ᐅ Air-to-water heat pump without buffer tank | Heating contractor refers to building energy regulation requirement
Created on: 8 Feb 2022 11:48
S
Stravanzer
Hello everyone,
I have used the search function but couldn't find any information on my issue.
Our current building project is still in the planning phase. We are constructing a single-family home (KFW 55 EE) through a general contractor. Everything is arranged so far, the KfW funding is approved and confirmed. So far, so good! The trades are currently being discussed, and I am in a dispute with the heating engineer commissioned by the general contractor.
Content of the scope of work:
Air-to-water heat pump with electronic radiator thermostats (ERT) and buffer tank, etc.
My execution request:
An air-to-water heat pump without ERTs and buffer tank, as I want to use the “self-regulating effect” (calculation of the hydraulic balancing or the minimum/total volume flow to avoid using a buffer tank and bypass valve in the hydraulic system, in order to heat the house more energy efficiently).
Also, the ERTs in the individual rooms should not be connected or only installed as visual elements.
The heating engineer says that, due to the current applicable energy saving regulations, he is not allowed to install the air-to-water heat pump without a buffer tank. If the inspection by the energy consultant has yet to be completed, it would not be approved because of the missing equipment (buffer tank + ERTs). He insists on a buffer tank!
What options do I have as the client to still receive an air-to-water heat pump without a buffer tank and ERTs? Is there actually an inspection by the energy consultant? Is this common?
Maybe the community here has some tips or possibly even a solution? Thanks in advance for any help.
Best regards,
Tom
I have used the search function but couldn't find any information on my issue.
Our current building project is still in the planning phase. We are constructing a single-family home (KFW 55 EE) through a general contractor. Everything is arranged so far, the KfW funding is approved and confirmed. So far, so good! The trades are currently being discussed, and I am in a dispute with the heating engineer commissioned by the general contractor.
Content of the scope of work:
Air-to-water heat pump with electronic radiator thermostats (ERT) and buffer tank, etc.
My execution request:
An air-to-water heat pump without ERTs and buffer tank, as I want to use the “self-regulating effect” (calculation of the hydraulic balancing or the minimum/total volume flow to avoid using a buffer tank and bypass valve in the hydraulic system, in order to heat the house more energy efficiently).
Also, the ERTs in the individual rooms should not be connected or only installed as visual elements.
The heating engineer says that, due to the current applicable energy saving regulations, he is not allowed to install the air-to-water heat pump without a buffer tank. If the inspection by the energy consultant has yet to be completed, it would not be approved because of the missing equipment (buffer tank + ERTs). He insists on a buffer tank!
What options do I have as the client to still receive an air-to-water heat pump without a buffer tank and ERTs? Is there actually an inspection by the energy consultant? Is this common?
Maybe the community here has some tips or possibly even a solution? Thanks in advance for any help.
Best regards,
Tom
Stravanzer8 Feb 2022 17:05Tolentino schrieb:
If I remember correctly, it arrived for me on the third day, which was a Saturday or Sunday (!). …that’s really quick then.
Does anyone here happen to have experience with writing to get an exemption from the ERR from the mentioned independent consultant?
Is that almost a guaranteed exemption, or are there still several administrative hurdles to overcome? And especially, what timeframes should be expected?
If the ERR exemption is granted, I would basically have settled the discussion with the heating engineer on a factual basis.
However, if no exemption is granted, my argument will become somewhat weaker again.
… and one more question:
“Is the system actually inspected at the end by an energy consultant to verify compliance with the energy saving regulations?”
I’ve never heard of that. Does anyone have experience with this?
Thanks & regards
Stravanzer8 Feb 2022 17:08MayrCh schrieb:
You are not a client. You are a buyer. That's correct, sorry.
The developer is completely uninvolved regarding the buffer tank.
He says I should coordinate that with the heating company commissioned, as he doesn't care whether the heating system is set up with or without a buffer tank.
B
Benutzer2008 Feb 2022 17:41Stravanzer schrieb:
Is this then basically a formality for an exemption, or are there still several official hurdles to overcome, and above all, what timeframes can be expected? According to Heckmann, success rate is 90-95%. So almost a formality, definitely worth trying.
Stravanzer schrieb:
"Will the system ultimately be approved by an energy consultant regarding the energy saving regulation requirements"? If they do their job properly, they check everything. And missing heat cost allocators (HCAs) will be noticed. What might work are used stick-on HCAs from online marketplaces that are not actually connected. But your heating engineer doesn’t go along with that. It’s also cheating...
Stravanzer schrieb:
because he doesn’t careHe might tell you that casually in conversation, but what is specified on one hand in the scope of work description as part of the (purchase) contract between you and the developer, and on the other hand in the contractual relationship between the developer and the heating contractor, is initially binding. Stravanzer schrieb:
basis for argumentYou don’t have one, since there is no contractual relationship with the heating contractor.
Since we didn’t want to start a minor conflict over the ERRs, we agreed with the heating technician on "zones" where similar temperatures can be controlled. That means we have a total of three ERRs: one ERR for all living areas (including the kitchen, dining room, office, children’s rooms, etc.), one for bathrooms (a bit warmer), and a third for sleeping areas (a bit cooler).
In practice, we hardly use these devices (they’re really not necessary), but I didn’t want to get into a dispute with the authorities. And to me, those few European ERRs were worth it. 😉
In practice, we hardly use these devices (they’re really not necessary), but I didn’t want to get into a dispute with the authorities. And to me, those few European ERRs were worth it. 😉
Regarding the buffer tank:
At the time when I dealt with this, BAFA actually required it for heat pump subsidies. However, the details allowed the floor heating volume to be credited. This was also something the installer could check off or even calculate in the documentation. It’s a valid counterpoint anyway: why have a 30-liter (1 gallon) buffer tank when you already have 200 liters (53 gallons) of floor heating embedded in several tons of thermal mass (screed)? Completely absurd.
Maybe that’s where it comes from? As far as I know, this is not a requirement of the energy-saving regulations, and I would definitely try to avoid the buffer tank. The hydraulic separator can simply be disconnected.
At least insist on using power-free, normally open actuators, so you only need to remove the fuse.
A few years ago, the general consensus was that exemption applications from the hydraulic separator were rarely successful. But if that has changed… better to pay a few extra for the paperwork than to have an unnecessary, expensive, and unattractive hydraulic separator on your wall.
At the time when I dealt with this, BAFA actually required it for heat pump subsidies. However, the details allowed the floor heating volume to be credited. This was also something the installer could check off or even calculate in the documentation. It’s a valid counterpoint anyway: why have a 30-liter (1 gallon) buffer tank when you already have 200 liters (53 gallons) of floor heating embedded in several tons of thermal mass (screed)? Completely absurd.
Maybe that’s where it comes from? As far as I know, this is not a requirement of the energy-saving regulations, and I would definitely try to avoid the buffer tank. The hydraulic separator can simply be disconnected.
At least insist on using power-free, normally open actuators, so you only need to remove the fuse.
A few years ago, the general consensus was that exemption applications from the hydraulic separator were rarely successful. But if that has changed… better to pay a few extra for the paperwork than to have an unnecessary, expensive, and unattractive hydraulic separator on your wall.
Similar topics