EU Project Initiates Safety Guidelines for Heat Pumps Using Flammable Refrigerants

A new EU project is to develop guidelines for installers and consumers using heat pumps that contain flammable refrigerants.

Heat pumps are key to moving away from fossil fuels in heating. To protect the climate to the maximum in line with EU law, heat pumps are increasingly switching to low greenhouse gas refrigerants. As these refrigerants are more flammable, ensuring the safety of heat pump installers and consumers is paramount.

A new project co-funded by the European Union LIFE Programme, the SKILLSAFE EU project, aims to support the safe handling of outdoor-installed R290-based air-to-water monobloc heat pumps for residential use. It will do so by developing comprehensive, industry-wide guidelines.

Launched on 4 September, the project brings together manufacturers, industry associations, and training institutions to create a robust framework for the safe design, storage, transport, installation, and disposal of these heat pumps. In this way, it aims to ensure the protection of both installers and consumers while accelerating the transition to more sustainable heating and cooling solutions.

Specifically, the project focuses on:

1. Data and information collection to identify existing safety challenges and best practices.
2. Development of a unified guidelines based on the collected data and expert recommendations.
3. Pilot projects in five countries to test the effectiveness of the guidelines in real-world scenarios.
4. Risk assessment to ensure the safety of installers and end-users.

Led by Daikin Europe N.V. SKILLSAFE EU brings together four partners from three European countries. With approximately €1.3 million in funding, the project will run until June 2027.