Energy Release Component (ERC) represents the estimated potential energy released per unit area in the flaming zone of a fire. It depends on the same fuel characteristics as the Spread Component (SC), but with a greater emphasis on fuel moisture. Daily variations in ERC are driven by changes in moisture content across various fuel classes, including the 1000H time lag class. ERC is derived from predictions of the rate of heat release per unit area during flaming combustion and the duration of burning, and it is expressed in BTUs per square foot.
The closest Canadian equivalent is the Buildup Index (BUI).