CIBSE has launched its new Domestic Heat Pump Design and Installation Guide, developed jointly with the Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK), during National Heat Pump Week 2026.
The new guide, provides practical guidance for professionals involved in the design and installation of domestic air-to-water heat pump systems, supporting the UK's transition to low-carbon heating.
The transition to low-carbon heat is one of the most significant changes facing the UK building services sector and heat pumps will play a central role in that transition. However, successful deployment is not simply about installing more heat pumps. It is about ensuring that systems are properly designed, installed and operated so that they perform as intended.
The new guide has been developed in response to gaps in existing guidance identified by both the CIBSE Domestic Building Services Panel (DBSP) and HPA UK. More than two years in the making, it brings together the knowledge and experience of specialists from across the industry to provide an independent source of guidance based on established good practice, sound engineering principles and consistent design methodologies.
The guide is intended as a cross-industry resource for anyone involved in the design and installation of domestic air-to-water heat pump systems. This includes experienced designers, installers and heating engineers, plumbers moving into low-carbon heating, trainees developing their knowledge, consultants, specifiers and anyone who needs a reliable reference when undertaking calculations or making design decisions.
It is designed to complement the CIBSE Domestic Heating Design Guide (2026), which provides heat-generator-neutral guidance and is primarily focused on heating system design.
Supporting good practice in heat pump design and installation
The new guide extends this to provide heat pump-specific guidance across the full lifecycle of a system, covering:
Where possible, the guide simplifies complex design considerations and establishes clear boundaries to help users understand when a project falls outside its methodology and requires an alternative approach.
Dr Jaydeep Bhadra, Domestic Sector Technical Manager at CIBSE said: "This guide addresses a real need in the industry. Heat pumps demand a different approach to design, installation and commissioning than traditional heating systems, and getting this right is essential to delivering efficient, reliable systems. Working with HPA UK, we've brought together practical, sector-wide expertise into a single resource covering the whole process, from survey and design through to installation, commissioning and handover. We hope it will raise standards and give designers and installers greater confidence in delivering high-quality heat pump projects."
Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of HPA UK said: “Developing this guide has been a collaborative effort, bringing together expertise from across the industry to address the practical challenges of domestic heat pump design and installation. I’m pleased to see the work come together in a guide that provides a clear and consistent reference for those designing and delivering heat pump systems.”
A collaborative industry resource
The guide represents a significant collaborative effort between CIBSE and HPA UK, drawing on the expertise and experience of specialists from across the industry.
By bringing together established good practice and consistent design approaches into one independent source, the guide aims to support greater consistency in the way domestic heat pump systems are designed and installed.
As the UK continues to transition towards low-carbon heating, ensuring that heat pump systems deliver the performance expected of them will be increasingly important. Good design and installation practice will be fundamental to achieving this.
The CIBSE Domestic Heat Pump Design and Installation Guide can be accessed at CIBSE Domestic Heat Pump Design and Installation Guide (2026) pdf
