Know the requirements to size, select, install, commission and handover air source heat pump systems (non-refrigerant circuits). — BPEC Certification Ltd Apprenticeship Assessment Qualification Construction & Building Services Revision

    This subtopic covers the comprehensive skills and knowledge required to size, select, install, commission and handover air source heat pump (ASHP) systems,

    Topic Synopsis

    This subtopic covers the comprehensive skills and knowledge required to size, select, install, commission and handover air source heat pump (ASHP) systems, focusing on non-refrigerant circuits. Learners must apply fundamental principles of heat pump operation, efficiency, and design to real-world installations, ensuring compliance with industry standards like MCS and building regulations. The emphasis is on delivering fully functional, efficient, and user-ready systems through correct hydraulic design, control setup, and thorough client handover.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Know the requirements to size, select, install, commission and handover air source heat pump systems (non-refrigerant circuits).

    BPEC CERTIFICATION LTD
    vocational

    This subtopic covers the comprehensive skills and knowledge required to size, select, install, commission and handover air source heat pump (ASHP) systems, focusing on non-refrigerant circuits. Learners must apply fundamental principles of heat pump operation, efficiency, and design to real-world installations, ensuring compliance with industry standards like MCS and building regulations. The emphasis is on delivering fully functional, efficient, and user-ready systems through correct hydraulic design, control setup, and thorough client handover.

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    Learning Outcomes
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    Assessment Guidance
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    Key Skills
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    Key Terms
    5
    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    BPEC Level 3 Award in Air Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant Circuits)

    Topic Overview

    The BPEC Level 3 Award in Air Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant Circuits) focuses on the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of air source heat pumps (ASHPs) without covering the refrigerant circuit. This qualification is designed for heating and plumbing professionals who want to expand their skills into renewable technologies. ASHPs extract heat from the outside air and transfer it into a building for heating and hot water, making them a key component of the UK's transition to low-carbon heating systems. The course covers system design, pipework, controls, and electrical connections, ensuring candidates can safely and effectively integrate ASHPs into existing or new heating systems.

    Understanding ASHPs is crucial for meeting UK building regulations and the government's target of net-zero emissions by 2050. With the phase-out of fossil fuel heating in new homes, ASHPs are becoming the standard. This qualification equips learners with the practical skills to install non-refrigerant components, such as the heat pump unit, buffer tanks, and controls, while emphasising system efficiency and compliance with standards like MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) and Part L of the Building Regulations. It also covers heat loss calculations and emitter sizing, ensuring the system delivers the required performance.

    This award fits within the broader context of building services engineering, bridging traditional plumbing and heating with modern renewable technologies. It is a stepping stone for further qualifications, such as the full refrigerant handling certificate (F-Gas) or the BPEC Level 3 Award in Heat Pump Systems (including refrigerant circuits). By mastering non-refrigerant circuits, students gain a solid foundation in heat pump system design and installation, preparing them for real-world projects and customer interactions.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Heat pump efficiency metrics: Understand Coefficient of Performance (CoP) and Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCoP). CoP is the ratio of heat output to electrical input at a specific temperature, while SCoP averages performance over a year. Higher values mean lower running costs.
    • →System components: Know the function of key non-refrigerant parts: the heat pump unit (evaporator, compressor, condenser, expansion valve are refrigerant-side, but focus on water-side components like plate heat exchanger, circulation pump, and expansion vessel). Also understand buffer tanks, low-loss headers, and thermal stores.
    • →Heat loss calculations: Perform room-by-room heat loss calculations using CIBSE or MCS standards to determine the required heat output. This ensures the ASHP is correctly sized for the property, avoiding oversizing (which causes short cycling) or undersizing (insufficient heating).
    • →Controls and weather compensation: Learn how weather compensation curves adjust flow temperature based on outdoor temperature, improving efficiency. Understand the role of thermostats, timers, and smart controls in optimising system performance.
    • →Commissioning and testing: Follow manufacturer instructions to set flow rates, check pressure, purge air, and verify electrical connections. Record commissioning data as per MCS requirements, including flow and return temperatures, flow rate, and electrical consumption.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Learning Outcome 1. Know what an air source heat pump is, the principle of the vapour compression system and system components.Learning Outcome 2. Know the different operational characteristics of each type of heat pump unit and system arrangement.Learning Outcome 3. Know the fundamental principles of heat pump efficiency and design selection that are common for heat pumps. Learning Outcome 4. Know the fundamental design considerations that are specific to air source heat pumps. Learning Outcome 5. Know the fundamental principles of domestic hot water cylinder selection and system design that are common for heat pumps. Learning Outcome 6. Know the fundamental principles of hydraulic system design that are common for heat pumps. Learning Outcome 7. Know the fundamental principles of heat pump controls. Learning Outcome 8. Know the preparatory work required for heat pump installation work. Learning Outcome 9. Know the preparatory work required for the installation of an air source heat pump.Learning Outcome 10. Know the requirements to install and test air source heat pump systems (non-refrigerant circuits).Learning Outcome 11. Understand the requirements to commission air source heat pump system installations (non-refrigerant circuits).Learning Outcome 12. Understand the requirements to handover heat pump system installations.

