AFPAC, in partnership with ADEME, has published a
new guide in its MEMOPAC series on sizing collective heat pumps for multi-family residential buildings in France. Based on feedback from early projects and the expertise of sector stakeholders, the document provides technical reference points for professionals designing collective heating systems in apartment buildings.
The guide covers the sizing of Air/Water and Water/Water heat pump systems and is intended to support energy performance, reliability and overall cost control. AFPAC said the document does not replace current standards and does not constitute a binding technical code or rule of the trade.
The publication is structured around three stages. The first focuses on calculating heat losses to assess heating demand. The second addresses production temperatures, compatibility with existing emitters, system diagnostics, possible optimisation measures and hydraulic network quality. The third sets out sizing principles for collective heat pumps and electric backup systems, including installation design, backup rules, heat supply security, flow temperatures and hydraulic schemes.
AFPAC said the guide highlights the need to secure reliable calculation assumptions when sizing equipment. As Arnaud Meyer, Technical Affairs Delegate at AFPAC, said: “It is better to make sure the assumptions are reliable than to oversize production.”
According to the guide, the general recommendation is to size the heat pump at 80% to 100% of heat losses, with possible adjustments depending on the building’s insulation level or thermal inertia. It also says cascade heat pump configurations can help secure heat supply and improve system flexibility. AFPAC said this third MEMOPAC volume focuses on collective heat pumps for heating use and will be followed by other volumes covering hybrid heating, domestic hot water production and dual-service systems.
