Heat pumps are a growing task for the electrician. Here are the rules for the permanent connection, the safety switch, the protected zone of propane heat pumps, leakage current and RCD, registration and own circuit — and why the F-gas ban from 1 January 2027 makes R290 common.
Introduction
A heat pump is an electrical appliance that moves heat from the air, the ground or the water into the house. When an oil boiler or a gas boiler is replaced, it is often a heat pump that comes in. That creates work for the electrician: the heat pump must be permanently connected, have the right protection and be registered with the grid company.
Where are the heat pumps?
The chart shows what share of residential buildings from each decade have a heat pump registered in BBR. Notice that the curve is lowest in the middle. The oldest and the newest houses most often have a heat pump. Houses from the 1960s and 1970s more often have district heating or their own boiler. That is where the next conversions can come.
Who may connect?
The permanent connection of a heat pump may be carried out by an authorised electrical contractor. It may also be carried out by a company that commercially manufactures or services heat pumps.