A model describing the average rate of energy dissipation in random waves breaking in shallow water, published previously by Battjes and Janssen (1978), has been applied to an extensive set of data for the purposes of calibation and verification. Both laboratory and field data were used, obtained on beaches with a moe or less plane slope as well as on barred beaches, and for a wide range of wave conditions. Optimal values have been estimated for an adjustable breaking wave height-coefficient in the model; these appear to vary slightly but systematically with the incident wave steepness, in a range that is physically realistic. A parameterization of this dependence allows the use of the model for prediction. Applied to the present data set, the correlation coefficient between measured and predicted rms wave heights is 0.98, with an rms normalized error of 6% and a bias that does not differ significantly from zero.