WindLoadCalc
Professional ASCE 7-22 calculations
- ✓ ASCE 7-22 compliant
- ✓ Permit-ready output
- ✓ PE seal services
- ✓ Professional documentation
- ✓ Components & Cladding
- ✓ MWFRS calculations
- ✓ Topographic factors
- ✓ Florida HVHZ support
- ✓ Expert support
Omni Calculator
Educational widget only
- ✗ NOT code compliant
- ✗ NOT for permits
- ✗ No PE services
- ✗ No documentation
- ✗ No C&C
- ✗ No MWFRS
- ✗ No Kzt
- ✗ No HVHZ
- ✗ No engineering support
What Omni Calculator is Missing
Omni Calculator's wind load tool is designed for quick educational estimates - it's simply not built for real engineering work. Here's what's missing:
✗ No ASCE 7 Compliance
Does not follow ASCE 7-22 or any current building code methodology. Results are approximations only.
✗ No Exposure Categories
Doesn't properly account for terrain exposure (B, C, or D) which significantly affects wind loads.
✗ No Risk Categories
Ignores building risk categories (I-IV) that determine appropriate wind speed and importance factors.
✗ No Pressure Coefficients
Missing GCp values for different zones, surfaces, and building configurations.
✗ No Directionality Factor
Doesn't include Kd factor for different structural systems.
✗ No Topographic Effects
Cannot calculate Kzt for hills, ridges, or escarpments that amplify wind speeds.
The Real Risk
Using Omni Calculator results for real projects could lead to under-designed structures that fail in high winds, or over-designed structures that waste money. Either way, building officials will reject permits based on these calculations.
When "Free" Costs You More
Omni Calculator is free, but what happens when you submit those calculations to your building department?
Your permit gets rejected. You have to redo the calculations. Your project gets delayed. Your client loses confidence in you. That "free" calculator just cost you far more than professional software ever would.
Professional Tools Pay for Themselves
One successful permit approval covers the cost of professional software many times over. The real question isn't "how much does it cost?" - it's "can I afford to get it wrong?"
The Bottom Line
These tools serve completely different purposes:
- ✓ Use Omni Calculator if you're a student learning basic wind load concepts or just curious about rough estimates
- ✓ Use WindLoadCalc for any actual project - permits, construction documents, engineering work, or anything a building official will review