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for demonstrating accurate heat loss calculations for the property to correctly size the heat pump and select emitters.
    • Award credit for selecting an appropriate domestic hot water cylinder, considering heat pump flow temperatures, coil surface area, and recovery times.
    • Award credit for identifying and applying correct hydraulic design principles, including pipe sizing, pump selection, and low-loss header requirements.
    • Award credit for performing a complete commissioning process, including water flow rate adjustment, system flushing, and verifying proper operation of all control modes (heating, cooling, DHW, defrost).
    • Award credit for producing a comprehensive handover pack including user instructions, maintenance schedules, commissioning certificate, and compliance with MCS MIS 3005.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡Always start with an accurate heat loss calculation (e.g., MIS 3005 methodology) to underpin all sizing decisions; this is a fundamental exam criterion.
    • 💡Refer to manufacturer-specific guidance and MCS standards in all responses, as assessors look for evidence of applied industry best practice.
    • 💡In practical assessments, document every step of commissioning and testing, and be prepared to explain how each parameter affects system performance.
    • 💡For handover questions, emphasize the importance of providing clear user guides, demonstrating control operation, and explaining maintenance requirements to the client.
    • 💡Show your working in calculations: In exams, always write down the formula and each step of your heat loss or sizing calculation. Even if the final answer is wrong, you can gain marks for correct methodology. Use units consistently (kW, °C, litres).
    • 💡Know your regulations: Be prepared to reference specific standards, such as MCS 007 (Heat Pump Installation), Part L of Building Regulations, and the relevant British Standards (BS EN 14511 for performance testing). Mentioning these shows depth of knowledge.
    • 💡Understand system schematics: Practice drawing and interpreting system diagrams, including primary and secondary circuits, buffer tanks, and controls. Examiners often ask you to identify components or explain flow paths. Label everything clearly.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Assuming that heat pumps can be sized based on boiler replacement ratings without conducting full room-by-room heat loss calculations, leading to undersized or oversized systems.
    • Overlooking the impact of defrost cycles on system performance and not accounting for additional heat source demands or buffer vessel requirements.
    • Incorrectly sizing pipework or circulating pumps, causing inadequate flow rates that reduce heat pump efficiency and risk freezing.
    • Neglecting to set up weather compensation controls correctly, which can result in poor efficiency and comfort levels.
    • Failing to provide adequate documentation and user training at handover, leading to customer dissatisfaction and potential callbacks.
    • Misconception: ASHPs only work in warm climates. Correction: Modern ASHPs can operate efficiently at temperatures as low as -15°C to -20°C. While efficiency drops in extreme cold, they still provide heat. Proper sizing and backup heating (e.g., immersion heater) ensure reliability.
    • Misconception: ASHPs are always cheaper to run than gas boilers. Correction: Running costs depend on electricity prices, CoP, and system design. With a CoP of 3, an ASHP is roughly three times more efficient than a gas boiler, but electricity is typically more expensive per kWh. Overall, ASHPs can be cheaper if well-designed and used with off-peak tariffs.
    • Misconception: You can install an ASHP without changing existing radiators. Correction: ASHPs operate at lower flow temperatures (35-45°C) than boilers (60-80°C), so radiators may need to be oversized or replaced with underfloor heating to deliver the same heat output. Always perform heat loss calculations and emitter sizing.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Plumbing and Heating (or equivalent) – understanding of hot water systems, central heating, and pipework is essential.
    • •Basic electrical knowledge – ability to identify components like pumps, valves, and thermostats, and understand wiring diagrams (though full electrical qualification is not required).
    • •Understanding of building regulations and energy efficiency – familiarity with Part L and heat loss calculations is beneficial.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Learning Outcome 1. Know what an air source heat pump is, the principle of the vapour compression system and system components.Learning Outcome 2. Know the different operational characteristics of each type of heat pump unit and system arrangement.Learning Outcome 3. Know the fundamental principles of heat pump efficiency and design selection that are common for heat pumps. Learning Outcome 4. Know the fundamental design considerations that are specific to air source heat pumps. Learning Outcome 5. Know the fundamental principles of domestic hot water cylinder selection and system design that are common for heat pumps. Learning Outcome 6. Know the fundamental principles of hydraulic system design that are common for heat pumps. Learning Outcome 7. Know the fundamental principles of heat pump controls. Learning Outcome 8. Know the preparatory work required for heat pump installation work. Learning Outcome 9. Know the preparatory work required for the installation of an air source heat pump.Learning Outcome 10. Know the requirements to install and test air source heat pump systems (non-refrigerant circuits).Learning Outcome 11. Understand the requirements to commission air source heat pump system installations (non-refrigerant circuits).Learning Outcome 12. Understand the requirements to handover heat pump system installations.

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