Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Sections
  • News
Research
HVAC
Public Sector

CIBSE launches design guidance for heat pumps in high-density housing

Open-access content Tuesday 28th September 2021
Authors
Herpreet Kaur Grewal
web_heat-pump_shutterstock_642237817.png

Shutterstock

New guidance on the design and installation of heat pump systems for multi-unit residential buildings has been published by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

The decarbonisation of heating is a key element of UK climate policy. Heat pumps are the most energy-efficient means of heating a building electrically and, with a decarbonising electricity grid, are a widely applicable low-carbon heating solution. As such, they have a crucial role to play in the UK's transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, particularly in the residential sector.

CIBSE Application Manual, AM16, has been written to enable engineers, architects and contractors to understand how heat pump technology can be best applied on new-build and retrofit applications in high-density housing, including apartment blocks, student accommodation and care homes.

The guidance deals with the design and optimisation of multi-unit heat pump systems. It addresses areas of design that are crucial for good heat pump performance, including the importance of sizing a heat pump correctly, mitigating the loss of capacity caused by defrost cycles and the impact of lower domestic hot water temperatures on design.

The manual provides useful information on installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and decommissioning. It also addresses the issue of user guidance for a technology that is very different to traditional fossil fuel heating systems. In addition, because cost is such a key project driver for residential construction, AM16 includes information on relative capital, energy and maintenance costs.

A series of case studies have been included in the document to showcase the application of heat pumps in both new and existing multi-residential projects.

The application manual was authored by Arup with the support of the NHBC Foundation.

David Richards, chair of the CIBSE AM16 Steering Group said: "Heat pumps will be a big part of our future as building services engineers and AM16 provides timely guidance and resource as we start down the road to an all-electric, zero carbon future".

Joshua Bird, senior engineer, Arup said: “The successful application of heat pumps to high-density housing must now keep pace with the rapid transition towards net-zero, and the mass rollout of this technology. Whilst heat pumps can provide a widely applicable, low-carbon heating solution for multi-residential developments they are not a drop-in replacement for gas-boilers. With the correct knowledge, we can benefit from affordable, low-carbon, reliable, and safe heat from this fast-evolving technology".

Richard Smith, head of standards, innovation and research at NHBC said: “NHBC welcomes the timely publication of CIBSE’s manual covering heat-pump installations for multi-unit residential buildings. As the house building industry transitions to low-carbon heat sources it is essential that there is practical guidance for designers, installers and building operators to ensure these building systems operate reliably, sustainably and affordably.”

CIBSE AM16: Heat pump installations in multi-unit residential buildings 2021, brings together best practice and industry-wide advice. 

It is available as a download from the CIBSE website, https://go.cibse.org/AM16

Image credit | Shutterstock

Today’s top news stories

web_informal-office-meeting_credit_iStock-1365105724.png

Growing inequities must be addressed in work and health in post-pandemic world

A new report has stated that it is “vital” to address growing inequities in work and health when building the country back after the Covid pandemic.
Research
Reports
Thursday 26th January 2023
Open-access content
web_Fixing-lighting_credit_iStock-1348229768.png

Demand for R&M could fall as maintenance and cleaning costs look set to rise

The facilities management market will face difficulty over the next two years, as labour availability and high inflation drive an increase in costs, according to a market forecast. 
Reports
Thursday 26th January 2023
Open-access content
web_©Chartwells_'Heat-Grub'-Initiative.png

What are the latest innovations in facilities service provision? Our W/C 23/01/23 round-up

A news round-up of stories in the FM sector
Thursday 26th January 2023
Open-access content
web_©Pinnacle-Group_ESG-Impact-report-2022.png

Pinnacle reports on progress with ESG goals 

Property management firm Pinnacle Group has published its first ESG impact report highlighting how it is making headway with the four pillars of its ESG Framework.
Reports
Thursday 26th January 2023
Open-access content
Mitie reports strong results.

Mitie on track to meet full-year targets 

Mitie Group reports that it saw “continued strong performance” during the quarter ended 31 December 2022 in its trading update released today (26 January). 
Reports
Thursday 26th January 2023
Open-access content
web_©ISS_VMO2-Logo-Card_1920x1080.jpg

ISS UK&I strengthens FM connection with Virgin Media O2

ISS UK & Ireland has extended and expanded its contract with Virgin Media O2 to deliver a total facilities management service across all of Virgin Media O2’s UK infrastructure. 
Thursday 26th January 2023
Open-access content
Filed in
News
Also filed in
Research
HVAC
Public Sector

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Health and Safety Manager

London (Central)
£50,000
Reference
59394

Head of Health and Safety

Farnham
£51,800 - £56,500 plus excellent benefits package (including the Local Government pension scheme)
Reference
59393

Interim Head of Facilities

London
£270.00 per day (premium day rate)
Reference
59391
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2023 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