h2x vs Spruce
This h2x vs Spruce comparison examines how two cloud-based design platforms handle heat loss calculations, heat pump system design, pipework, drawings, MCS workflows, project outputs and collaboration.
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h2x vs Spruce: The short answer
h2x is cloud-based MEP design software that connects heat loss, MCS-aligned heat pump design, system layouts, automatic sizing and engineering outputs across heating, plumbing, ventilation, drainage, gas and fire workflows.
Spruce is a specialist platform for heat pump installation businesses, connecting surveys, heat loss and system design with proposals, MCS alignment, installation paperwork and handover.
The main difference is scope. h2x is focused on detailed engineering across multiple building services systems, while Spruce focuses specifically on the residential heat pump installation journey.
Choose h2x if:
You want detailed heat loss, system design, pipework sizing and outputs within a broader MEP design workflow that extends beyond heat pumps.
Choose Spruce if:
Your business mainly installs heat pumps and wants survey, design, proposals and compliance connected within a specialist installer workflow.
What are h2x and Spruce used for?
h2x is MEP design software for mechanical, plumbing and fire engineers. For heat pump projects, teams can calculate room-by-room heat loss, size emitters, design pipework and underfloor heating, calculate pump duties and generate detailed engineering outputs within the same platform.
- Engineering-first workflow from early design to documentation
- Room-by-room heat loss and heat gain calculations
- Heat pump, radiator and underfloor heating design
- MCS-aligned heat pump design workflows
- LiDAR-assisted survey import through magicplan
- Connected pipework design with automatic sizing, pressure loss and pump duty calculations
- Mechanical, plumbing, ventilation, drainage, gas and fire system workflows
- 3D review, PDF outputs, Bills of Materials and CAD/BIM integrations
Spruce is heat pump installer software designed around the full residential installation journey, from website enquiry and early estimate through survey, heat loss, system design, proposal, installation paperwork and handover. Its engineering tools include LiDAR-assisted surveys, emitter selection and pipework design.
- Designed around the end-to-end heat pump installation workflow
- Website enquiry capture and early estimates
- LiDAR-assisted on-site surveying
- Room-by-room heat loss calculations
- Heat pump and radiator sizing
- Pipework sizing, pressure drop and system volume calculations
- CAD-style drawings, customer proposals and digital acceptance
- MCS alignment, QMS and handover paperwork
h2x vs Spruce comparison table
| Comparison area | h2x | Spruce |
|---|---|---|
| Product overview | ||
| Primary purpose and best fit | Detailed MEP engineering design, calculations, automatic sizing and project outputs across mechanical, plumbing and fire workflows. | End-to-end residential heat pump installation workflow covering enquiry, survey, design, proposal, paperwork and handover. |
| Workflow coverage | Focused on engineering design, calculations, automatic sizing and technical outputs, with CAD/BIM integrations and exports supporting wider project delivery. | Connects website enquiry, estimating, survey, heat loss, system design, proposals, QMS, installation paperwork and handover within one residential heat pump installer workflow. |
| Engineering scope | Heating, cooling, ventilation, domestic water, drainage, gas, fire protection, heat loads and related pipework/ductwork systems. | Primarily heat pump and residential heating design, including heat loss, emitters and associated pipework. |
| Survey, design and engineering | ||
| Platform and access | Cloud-based engineering platform accessed through a supported web browser. | Cloud-based heat pump platform with mobile surveying and offline on-site survey capability. |
| On-site survey workflow | Can import survey data from magicplan, including floor plans captured using LiDAR on compatible devices, or from other supported survey workflows. | Includes LiDAR-assisted room scanning and floor plan creation directly within its survey workflow. |
| Heat loss calculations | Detailed room-by-room fabric and ventilation heat loss, including MCS-aligned heat pump workflows, with results feeding directly into system design and sizing. | Room-by-room fabric and ventilation heat loss calculations designed around residential heat pump sizing and MCS-aligned workflows. |
| Heat gain and cooling loads | Supports room-by-room heat gain and cooling load calculations alongside heat loss, allowing heating and cooling requirements to feed into wider system design. | Spruce's current public product information focuses on heat loss and residential heat pump heating design and does not describe dedicated heat gain or cooling load calculations. |
| Heat pump and emitter design | Supports heat pump selection, radiator sizing and connected heating system design. | Supports heat pump sizing, emitter selection and radiator replacement design. |
| Pipework design and sizing | Detailed connected pipework design with automatic sizing, flow rates, velocities, pressure losses, index circuits and pump duty calculations. | Supports drawn pipe runs with automatic sizing across the system, including pressure drop, velocity and system volume calculations. |
| Underfloor heating | Full visual UFH design including heat loads, automatic loop generation and sizing, loop spacing, manifold connections and drawing/report outputs. | Spruce supports underfloor heating within its residential heating design workflow, but its current public product information does not describe an equivalent detailed visual UFH loop-design workflow. |
| 3D design review | Includes 3D review alongside calculations and system layouts. | Spruce's current public product information does not describe a dedicated 3D engineering-model review feature. |
| Design iteration | Heat loads, layouts, calculations and sizing stay connected and recalculate as the engineering design changes. | Survey and heating design information remains connected through Spruce's heat pump workflow, including heat loss, emitter sizing and pipework design. |
| Outputs, customers and compliance | ||
