Section 8 - Heat pump systems

This section provides guidance on the specification of heat pump systems in dwellings.

Definition of a heat pump

A heat pump is a device that takes heat energy from a low-temperature source and upgrades it to a higher temperature at which it can be usefully employed for heating and/or hot water. Heat pumps may supply all or part of the space-heating load.

8.1 - Scope of guidance

The guidance in this section applies to the following types of heat pump technologies:

Table 28B

Heating systems using a heat pump as the heat generator (such as underfloor, warm air and medium temperature radiator systems) in new and existing dwellings should meet the following conditions:

Electrically driven heat pumps should have a coefficient of performance of not less than 2.50 when operating at the heating system design condition.

AND

The minimum provisions for supply temperatures, and for wet systems radiator efficiency, in systems using warm (and hot) water heat pumps as the heat generator should be met as given in Table 29 (row a).

AND

The minimum provisions for installation should be met as given in Table 29 (row b) for warm (and hot) water pumps and as given in Table 30 (row a) for warm air pumps.

AND

Where warm (and hot) water heat pumps heat pumps are used to meet all or part of the domestic hot water load, the minimum provisions for hot water should be met as given in Table 29 (row c).

AND

The minimum provisions for control of the system should be met as given in Table 29 (row d) for warm (and hot) water heat pumps and as given in Table 30 (row b) for warm air heat pumps.

Table 29

Table 30

Supplementary information – further guidance on heat pumps

EU Directives for: Machinery Safety; Low Voltage; Pressure Equipment; Electromagnetic Compatibility; • DEAP 2008;
Sustainable Energy Ireland (http://www.sei.ie)
DEFRA/Carbon Trust Energy Technology List – Heat Pumps (http://www.eca.gov.uk);
EN 14511 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling;
ISO 13256 Water-source heat pumps – testing and rating for performance: Part 1 – Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps and Part 2 – Water-to-water and brine-towater heat pumps; • Best Practice Programme: Good Practice Guide 339, Domestic Ground Source Heat Pumps, Design and Installation of Closed-loop System;
EN 378 Specification for Refrigerating Systems and Heat Pumps. Safety and environmental requirements
TIMSA – HVAC Compliance Guide - Revised Feb 2008 . Available at http://www.timsa.org.uk
Microgeneration Certification Scheme standard MIS 3005 Requirements for contractors undertaking the supply, design, installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of microgeneration heat pump systems. Available from www.microgenerationcertification.org/mcs-standards/installer-standards.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme standard MIS 3007 Requirements for MCS contractors undertaking the design, supply, installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of a heating system containing a micro-cogeneration package. Available from www.microgenerationcertification.org/mcs-standards/installer-standards.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme 021 Heat emitter guide for domestic heat pumps. Available from http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/mcs-standards/installer-standards.

8. Heat pump systems