category;
document.getElementById('resBurnRate').innerText = usage.toFixed(1) + " units/day";
document.getElementById('resDaysRemaining').innerText = daysRemaining.toFixed(1) + " days";
document.getElementById('resDate').innerText = dateString;
// Determine Status
statusBox.className = 'status-box'; // reset
if (daysRemaining < 7) {
statusBox.innerText = "CRITICAL: Crisis Capacity (Less than 1 week supply)";
statusBox.classList.add('status-red');
} else if (daysRemaining < 14) {
statusBox.innerText = "WARNING: Contingency Capacity (1-2 weeks supply)";
statusBox.classList.add('status-yellow');
} else {
statusBox.innerText = "OK: Conventional Capacity (2+ weeks supply)";
statusBox.classList.add('status-green');
}
resultArea.style.display = 'block';
}
How to Calculate PPE Burn Rate
Understanding your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) burn rate is essential for maintaining operational continuity in healthcare facilities, industrial sites, and emergency response units. The "burn rate" refers to the rate at which supplies are consumed over a specific period, typically measured daily.
By accurately calculating this metric, facility managers can predict when supplies will be exhausted and make informed procurement decisions to prevent stockouts during critical periods.
The Formula
The basic calculation for determining the days of supply remaining is straightforward. It relies on two primary variables: your current stock on hand and your average daily consumption.
Days of Supply = Current Inventory / Average Daily Usage
Where:
Current Inventory: The total count of a specific PPE item (e.g., individual N95 masks, pairs of gloves) currently physically present in the facility.
Average Daily Usage: The average number of units consumed per day. This is best calculated by looking at the consumption over the last 7 to 14 days to account for fluctuations.
Supply Capacity Levels
Organizations like the CDC categorize supply levels into three capacity strategies to guide conservation measures:
Conventional Capacity: Adequate supplies for standard daily operations (usually > 14 days of supply).
Contingency Capacity: Supplies are running low; measures may be needed to conserve use (7–14 days of supply).
Crisis Capacity: Supplies are critically low; extreme rationing or reuse protocols may be necessary (< 7 days of supply).
How to Use This Calculator
Select PPE Category: Choose the type of equipment you are tracking (e.g., N95s, Gloves, Gowns). This helps label your report but does not change the math.
Enter Current Inventory: Input the exact count of items currently in your storage. Do not include items that are on order but not yet received.
Enter Daily Usage: Input the average number of units used per day. If you aren't sure, take the total used in the last week and divide by 7.
Review Results: The calculator will provide the estimated "Burn Rate," the number of days until depletion, and the specific calendar date when you will run out of stock if usage remains constant.
Why Accurate Tracking Matters
During health emergencies or supply chain disruptions, the "just-in-time" inventory model often fails. Knowing your burn rate allows you to:
Trigger re-orders before reaching crisis levels.
Implement conservation strategies early.
Request assistance from regional or federal stockpiles with data-backed justification.
Note: This tool provides an estimate based on constant usage. In dynamic situations (e.g., a surge in patient volume), daily usage may increase rapidly, reducing the actual days of supply faster than predicted.