| Engineering outputs | PDF drawings, heat load reports, sizing reports, Bills of Materials, schedules and design-sharing links. | Heat loss and design reports, pipework drawing packs, installation documentation and handover outputs. |
| Customer proposals and quotes | Bills of Materials, drawings and engineering reports support estimating, procurement and project delivery; dedicated customer quote functionality sits outside the core engineering workflow. | Generates client proposals and quotes, including system information, pricing, electronic approval and MCS-related documentation. |
| MCS alignment and workflow | Supports MCS-aligned heat pump design workflows, including room-by-room heat loss, emitter sizing, system calculations and engineering documentation. | Supports MCS-aligned heat pump workflows and connects them with proposals, QMS, installation paperwork, manufacturer information and handover within the wider installer-business workflow. |
| Calculation verification and standards | Relevant system calculations are independently CIBSE-verified for Heating & Cooling Water, Domestic Water Services and Air/Ventilation. h2x also supports MCS-aligned heat pump design workflows and international standards and methods, including BS EN 12831. | Supports calculation methods informed by industry standards and guidance, but Spruce is not listed on CIBSE's Software Verification Assessment register. |
| CAD and BIM integration | Designs can be transferred into AutoCAD and Revit for further CAD/BIM development. | Spruce's current public product information does not describe a Revit or AutoCAD export/integration. Its workflow instead includes its own CAD-style pipework drawings. |
| Collaboration and sharing | Secure browser links allow clients, engineers and stakeholders to review current models and calculation information without needing an h2x account. | Built around heat pump installer teams and their customer workflow, including proposals, customer approvals and documentation shared through the platform. |
| Adoption and pricing | ||
| Implementation and training | Demonstrations, custom training, learning resources and direct technical support. | Spruce provides demos and training as part of onboarding and says the platform is built specifically for heat pump installer businesses. |
| Evaluation and pricing | h2x uses a fixed-price licence with its engineering workflows and unlimited projects included. Free project, demonstration and guided-evaluation options are available. | There is no simple package pricing on the current Spruce website, which directs prospects to book a call. Teams should compare the exact functionality, add-ons and project allowances included in each current quote. |
Note: Spruce functionality, packaging and pricing may change as the platform develops. Spruce information on this page was last checked against publicly available product information in September 2026.
Where h2x and Spruce differ
The main difference between h2x and Spruce is where each platform places its focus. h2x is dedicated to detailed MEP engineering, calculations and system design across multiple disciplines, while Spruce focuses on residential heat pump projects and extends the workflow into proposals, compliance, installation and handover.
Broader MEP engineering vs specialist heat pump workflow
h2x supports detailed engineering across heating, cooling, plumbing, ventilation, drainage, gas and fire systems. Spruce focuses on residential heat pump installations, connecting survey and system design with proposals, compliance and handover.
Engineering outputs vs installation-business workflow
h2x turns calculations and system layouts into engineering drawings, sizing reports, Bills of Materials and CAD/BIM-ready outputs. Spruce combines its design tools with customer proposals, approvals, installation paperwork and MCS administration.
Connected system design vs heat pump-focused design
h2x connects building loads to complete pipework and, where relevant, ductwork systems, including automatic sizing, pressure loss, velocities, pump or fan duties. Spruce provides capable heat pump pipework design but remains focused on residential heating installations.
BIM/CAD project delivery vs homeowner/installer workflow
h2x can transfer calculated system designs into AutoCAD or Revit for further drafting, modelling and coordination. Spruce keeps projects within its heat pump workflow, combining CAD-style drawings with proposals, compliance documents and installation packs.
Should you choose h2x or Spruce?
The better option depends on whether you need a broader engineering-design platform or a specialist system for managing residential heat pump installations from enquiry through handover.
Verdict: h2x is the stronger fit for teams that want deeper, MCS-aligned heat pump engineering within a broader MEP design platform, including detailed system calculations, UFH, engineering outputs and CAD/BIM integration. Spruce is the stronger fit for residential heat pump installers that want survey and design connected directly with proposals, MCS administration, installation paperwork and handover.
Why teams choose h2x over Spruce
Spruce provides a strong specialist workflow for residential heat pump installers, particularly where surveys, customer proposals, MCS alignment and installation administration are important.
h2x also supports MCS-aligned heat pump design, while going further into the engineering workflow with detailed pipework, underfloor heating, wider MEP systems, automatic sizing, design review, Bills of Materials and professional CAD/BIM-ready exports.
Heat loss to system design
Take room-by-room heat loss calcs into emitter selection, pipework design and automatic system sizing within one connected workflow.
Full underfloor heating design
Create calculated UFH layouts with automatic loop generation, spacing and sizing, with detailed drawings connected to the heat load design.
Generate a Bill of Materials
Produce an up-to-date material list from the latest system design to support estimating, procurement and project delivery.
What teams say about h2x
h2x vs Spruce frequently asked questions
Take your heat pump design further
Book a demo to see how h2x brings MCS-aligned heat pump design together with heat loss calculations, detailed pipework, underfloor heating, automatic system sizing, Bills of Materials and professional project outputs within one engineering workflow.
