Why do we need voluntary heat pump certification?
Addressing the needs of HVAC engineering firms through independently verified performance data
Voluntary product performance certification plays a central role in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) market, particularly for engineering firms specialising in specification and design. Faced with growing client demands, increasing regulatory requirements, the need to ensure energy and environmental performance of buildings, and the diversity of heat pump technology, voluntary certification supports good product selection and system design, mitigating the risk of poor system performance.
A key aspect of product performance certification is that its voluntary - manufacturers do not have to certify - so why do some choose to go the extra mile?
This article will examine voluntary certification frameworks and the benefits to the industry. Finally, we will consider risk reduction and the limits of certification in general, to build a full picture of the role of certified products in the market.
An introduction to voluntary certification
Within the heat pump sector there are a number of certification programmes, delivered by different certification bodies, covering a range of product types and capacities. While programmes may differ in characteristics tested or evaluation and surveillance protocols, all provide independently verified product data.
Voluntary certification serves several key goals:
- Guaranteeing heat pump performance by verifying characteristics such as SEER, SCOP, COP, EER, sound power levels, heating/cooling capacity, power consumption, DHW performance etc.
- Providing verified, comparable, technical data for sizing, selection, and design
- Facilitating access to public subsidies and project financing
- Enhancing projects through transparency and traceability.
While this provides obvious benefits to industry professionals - who can confidently design and install reliable, regulatory compliant systems that meet their client’s requirements – it doesn’t end there. Manufacturers can use product certification to:
- Build customer confidence
- Strengthen quality control protocols
- Enhance innovation and product evolution
- Unlock trade both within and outside of the European Union (EU).
Voluntary product certification also plays a key role in accelerating our energy transition. As we tackle the challenges of decarbonisation and net zero, all buildings face increasing demands for energy performance and carbon emission reductions. With energy efficiency confirmed, certified products help to reduce overall energy use, aid access to financial incentives and avoid greenwashing, all while playing a key role in reaching sustainability goals.
Voluntary certification framework
Voluntary product certification is a process through which an independent body, such as Eurovent Certification, certifies (at the manufacturer’s request) that a product performs as advertised and conforms to a defined performance standard. Unlike mandatory certification, which results from legal requirements, voluntary certification is initiated and paid for by manufacturers, to add market value and provide additional guarantees of performance to specifiers, installers, and end-users.
Distinctive features of voluntary certification include verification of data by an impartial and independent entity, multiple layers of evaluation (laboratory tests, factory audits, software checks, analysis of data), surveillance process to ensure continued compliance, and confirmation of performance beyond regulatory minimums. These extra layers of evaluation all build a comprehensive picture of the product that goes beyond laboratory tests alone.
Crucially, some certifications evaluate products under a broad range of market conditions. For Eurovent Certification, it is important to gain data that mimics realistic use by different end users, across different climates, and not to only test at optimal conditions for optimal results. This is another core area where certified data gives added value to HVAC professionals. Find out more in our article “Testing ‘real life’ performance.”
Key voluntary heat pump certification schemes offered by Eurovent Certification include:
Eurovent Certified Performance for Heat Pumps (Eurovent-HP)
For electrically driven, gas absorption and gas internal / external combustion engine driven heat pumps with a heating capacity less than or equal to 100 kW.
Eurovent Certified Performance for Chillers and Heat Pumps (LCP-HP)
For hydronic heat pumps used for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration applications, which are equipped with any type of electrically driven compressor.
Heat Pumps NF (NF414)
For electrically driven, gas absorption and gas internal / external combustion engine driven heat pumps with a heating capacity less than or equal to 100 kW.
Heat Pump KEYMARK (HPKM)
For all heat pumps, combination heat pumps and hot water heaters (as covered by Ecodesign, EU Regulation 813/2013 and 814/2013).
