The Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) has published Version 5 of its Closed Loop Vertical Borehole Standard, endorsed by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). It is the first updated technical standard released since the Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) merged into HPA UK earlier in 2026.
The standard provides technical guidance for the design, installation and maintenance of vertical boreholes used in closed-loop ground source heat pump systems. Led by Chris Davidson, Chair of the HPA UK Standards Sub-Group, the revision incorporates current industry best practices and developments in ground source heat pump technology.
Version 5 establishes a consistent framework for engineers, installers and other professionals involved in vertical borehole systems. It addresses health and safety, environmental protection, system longevity and reliable installation outcomes. The update also follows HPA UK’s recommendations paper, “Accelerating the Deployment of Heat Pump Driven Low Carbon Heat Networks and Drilling,” which identified revision of the standard as a sector priority.
CIBSE has endorsed the revised document as a technical benchmark for building services engineers, designers and specifiers. Ahmed Hegazi, CIBSE Head of Knowledge and Digital, said: “Boreholes are hard to fix once installed, so getting design and installation right first-time matters.”
Chris Davidson, Lead Author, said: “It provides engineers and installers with a clear, consistent framework to support high-quality design, installation and operation of vertical borehole systems.”
The Closed Loop Vertical Borehole Standard – Version 5 is available through the HPA UK Standards website.
