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Minimum standard for heat pump training should be legal requirement


With UK headlines dominated by Net Zero conversations, here’s why Kevin Wellman, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), is calling for a legal minimum qualification for all heat pump installers


P


lumbing and heating engineers provide essential services to keep people across the UK safe and comfortable in their homes. In


fact, failure to correctly install and maintain heating and hot water appliances and systems could have potentially deadly consequences. Therefore, as we see the rollout of new low temperature technologies including heat pumps, more due diligence regarding health and safety measures is required. It falls to plumbers and heating engineers to uphold high safety standards.


Upholding standards


With proficient installation, heat pumps can provide low-carbon heating which saves money and has a positive impact on the environment. However, if the technology is installed poorly, there is a very real risk that it will be inefficient in terms of energy use, financial cost and consumer experience. We are all vulnerable if plumbing and heating work is poorly executed and, if plumbing and heating professionals are not appropriately trained and a legal standard put in place, the consequences could be severe. That’s why having a skilled workforce of installers involved in Net Zero installation is so important.


Today’s workforce


Part of the challenge in meeting government targets is the number of qualified heat pump installers. According to Nesta, there are around 1,300 companies certified to install heat pumps, meaning there are approximately 4,000 qualified installers. This means the industry must add roughly 6,000 engineers every year from 2025 until 2035. Unless a significant number of engineers enter the industry, the UK will fall short of the target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. Without more qualified professionals, current installers will need to work 25-hour days, eight


times a week to hit Net Zero targets which is simply absurd. To avoid dangerously overburdening working engineers, government and industry must continue working together to attract new recruits. It was pleasing to see the Department for Education campaign encouraging schoolchildren to take up the plumbing and heating technician apprenticeship. Hopefully, careers officers throughout the country will support this initiative. Another positive step is the new Department for


Energy Security and Net Zero which is tasked with securing long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and halving inflation. It certainly reinforces the government’s support for Net Zero. While bringing in the next generation is vital, standards must be upheld – balancing quantity with quality.


Current requirements


While the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) ensures participant installers are MCS certified, installations not connected to the scheme do not require the same qualification. The rules imply that, to carry out a non-BUS installation, an engineer simply needs the minimum Level 2 qualification. Yet, without the stamp of quality, systems could be environmentally and financially inefficient and even dangerous for system users.


It seems disingenuous that the same standard isn’t placed on non-BUS installations, especially given that the Government includes it as a requirement for its own scheme. This shows they clearly place certification in high regard, so this inconsistency raises questions that need to be answered. All things considered, a qualified engineer who is


competent in gas installations will not automatically be proficient in the installation and maintenance of heat pumps. With this in mind, experienced plumbing and heating engineers must grow their skills to learn about new technologies in order to preserve the safety of end users.


Kevin Wellman, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE)


Training developments


In November 2022, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched a £9.2 million energy efficiency training scheme. However, the Scottish Heat in Buildings Strategy document still states: there are no specific statutory minimum qualifications required to install zero direct emissions heating systems, or carry out energy efficiency works. Steps like the BEIS investment and updates to


the Scottish Heat in Building Strategy are extremely positive. However, this must be underpinned by a mandatory minimum standard for all heat pump installers, including those installed outside of the upgrade scheme. Given that many boiler replacements are distress purchases, there will be a percentage of the population who cannot wait for government grants to come through. In these cases, consumers may be vulnerable to poor installations. A welcomed development is the launch of the Heat Pump Association’s Qualification for Air Source Heat Pump Technology. However, the idea that there could be no minimum legal standard for all heat pump installations is nonsensical. Manufacturers invest considerable time and resources in developing new technologies and training on products including heat pumps. I do believe that mandating CPD is in everyone’s interest – especially for consumers. Surely, it’s not too much to ask that quality products are installed by quality trained and competent installers. There is light at the end of the tunnel through the Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency consultation. This asks the question: “Should low temperature heating system training be mandatory for gas boiler installers to help ensure Building Regulations are met?” Views on this are welcomed. At the CIPHE, we champion quality and


competency across the industry and long may this be maintained. By continuing to work with government and industry, we’ll be able to balance the needs of all involved while ensuring user safety – the ultimate goal.


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