TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
What commercial heating engineers need to know
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The HVAC sector is caught between mounting regulatory pressure and a severe shortage of qualified professionals equipped to meet new low-carbon heating demands. Steve Molloy, sustainability & commercial solutions manager at Daikin UK explains what’s need in order to bridge the skills gap
he UK has committed to achieve Net Zero by 2050, with a 68% reduction in emissions by 2030. Non-domestic buildings currently account for 23% of built environment carbon emissions, and 66% of this can be attributed to heating. This means that a switch from fossil fuels to renewable, low carbon climate control solutions, such as heat pumps, is essential for the decarbonisation of commercial buildings. However, recent assessments from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) suggest that the country is not currently on track to meet the 2030 target, noting that the low carbon technologies needed to make the transition already exist but have not yet been adopted widely enough. A key part of the puzzle is ensuring there are enough qualified installers to deliver widescale heating decarbonisation, and a rapid upskilling is required if this is to come to fruition.
Meanwhile, engineers already working in the commercial sector are having to keep pace with changing regulations and new technologies. Get it right, though, and there is a big opportunity to take advantage of.
Understanding the new regulatory landscape
To stay competitive, heating engineers need to grasp the regulatory changes reshaping commercial HVAC work. For example, the industry is navigating an ongoing phasedown of higher GWP refrigerants, with availability being reduced through quota cuts and further reductions under consultation. Whilst the details are still pending, the Government has now published its consultation on amendments to the phasedown schedule. Contrary to popular perception, the new
proposed phasedown does not mandate an immediate ban on fluorinated refrigerants. This is perhaps the most important clarification needed in today’s market. The proposal outlines a faster phasedown trajectory, expected to bring the UK closer to EU levels by around 2039, with a longer-term phase-out target of 2050.
Since leaving the EU, the UK is approximately two years behind our European counterparts’ phasedown position, and we await more clarity on the results of the consultation, which closed in December. For installers, this reinforces that transitioning to systems using lower-GWP refrigerants, such as R-32, continues to be a widely adopted approach. It also underlines the value of working closely with a genuine industry expert such as Daikin, who can help ensure preparedness for the consultation’s outcomes and support compliance as legislation evolves. At present, there are no new legal requirements beyond the existing F-Gas framework, with current proposals focused on adjusting the phasedown trajectory. The Building Safety Act creates additional compliance requirements. For high-risk buildings – those at least 18 metres tall or seven storeys with two or more residential units – there’s now a Gateway approval system. Gateway 2, the pre-construction stage, requires building control bodies to verify plans meet building regulations before any work begins. Gateway 3 assesses completed work before occupation. What this means for HVAC contractors is heightened accountability. The ‘Golden Thread’ of information demands digital records kept securely throughout a building’s lifecycle. Any changes to approved plans must be logged, with major alterations needing fresh approval from the Building Safety Regulator before work can restart.
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Understanding low-carbon commercial HVAC systems
Meeting these regulatory requirements also means getting to grips with the technologies replacing fossil fuel systems. There are broadly two types of heat pump. Air-based systems, also known as air-source heat pumps (ASHP), draw heat directly from ambient air via a heat exchanger. Water-based systems can be divided again into two: water source heat pumps (WSHP) that harvest heat from surface water, such as lakes, rivers and seawater, and ground source heat pumps (GSHP) that utilise heat from the soil or groundwater. There is no one-size-fits-all commercial solution and it will often depend on what needs to be achieved. WSHP or GSHP systems deliver more consistent performance throughout the year as ground and water temperatures remain much more stable than air temperatures across the seasons. The UK market is however predominantly ASHP systems as there is not always a suitable water source or the correct geology near the building, meaning WSHP or GSHP are not applicable for many projects. Often a mix of different types of heat pumps
will result in the most efficient solution. A combination of ASHP in cascade with a WSHP as a booster to cover the domestic hot water allows the comfort elements of a project to be run at lower more efficient temperatures and only the required DHW demand to be covered at higher temperatures.
Training pathways and support for upskilling
Government funding has removed the main financial barrier to heat pump training. Free courses now cover the qualifications needed for MCS certification – the industry standard
that allows installers to handle Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications and meet building regulation requirements. Most comprehensive courses cover Water Regulations, the RQF Level 3 qualification for air source heat pump work, and practical installation experience. Five-day intensive programmes pack everything into one week, cutting time out of the business. Manufacturer-led CPD adds another dimension. Sessions covering the Building Safety Act, F-Gas updates and heat recovery fundamentals help heating engineers understand how regulatory changes affect commercial projects. The best training combines theoretical knowledge with practical application – understanding not just how to install a heat pump, but how to navigate Gateway approvals, source EPD data for carbon reporting, and specify systems that meet both current regulations and future-proofed refrigerant requirements. The format matters. Daikin’s recently
refurbished Manchester training centre, for example, includes house frontages with fully operational heating and cooling systems, interactive control displays, and virtual reality zones for practicing complex installations. This replicates real installation scenarios before working on customer sites, building competence and confidence simultaneously. Support after qualification matters as much as the initial training. First installations go smoother with manufacturer backup – someone to call when problems arise, help with funding paperwork, and guidance on system design decisions. For heating engineers considering the investment, training programmes can work around existing operations, allowing you to add heat pump capabilities without sacrificing established revenue streams. Given the commercial heating will continue to transition to low-carbon technologies, it could be a very wise investment to make.
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