BEAMA and the Heat Pump Association (HPA) have collaborated to develop a new heating control guide for air water heat pump systems, drawing on the significant expertise of a group of technical experts from both the heat pump and controls manufacturing community.
The guide fills a gap that was recognised through a high number of enquiries seeking to clarify how to interpret Approved Document Part L of the Building Regulations with regards to specifying single-zone or multi-zone systems. Building Regulations generally rely on the 'must do' (legal text) and the 'means of compliance' (guidance) and during the drafting of the new guide, both organisations approached the Building Safety Regulator for clarification to ensure the 'spirit' of the regulations is adhered to.
Commenting on the creation of the guide, Jeremy Palmer, Chair of BEAMA’s Heating Controls Group said “BEAMA has a solid track record of delivering high quality guidance and I am delighted that we have collaborated with the Heat Pump Association to develop this much sought after heat pump controls guide for our installer community. Members of both associations have responded to repeat enquiries about how to interpret Approved Document L of the Building Regulations for open zone and zoned heat pump systems, so it was a logical step to bring some clarity to what many have found to be a confusing compliance framework.”
Craig Dolan, Chair of the Heat Pump Association noted, ‘The HPA are delighted to join forces with BEAMA to bring this guidance to the industry. Created to support installers and system designers in complying with the Building Regulations and adhering to best practice for heat pump systems, the guidance offers valuable example schematics and highlights key considerations to enhance compliance.’
Available digitally from both organisations’ websites, this new guide is the first of several collaborative projects by the long-established trade associations. The guide's evolution will include additional published annexes over time, the next due in early 2025 covering underfloor heating controls.
