h2x vs CAMEL+
This h2x vs CAMEL+ comparison examines how both platforms handle heating and cooling loads, HVAC calculations, building geometry, system sizing, psychrometrics, Revit workflows and engineering outputs.
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h2x vs CAMEL+: The short answer
h2x and CAMEL+ both support detailed heating and cooling load calculations and psychrometric analysis, but they extend those calculations into different engineering workflows.
CAMEL+ is primarily focused on air conditioning loads, AHUs and plant analysis. h2x carries calculated loads directly into detailed HVAC and wider MEP system design, automatic duct and pipe sizing, pressure loss calculations and project outputs.
Choose h2x if:
You want building loads connected directly with ductwork, pipework, automatic system sizing, wider MEP design and project outputs.
Choose CAMEL+ if:
Your priority is AIRAH DA09-based air conditioning load estimation, particularly for Australian HVAC projects.
What are h2x and CAMEL+ used for?
h2x is cloud-based MEP design software for mechanical, plumbing and fire engineers. It connects building load calculations directly with system layouts and automatic sizing, keeping calculations and the engineering design in sync as projects change.
- Heating and cooling load calculations
- Psychrometric HVAC calculations
- Connected HVAC layouts and automatic sizing
- Detailed ductwork and hydronic pipework design
- Airflow, pressure loss, pump and fan duty calculations
- Mechanical, plumbing and fire workflows
- 2D and 3D design review
- PDF, BOM, AutoCAD and Revit outputs
CAMEL+ is cloud-based air conditioning load estimation software from ACADS-BSG. It calculates building heating and cooling loads and associated psychrometrics, with workflows built around AHUs, zones, rooms and air conditioning plant.
- Heating and cooling load calculations
- Hourly cooling load analysis
- AHU, zone and room load calculations
- Psychrometric analysis
- Chiller and boiler load calculations
- Australian and regional weather data
- AS 1668.2 fresh air calculations
- Separately priced PDF-to-3D and Revit geometry add-ons
h2x vs CAMEL+ comparison table
| Comparison area | h2x | CAMEL+ |
|---|---|---|
| Product overview | ||
| Primary purpose and best fit | Connected MEP engineering design combining building loads, system layouts, calculations, automatic sizing and project outputs. | Specialist air conditioning load estimation and psychrometric analysis for buildings, AHUs, zones, rooms and associated plant. |
| Engineering scope | Mechanical, plumbing and fire design within one platform, including heating, cooling, ventilation, ductwork, hydronic systems, domestic water, drainage, gas and fire protection. | Primarily focused on heating and cooling load analysis, air conditioning plant and psychrometrics. ACADS-BSG provides separate products for detailed ductwork, hydronic piping, fire hydraulics and other building services workflows. |
| Platform and access | Cloud-based platform accessed through a supported web browser; internet access is required. | Cloud-based platform accessed through a web browser with an active CAMEL+ subscription; internet access is required. |
| Project setup and load calculations | ||
| Floor plans and building geometry | Upload PDF floor plans and draw rooms, walls, windows and other building elements directly over the project background before continuing into system design. | Building data can be entered directly in CAMEL+. The optional Cnect 3D Builder allows users to import PDF floor plans, trace rooms and building geometry and export the model into CAMEL+. |
| Heating and cooling loads | Room-by-room heat loss and heat gain calculations remain connected with the wider engineering design and system sizing workflow. | Calculates chiller, AHU, zone and room cooling loads, boiler, zone and room heating loads, air quantities and associated air conditioning plant requirements. |
| Calculation methods and standards | Supports regional and international methods and standards, including CIBSE methodologies, EnergyPlus Heat Balance workflows, ASHRAE 183-compliant peak load calculations, AS 1668.2 ventilation requirements and other system specific standards. | Air conditioning load calculations are based on the AIRAH DA09 Air Conditioning Load Estimation methodology. CAMEL+ also supports AS 1668.2 Multiple Compartment Formula calculations for fresh air. |
| Psychrometric analysis | Psychrometric calculations for heating and cooling coils are available through the Heat Balance Method and Psychrometric AHU sizing workflows. | Psychrometric analysis is integrated into CAMEL+'s air conditioning load workflow, with calculations and a psychrometric chart provided for each AHU. |
| Weather and design conditions | Uses the most recent ASHRAE 2025 climatic design conditions, with configurable project design conditions and ASHRAE design day workflows for heat gain calculations. | Includes monthly design conditions for around 760 Australian locations, based on Bureau of Meteorology weather data spanning 2000–2021, together with locations across New Zealand and other regional markets. |
| Calculation checks and result review | Results, warnings and heat maps help engineers inspect loads, system sizing, pressure losses, velocities and equipment duties as the design develops. | Provides graphical input checks, project summary error indicators, load charts, check figures and detailed results for reviewing the load calculation model. |
| Connected system design | ||
| Connected load-to-HVAC design | Calculated building loads feed directly into HVAC system design, where they are automatically used for system sizing and remain connected as the project changes. | CAMEL+ calculates building and air conditioning plant loads. Detailed duct and hydronic distribution system design is provided through separate ACADS-BSG products rather than within CAMEL+ itself. |
| Ductwork design and sizing | Engineers can draw ductwork directly on the project layout, with calculated loads feeding duct sizes, airflows, velocities, pressure losses and fan duty calculations. | CAMEL+ provides the building and air conditioning load calculations. Duct network design and sizing is available separately through ACADS-BSG's DONKEY and DOLPHIN software. |
