CIEH and IOA launch new heat pump briefing notes

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and Institute of Acoustics (IOA) have jointly launched two new briefing notes on mitigating the potential noise impacts of heat pumps.

Air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps generate noise and can potentially cause significant adverse effects on people living nearby. With heat pumps being part of the Government's strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, CIEH and the IOA have worked together on these briefing notes which provide information on how to mitigate the potential noise impacts.

The notes set out advice to enable the use of heat pumps as a source of low carbon heating and cooling, whilst minimising the risk that sound and vibration from the units will cause significant adverse impacts.

The briefing note simply entitled Heat Pumps provides information for potential purchasers or anyone generally interested in the technologies.

The briefing note entitled Heat Pumps Professional Advice Note (with an accompanying calculation sheet) is for installation professionals.

Ross Matthewman, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We are delighted to have been able to collaborate with the IOA on this project.

This is one small but important way in which we can contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

We hope that professionals and the public alike will find these briefing notes a useful resource for many years to come.”

Stephen Turner, Immediate Past-President of the Institute of Acoustics, said:

“The Institute is delighted to have worked closely with CIEH on this important issue.

The need to find more sustainable forms of heating is paramount, but it is also essential that we minimise the risk of the new technology causing significant adverse noise effects by effectively managing the noise impacts from heat pumps. To overlook this aspect will impede the efficient implementation of this element of Government policy.

The IOA and CIEH are confident that the advice contained in these briefing notes will assist all interested parties to take the potential noise impact of heat pumps properly into account.”