Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Climate Action Plan 2023 commits to installing heat pumps in 45,000 existing dwellings and in 170,000 new dwellings by 2025, increasing to 400,000 and 280,000 respectively by 2030

This rapid transition to low-carbon heating systems has effectively phased out fossil fuel boilers in new homes. It will significantly improve air quality in the areas where these new homes are built relative to traditional developments, providing more comfortable and energy-efficient homes, while also helping to achieve carbon reduction targets committed to in the Climate Action Plan.

Part D materials and Workmanship of the Building Regulations requires that all materials used in buildings should be fit for their intended use and the conditions in which they are to be used.

Energy Performance Regulations, Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents and NSAI Standard S.R.50-4:2021 Building services – Part 4: Heat pump systems in dwellings provide regulations and technical guidance requiring that space and water heating systems in dwellings be energy efficient, with efficient heat sources and effective controls. These documents include guidance for the defrost cycle of heat pumps.

The details of these regulations and guidance documents is set out below:

• S.I. 183 of 2019 - European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2019 requires that space and water heating systems in dwellings be energy efficient, with efficient heat sources and effective controls.These regulations also require that the dwelling owner be provided with sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services, controls and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and energy than is reasonable.
• Technical Guidance Document (TGD) L 2022 Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Dwellings (Table 2 – page 29) provides for the minimum controls for air-to water heat pump systems to include a defrost control of external airside heat exchanger for air-to-water systems.
• The document Heating & Domestic Hot Water Systems for Dwellings– Achieving Compliance with Part L & Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2019 provides guidance on the minimum provisions for heat pumps in dwellings to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations for space heating systems and hot water systems that include a defrost control of external airside heat exchanger for air-to-water systems.
• The NSAI Standard Recommendation S.R.50-4:2021 Building services – Part 4: Heat pump systems in dwellings provides guidance for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of heat pumps in dwellings in Ireland. This includes guidance to ensure that the space heating of a dwelling using an air-to-water heat pump as main space-heating system does not stop/cut out when the heat pump starts a defrost cycle. The guidance states that any heat pump system installed should be suitable for the local climate conditions and that frost protection system settings should be checked and tailored for the site.