| Hydronic pipework design | Engineers can draw hydronic pipework directly on the project layout, with calculated loads feeding pipe sizing, flow rates, velocities, pressure losses, index circuits and pump duties. | CAMEL+ can calculate chiller and boiler loads, while detailed air conditioning water piping design is provided separately through ACADS-BSG's PYTHON software. |
| 3D design review | Built-in 3D View allows engineers to review building geometry alongside ducts, pipes, equipment and other MEP systems within the same connected project. | The separately priced Cnect 3D Builder add-on creates building geometry from PDF floor plans with a live 3D preview, then feeds that geometry into CAMEL+ for load calculations. Its documented workflow focuses on building geometry and load-calculation setup rather than detailed 3D duct and pipe system design. |
| Project delivery | ||
| CAD and BIM interoperability | Exports calculated system designs to AutoCAD and Revit for downstream drafting, coordination and BIM development. | The separately priced Cnect for Revit add-on imports building geometry and room information from Revit into CAMEL+ to accelerate heat load model setup. Cnect 3D Builder is included with this add-on. |
| Project outputs | PDF drawings, heat load reports, calculation reports, sizing reports, Bills of Materials, schedules, AutoCAD and Revit outputs. | Provides load summaries, air quantities, load charts, check figures, psychrometric charts and printable or exportable results. Cnect 3D Builder can also produce HVAC zoning layout PDFs. |
| Collaboration and design review | Secure read-only browser links allow colleagues, clients and checking engineers to review the latest design and connected calculations without an h2x licence. | Cloud-based company workspaces support access to CAMEL+ projects by subscribed team members, while calculation results and project files can also be exported for review. |
| Adoption, training and pricing | ||
| Implementation, training and support | Browser-based setup with guided demonstrations, live training, self-service learning resources and 24/7 support from the h2x team. | Browser-based setup with an online Help Centre, tutorial videos, training resources and technical support from ACADS-BSG. |
| Evaluation and pricing | Free project, demonstration and guided-evaluation options are available. Pricing is provided through a tailored quotation based on team size and required capabilities. | A 14-day free trial is available. The standard single-user subscription is listed at AUD $1,499/year. Cnect 3D Builder is AUD $799/user/year, bringing the standard annual cost to AUD $2,298 for one user when added. Cnect for Revit is AUD $2,499/user/year and includes 3D Builder, bringing the combined annual cost to AUD $3,998 for one user. See the CAMEL+ pricing page for current pricing. |
Note: CAMEL+ information on this page was last checked against publicly available ACADS-BSG product documentation in September 2026.
Where h2x and CAMEL+ differ
Both platforms support detailed heating and cooling load calculations. The biggest difference is what happens next: h2x carries calculated loads directly into detailed HVAC and wider MEP system design, while CAMEL+ remains primarily focused on air conditioning load estimation, plant analysis and psychrometrics.
Loads connected to system design
h2x takes calculated room loads directly into detailed ductwork and pipework design, automatically using those values for system sizing as the project changes. CAMEL+ focuses primarily on building loads, air conditioning plant and psychrometric analysis.
Visual design with live updates
h2x lets engineers work visually from the project floor plan, with rooms, systems, calculations and sizing kept connected as the design changes. CAMEL+ focuses on the load calculation model, with optional Cnect tools available for PDF and Revit geometry workflows.
Wider MEP design in one platform
h2x extends HVAC design into domestic water, underfloor (radiant) heating, drainage, gas and fire protection within the same platform. ACADS-BSG provides additional engineering disciplines through separate products such as DONKEY, PYTHON and HYENA+.
Project delivery and design review
h2x carries calculated systems into detailed drawings, reports, Bills of Materials and AutoCAD/Revit workflows, with browser-based project review. CAMEL+ produces load results, charts and reports, while optional Cnect tools support building geometry and Revit workflows.
Should you choose h2x or CAMEL+?
The better option depends on whether you want heating and cooling loads connected directly with detailed HVAC and wider MEP system design, or primarily work within an established CAMEL+ air conditioning load workflow.
Verdict: h2x is the stronger fit for teams that want heating and cooling loads connected directly with detailed HVAC and wider MEP system design, automatic sizing and project outputs. CAMEL+ is the stronger fit where AIRAH DA09-based air conditioning load calculations and an established CAMEL+ workflow are the main requirements.
Why teams choose h2x over CAMEL+
Teams comparing CAMEL+ with h2x can keep load calculations, HVAC layouts, automatic system sizing and project outputs within the same connected project. This can reduce the need to transfer calculated loads into separate ductwork, pipework and documentation workflows.
Connect loads to HVAC design
Take calculated heating and cooling loads directly into detailed ductwork, pipework and equipment design, with system sizing kept connected as the project changes.
Design ductwork faster
Draw and size duct systems while automatically calculating airflow, velocity, pressure loss and fan duties as the design changes within the same connected workflow.
Share designs for review
Give colleagues, clients and consultants secure read-only access to the latest design and calculations without requiring them to install software or hold an h2x licence.
What teams say about h2x
h2x vs CAMEL+ frequently asked questions
Ready to see how h2x can work for your team?
Book a demo to see how h2x connects heating and cooling loads with detailed HVAC and wider MEP system design, automatic duct and pipe sizing and professional project outputs, and how it could fit alongside or replace parts of your current CAMEL+ workflow.