MCS for Heat Pumps (MCS007)
Aimed at heat pumps sold in the UK market, the programme covers electrically driven and gas absorption heat pumps up to a 45 kW output.
Eurovent Certification also offers the Hybrid Heat Pumps NF462 mark.
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How does voluntary certification help HVAC professionals?
Simply put, certification offers a guarantee of product performance. Non-certified products that do not perform as advertised can:
- Use more energy and incur much higher running costs
- Create a larger carbon footprint
- Negatively impact on the performance and energy consumption of other parts of the system
- Be non-compliant with regulations
- Not meet end user requirements
- Be prone to faults and breakdown
- Result in complaints, penalties and litigation.
When it comes to heat pumps, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and the market is diverse in terms of technologies, brands, performance and quality levels. Added to this, engineering firms face a number of challenges including:
- Rapid evolution of standards and regulations
- Difficulty benchmarking products
- Incomplete data from the manufacturers provided in such a way that makes it time-consuming to gather and analyse
- Rising demands for confirmed energy performance
- Rising demand for low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants
- Cost pressures
- Client expectations for comfort and reliability
- Increased focus on whole lifecycle and the need to ensure long-term system durability.
Product selection can therefore be a minefield. In this context, voluntary certification is a key tool for technical risk management and for enhancing project credibility. Certified data (COP, SCOP, SEER, sound power levels etc.) is derived from a stringent process including independent laboratory testing, factory audits, software checks and data evaluation under strict protocols, enabling engineers to:
- Easily benchmark products
- Streamline product data
- Reliably size and design systems
- Perform thermal simulations and lifecycle assessments
- Ensure heat pumps conform to relevant national and EU standards
- Secure subsidies for clients
- Build trust with project owners, investors, and end-users
- Justify technical choices in tender documentation.
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Product comparison = project risk reduction
One of the biggest advantages for HVAC professionals is the ability to directly compare certified products, across multiple brands, ensuring informed decision making and reducing the risk of poor product performance. Certification schemes enforce standardised testing protocols and performance metrics, enabling transparent, data-driven product selection and specification.
The certification process creates a level playing field, as certification is uniform for all manufacturers. Crucially, all products within a given programme go through exactly the same testing, auditing and surveillance process. And all results are expressed in the same unit of measurement – allowing direct comparison across a common language.
Plus, Eurovent Certification’s free to access online Certified Product Directory allows decision makers to view and compare certified heat pumps like-for-like, aiding the decision-making process.
View Eurovent certified heat pumps
The limits of voluntary product certification
While voluntary certification holds many benefits, it has three main limitations:
1) As it’s voluntary, not every product on the market is certified. Manufacturers may choose not to certify products because of:
Cost: Certification involves expense (testing, audits, fees, internal resource) that budget-conscious manufacturers may wish to avoid.
Fear of failure: The product might not consistently meet the scheme’s standards, especially in terms of efficiency, sound power levels, or environmental impact. Or the manufacturer may suspect that declared data will not match certified results.
Lack of market demand: If customers (especially in certain regions) don't prioritise or recognise the certification, the manufacturer may not see a strong business case for participating.
2) It can be hard to compare certified vs non-certified products, as uncertified products may display different metrics or inaccuracies in data.
3) A certified product is only ever as good as the system it is designed and installed in. Product performance can still be impacted by poor design, bad installation or a lack of maintenance.
Conclusion
Voluntary heat pump certification builds transparency and trust in the market by identifying products with proven energy efficiency and performance. For manufacturers, it shows they are confident in their heat pumps and willing to go the extra mile for their clients. For the industry, voluntary heat pump certification enables fair comparison of products across manufacturers and brands.
Engineering firms who specify certified heat pumps not only safeguard their own reputations and deliver on client expectations but also contribute to the environmental performance of buildings. Certified data is invaluable when selecting heat pumps, verifying regulatory compliance and supporting high-quality, energy efficient, durable installations that reduce the risk of poor system performance.
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