Heat pumps continue to play a growing part in improving energy performance and reducing carbon emissions, but a lot of the good work is being undone by an easily fixable insulation problem, writes BESA Technical Director Kevin Morrissey.
That is why a new campaign – ‘The Proof is on the Roof’ – deserves widespread industry support.
Launched by refrigeration efficiency expert Lawrence Leask and Chris Ridge of the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA), it calls for an end to the use of non-UV-resistant flexible foam insulation on externally located building services.
They argue that incorrectly specified and installed insulation is a major source of energy losses and contributes to poor heat pump performance and customer disappointment.
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is pleased to support and amplify the campaign, alongside CEFEP, the European association representing FEF and PEF insulation manufacturers, and the Institute of Refrigeration (IoR), because this is not simply an issue for insulation specialists; it has implications for everyone involved in the manufacture, specification and installation of building services and their customers.
External insulation requires a clear focus on the long-term impact of exposure to sunlight, rain, frost and temperature cycling. UV- and weather-resistant insulation helps maintain thermal performance, condensation control and energy efficiency while reducing the risk of cracking, moisture ingress and premature replacement.
Leask says he has seen how non-UV-resistant insulation degrades the performance of heat pump systems over several years, and estimates that the energy lost from incorrectly specified and installed thermal insulation on UK projects is equal to that of a large power station.
Perhaps the most frustrating part is that we could address this quite easily: “The products and solutions already exist, but the market knowledge is missing,” he says. Manufacturers of flexible elastomeric foam products are working together to tackle the problem, but the challenge is turning that collaboration into better decisions on site.
While most pipe insulation installations require a thermal insulation specialist, insulation on commercial air-to-air heat pump installations is usually fitted by the refrigeration contractor. With competence frameworks for the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) trades being developed, we have a chance to close the knowledge gap.
The supporting associations agree that improvements can be made immediately using products and solutions already available, so this goes further than a simple general appeal for better practice. The question is whether the market recognises the problem and the urgency needed to address it.
TICA Technical Director Chris Ridge calls pipework insulation “a genuine low-hanging fruit for decarbonisation” yet says it is often little more than an afterthought. He argues that policymakers should not ignore the scale of losses because they are significant.
Growth in heat pump installations creates a significant opportunity but also makes it even more important that we improve best practice. As the market grows, so does the need for better installations and joined-up thinking so the right products are specified, and the correct skills are in place from design through to installation and commissioning.
The industry does not need to wait for a breakthrough to take this seriously. It needs to make better use of the knowledge and products already available and stop treating pipework insulation as incidental to heat pump performance.
Backing the ‘Proof is on the Roof’ campaign is a step towards ensuring that what gets installed on the roof helps the equipment it serves fulfil its potential.
BESA also provides a suite of guidance on RACHP design and installation, including the TR30 Guide to Good Practice for Heat Pumps, and will soon be publishing TR31 guidance for heat pumps in commercial and public buildings. Visit the website for more details.