CIBSE and the Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) have launched the Domestic Heat Pump Design and Installation Guide at the start of National Heat Pump Week 2026. The publication provides practical guidance for professionals designing and installing domestic air-to-water heat pump systems in the UK.
Developed over more than two years, the guide addresses gaps in existing industry guidance identified by the CIBSE Domestic Building Services Panel and HPA UK. It brings together established good practice, engineering principles and consistent design methodologies to support heat pump system performance.
The guide covers the full project lifecycle, including surveys, design, installation, commissioning and handover. It also explains the boundaries of its methodology and identifies situations where alternative approaches may be required. The publication is intended for designers, installers, heating engineers, plumbers entering the low-carbon heating sector, trainees, consultants and specifiers.
The new resource complements the CIBSE Domestic Heating Design Guide (2026), which provides heat-generator-neutral guidance focused primarily on heating system design. The heat pump-specific publication aims to establish greater consistency in domestic system design and installation.
Dr Jaydeep Bhadra, Domestic Sector Technical Manager at CIBSE, said: “Heat pumps demand a different approach to design, installation and commissioning than traditional heating systems, and getting this right is essential to delivering efficient, reliable systems.”
Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of HPA UK, said: “Developing this guide has been a collaborative effort, bringing together expertise from across the industry to address the practical challenges of domestic heat pump design and installation.” The guide is available through the CIBSE Knowledge Portal.
