Why do we need voluntary heat pump certification?

UK – Olesya Shakhter, Project Manager, Eurovent Certification, explores why voluntary product performance certification plays a central role in the HVAC market, particularly for those 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.

An introduction to voluntary certification

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? 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.

Plus, manufacturers 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 carbon emission reductions. With energy efficiency confirmed, certified products help to reduce overall energy use 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 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 – such as laboratory tests, factory audits, software checks, analysis of data – surveillance process to ensure continued compliance, and confirmation of performance beyond regulatory minimums.

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.

What certifications are available?

Within the heat pump sector there are several certification programmes. While programmes may differ in product type, characteristics tested or evaluation and surveillance protocols, all provide independently verified product data. Key voluntary heat pump certification schemes 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 100kW.

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 100kW.

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 45kW output.

How does voluntary certification help HVAC professionals?

Simply put, certification offers a guarantee of product performance. There is a risk that non-certified products may not perform as advertised. Underperforming products can:

• Be non-compliant with regulations
• 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
• Not meet end user requirements
• Be prone to faults and breakdown
• Result in complaints, penalties and litigation.

Without independently verified product data, product selection can be a minefield. In this context, voluntary product certification is a key tool for technical risk management and for enhancing project credibility.

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.

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.

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:

• Certification involves expense (testing, audits, fees, internal resource) that budget-conscious manufacturers may wish to avoid.
• The product might not consistently meet the scheme’s standards.
• There may be a lack of market demand. If customers 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) It is not a silver bullet. Product performance can still be impacted by poor system design, bad installation or a lack of maintenance.

Conclusion

Voluntary certification transforms unverified heat pump data into a transparent, trusted resource, directly enabling better design, compliance, procurement, and risk reduction. Independent certifications, such as Eurovent Certified Performance, MCS, NF and KEYMARK, make it possible for engineers to select products with scientifically validated data, providing systems that perform as promised.

View certified products at www.eurovent-certification.com