The Heat Pump Boom
| The heat pump boom: Why 2024 changed the game, and how to keep installs safe |
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2024 marked a milestone for low-carbon heating in the UK. According to www.mcscertified.com*, it was the best year on record for heat pump installations, driven by growing climate awareness, regulatory changes, and one very attractive incentive: the £7,500 boiler upgrade scheme. With this government grant now available to homeowners, the path to switching from fossil fuel heating to air source heat pumps (ASHPs) has never been easier, or more popular. For installers and wholesalers, this creates a huge opportunity. But with opportunity comes responsibility. The hidden risk behind heat pump installs While heat pumps offer impressive energy efficiency and carbon savings, they also bring a new set of electrical challenges, particularly for residual current protection. Modern ASHPs often include inverter technology, which can generate: • High-frequency residual currents • Smooth DC leakage • Pulsed DC and mixed waveforms These types of leakage currents can go undetected by standard Type AC or Type A RCDs, creating potential risks that could compromise safety, breach regulations, or cause nuisance tripping. |
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The Doepke Solution: DFS HP Range That’s where Doepke UK steps in. Our DFS HP Range is purpose-built for the demands of modern heat pump installations. These Type B RCDs are engineered to detect the full spectrum of AC and DC residual currents, giving installers the peace of mind that their protection is up to the task. Here’s what sets them apart: • High-frequency performance Designed to handle leakage up to 150kHz, well beyond the range of conventional devices. • Optimised for ASHPs Built with inverter-driven systems in mind, meeting the latest standards, including BS EN 61008 and BS EN 62423. • Clearly HP-labelled Each device is easy to identify on-site, helping reduce errors during installation and inspection. Why it matters Specifying the right protection device is no longer optional; it’s essential. With the rapid growth of heat pump adoption, ensuring safe, compliant, and future-ready installs is key to building trust with customers and protecting your reputation. Final thoughts The surge in heat pump uptake isn’t slowing down. As the UK moves towards net zero and the Future Homes Standard* rolls out, we’ll see more inverter-based systems entering homes and businesses nationwide. Choosing the correct circuit protection, like the Doepke DFS HP Range, is one small step that makes a big difference in keeping these installs safe and compliant Explore our dedicated range today: https://www.doepke.co.uk/RCCBs-Type-HP.php Want to speak to our technical team? 📞 Call: 01628 829 133 or email sales@doepke.co.uk References: https://mcscertified.com/ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-and-buildings-standards-2023-consultation/the-future-homes-and-buildings-standards-2023-consultation |