Heat Pump Codes and Standards Development | Case studies | Ricardo

The Irish Government identified the need for the improved training of heat pump installers as well as standards and guidance for their installation. The Sustainability Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) were allocated the task of with developing this document in conjunction with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). It was decided that the document should be drafted to CENLEC standards and processes (as EN standards are) and be a standard recommendation and a technical committee (TC31) of over 20 experts was formed from across the heat pump industry in Ireland, Academia, training colleges, Government departments (such as Department of Housing and Local Government), and regulators and accreditation bodies.

Due to the timeframe set out by the Irish Government, in line with the climate emergency, NSAI and SEAI took the decision to appoint a consultant to assist in drafting the document.

Ricardo were selected by SEAI and NSAI to draft text for the experts on the technical committee to comment on, amend and approve.

Ricardo provided two roles, that of technical expert in heat pumps and the role of technical secretary who both sat on the committee. The drafting process, which would usually take 2 years, was completed by Ricardo in 6 months and consensus was achieved on the final document amongst the committee of experts. This was only possible due to the ability of the Ricardo team’s understanding of the technical detail, rigorous approach to drafting the document as well as excellent communication with the committee, individual experts and senior stakeholders.

The final document “Building services — Code of practice — Part 4: Heat pump systems for dwellings (SR50-4:2021)” was published on time in March 2021.

This was a challenging project to integrate technical detail from existing standards, comply with strict drafting rules used for European Standards as well as agree a consensus on requirements where standards have not yet been developed. The introduction of documents such as this represent and important stage in the transition from innovative technologies to becoming more mainstream by setting out clear guidance for designers and installers on best practice.

The minister, Damien English, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, said that the document “will help public and private homes make the change to cleaner and more sustainable heating systems, and with a knock-on effect of new job opportunities for those businesses in retrofitting works.”

Client

National Standards Authority of Ireland and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

Start and end dates

10/2020 - 03/2021

Location

Ireland

This was only possible due to the ability of the Ricardo team’s understanding of the technical detail, rigorous approach to drafting the document as well as excellent communication with the committee, individual experts and senior stakeholders.The final document “Building services — Code of practice — Part 4: Heat pump systems for dwellings (SR50-4:2021)” was published on time in March 2021.