Prose vs ENERCALC A Clear Comparison for Structural Engineers
Prose and ENERCALC serve different needs. Prose focuses on load development with more snow and wind calculation types plus rain load support. ENERCALC offers a broader structural engineering suite including member design, ASCE 7-22, and live load reduction. This breakdown covers the specifics to help you decide.
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Prose
Purpose-built for structural load development
A load development platform for ASCE 7 with dedicated modules for dead, live, snow, wind, seismic, and rain. Offers 9 snow calculation types, comprehensive C&C wind coverage (Parts 1, 3, 5, 6), rain load support, project-wide organization, and full API access for automation.
ENERCALC
Structural engineering suite
A comprehensive structural engineering suite with load calculations and structural design modules. Offers ASCE 7-22 support, live load reduction, envelope wind procedure, wall anchorage forces, nonstructural seismic demands, and design tools for beams, columns, footings, and connections.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How Prose compares to ENERCALC across key areas for structural engineering load development.
Dead Loads
Dedicated module for specifying and documenting dead load assemblies (e.g., what materials are used in each assembly).
Dead loads are entered as a single number (e.g., 0.02 ksf, 0.256 klf) within individual calculation modules. There is no dedicated module to document how the dead load value was derived.
Structured and traceable output designed for review.
Documentation format varies by module.
Dead loads are organized at the project level.
Dead loads are managed within each module independently.
Live Loads
Dedicated module for specifying project live loads.
Live loads are entered as a single number (e.g., 0.05 ksf, 0.1 klf) within individual calculation modules. There is no dedicated module to document and organize the applicable live loads for your project.
Not included yet.
Included.
Snow Loads (ASCE 7)
Snow load calculation types 9 calculation types.
4 calculation types.
9 calculation types.
4 calculation types.
Prose supports (9 types)
- Balanced flat roof
- Balanced sloped roof
- Minimum snow load
- Unbalanced snow on hip & gable roofs
- Ice dams along eaves
- Sliding snow load
- Drifts at roof steps
- Drifts at projections & parapets
- Rain-on-snow
ENERCALC supports (4 types)
- Balanced flat roof
- Sloped roof snow loads
- Snow drifts at roof steps
- Snow drifts at projections & parapets
7-10, 7-16 (7-22 coming soon).
7-10, 7-16, 7-22.
Rain Loads
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10 and ASCE 7-16 (ASCE 7-22 coming soon).
Not available—ENERCALC doesn't include rain load calculations.
Seismic Loads
Seismic load development (Equivalent Lateral Force Method) Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10 and ASCE 7-16 (ASCE 7-22 coming soon).
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10, 7-16, and 7-22.
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10 and ASCE 7-16 (ASCE 7-22 coming soon).
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10, 7-16, and 7-22.
Prose supports
- Base shear (Cs)
- Vertical distribution of seismic forces
- Diaphragm forces at each level
ENERCALC supports
- Base shear (Cs)
- Vertical distribution of seismic forces
- Diaphragm forces at each level
7-10, 7-16 (7-22 coming soon).
7-10, 7-16, 7-22.
Not included.
Included.
Not included.
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-22.
Wind Loads
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10 and ASCE 7-16 (ASCE 7-22 coming soon).
Dedicated module for ASCE 7-10, 7-16, and 7-22.
Supported.
Supported.
Not supported.
Supported.
Components & Cladding (C&C) Dedicated C&C module with support for:
Basic C&C support within Ch. 28 Envelope method.
Dedicated C&C module with support for:
Basic C&C support within Ch. 28 Envelope method.
Prose C&C module supports
- Part 1: Low-rise buildings
- Part 3: Buildings with h > 60 ft
- Part 5: Open buildings
- Part 6: Building Appurtenances (Parapets only)
ENERCALC C&C support
- Ch. 30 Part 2: Low-Rise Buildings (Simplified) — available within Ch. 28 Envelope method
Documentation & Workflow
All load types organized in a single project.
Load modules operate independently.
Unified format across all modules.
Output format varies by module.
Built-in across all modules.
Traceability managed within each module.
Automation & Integration
Full OpenAPI 3.1 specification.
Not available.
Supported (Python, JS, C#, scripts, BIM workflows).
Manual data transfer required.
Native via API.
Manual extraction from outputs.
When Prose Is Better
Choose Prose if you need:
- Rain load calculations (ASCE 7-10, 7-16)
- More snow load types (9 vs. 4, including unbalanced, ice dams, sliding, rain-on-snow)
- Comprehensive C&C wind coverage (Parts 1, 3, 5, 6)
- Project-level organization with all loads in one place
- Unified, reviewer-ready documentation format
- API access for automation and BIM integration
When ENERCALC Is Better
Choose ENERCALC if you need:
- Live load reduction calculations
- ASCE 7-22 support today
- Envelope wind procedure (Ch. 28)
- Wall anchorage and structural wall loads
- Nonstructural seismic demands (Ch. 13)
- Structural design modules (beams, columns, footings, retaining walls)
Using Both Together
Many engineers find value in using both tools together:
- Prose for load development with clear, traceable documentation
- ENERCALC for structural design modules and specialty calculations
This complementary approach gives you the best of both worlds — thorough load documentation and comprehensive structural calculations.
The Bottom Line
Prose offers more comprehensive ASCE 7 load coverage—9 snow load types, dedicated rain load support, and extensive C&C wind calculations—with project-wide organization and API access.
ENERCALC provides ASCE 7-22 today, live load reduction, envelope wind, specialty seismic calculations, and structural design modules for member sizing.
Many engineers use both: Prose for complete load development packages and ENERCALC for structural design and the calculations Prose doesn't cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use both Prose and ENERCALC together?
- Yes — many engineers use both tools in their workflow. Prose handles load development with broader ASCE 7 coverage (rain loads, more snow types, C&C wind), while ENERCALC provides live load reduction, envelope wind, specialty seismic calculations, and structural design modules.
- Does Prose replace ENERCALC?
- For load development, yes—Prose can replace ENERCALC on many projects with broader coverage (rain loads, 9 snow types vs 4, comprehensive C&C wind) plus project organization and API access. But ENERCALC is primarily a member design tool with some load development; Prose is purely load development with no member design. If you need beam, column, or footing calculations, you'll still need ENERCALC or similar.
- When will Prose support ASCE 7-22?
- ASCE 7-22 support is expected Spring 2026. Prose currently supports ASCE 7-10 and 7-16. If you need ASCE 7-22 today, ENERCALC already provides that support across its load modules.
- What about structural design modules?
- Prose focuses on ASCE 7 load development—determining dead, live, snow, rain, wind, and seismic loads. Structural design modules (beams, columns, footings, retaining walls) are outside Prose's scope. ENERCALC offers these design modules.
- What load types does Prose support that ENERCALC doesn't?
- Prose supports rain load calculations per ASCE 7-10 and 7-16, which ENERCALC doesn't offer. Prose also supports more snow load types (9 vs 4)—including unbalanced snow, ice dams along eaves, sliding snow, and rain-on-snow—and more comprehensive C&C wind coverage (Parts 1, 3, 5, 6).
Also interested in how Prose compares to spreadsheets? See Prose vs Excel comparison →
Build load development packages that reviewers love.
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