Is your home "Heat pump ready"? CIBSE has developed a factsheet in order to help homeowners ask the right questions to the heat pump installer or designer to take control of their low-carbon future.
Switching to a heat pump is one of the biggest steps a homeowner can take to reduce their heating energy bills. However, the move from a traditional boiler to a heat pump requires more than just a swap—it requires a smart design, correct installation and commissioning, and operation.
To support this transition, the CIBSE Domestic Building Services Panel (DBSP) has released a new Factsheet and System Criteria Guide. This free resource from CIBSE is designed to empower homeowners to have informed conversations with their installer and ensure their new system is safe, efficient and cost-effective.
Why design matters
Unlike old-fashioned boilers that "blast" heat, heat pumps work most efficiently when they are precisely sized for your home. If a system is too big, it’s expensive to run; if it’s too small, you might feel the chill on the coldest days of the year.
The new System Criteria Guide acts as a "passport" for your heating system. It records the critical decisions made by your designer, such as:
- Indoor design temperature: This determines how your system handles extreme cold snaps. A system designed to the 95th percentile is often cheaper and more efficient, though it may take a little longer to warm up on the very coldest days.
- Space heating strategy: Whether your home stays at a steady temperature all day or uses a "setback" (lower temperature) overnight to save energy.
- Hot water priority: How your system balances heating your rooms versus reheating your water cylinder to ensure you never run out of either.
Putting the power in your hands
Under the Building Safety Act, homeowners are responsible for appointing a competent designer. This can feel like a heavy lift, but the CIBSE DBSP System Criteria Guide makes it simple. It provides a clear checklist of questions to ask your installer and a "Sign-Off" section where your designer declares their qualifications and confirms the system meets all safety regulations.
Your system’s "health record"
The system criteria document isn’t just for the day of installation. It is intended to stay with your home for its entire life. This ensures that any engineer visiting in the future, whether for a routine service or a system upgrade, knows exactly how your heating was designed to perform.
Key takeaways for homeowners:
- Efficiency means savings: A well-designed system is cheaper to install and run.
- Safety first: The guide includes vital checks for bacterial (Legionella) protection and scalding prevention.
- Expert backing: The document follows CIBSE standards and is developed on the back of the Domestic Heating Design Guide.
Download the free DBSP Factsheet and System Criteria Guide today and start your journey to a warmer, greener home with confidence.
If you need more information, please contact CIBSE's Technical Team at [email protected]