ᐅ Do zoning regulations force homeowners away from heat pumps?

Hello everyone,

first post of what will probably be many – we are now starting to build. We are currently working on the design of our first floor plan and are simultaneously discussing with general contractors to clarify the basic questions before the architectural draftsman gets involved.

I am stuck here:

Our local development plan states:

The installation of air source heat pumps is only permitted in fully enclosed rooms.
At all penetrations and openings from the installation room to the outside, it must be ensured by structural and/or technical measures that a sound pressure level of 30 dB(A), measured at 1 meter (3.3 feet) distance from the penetration or opening, is not exceeded.
When designing and implementing sound insulation enclosures and silencers, it must be ensured that the noise after the silencer has no tonal components and that the installed technical devices provide sufficient sound-dampening properties, especially in the low-frequency range below 90 Hz.

If you search online for this, you find this passage in many development plans.

There was already a similar thread, but it raised more questions for me: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/welche-luftwaermepumpe-erfuellt-die-anforderungen-aus-dem-bebauungsplan.37022/

Here are the questions I can’t sort out in my mind:

• Does this actually require an indoor air-to-water heat pump? I don’t want to believe that because I see many split units installed in gardens and can’t imagine that builders follow this requirement in all those development plans.
• If I manage the piping myself, how do I keep the noise below 30 dB? Common units have noise levels of 45–50 dB, and sound won’t be reduced by 15 dB at 1 meter in front of the opening (according to HVAC knowledge, only about 7 dB attenuation).

Could you please give me some good advice on how to approach choosing an air-to-water heat pump?

Best regards and thanks.

So, we have a Buderus unit installed indoors, with air intake through approximately 80x80cm (31x31 inches) styrofoam light wells. You can’t hear anything from the heat pump outside. Inside, of course, it is noisier. I wouldn’t operate one without a basement. Ours is installed decoupled from the screed on a pedestal.

I’m curious to see what we will do in a few years if it breaks down.

That actually sounds achievable only with a brine-to-water heat pump?!

tomtom79 schrieb:

We have a Buderus system installed indoors, with an intake through roughly 80x80cm (31x31 inches) light wells made of polystyrene. You can't hear the heat pump from outside at all. Inside, of course, it’s louder. I wouldn’t operate one without a basement. Ours is decoupled from the screed on a pedestal.

I’m curious to see what we’ll do in a few years if it breaks down.

I forgot to mention: We are building without a basement. Why wouldn’t you build like that without a basement? Is the unit really that loud indoors?

Technically, it is not a problem and is often built that way. BUT: You need a heating specialist who knows what they’re doing to prevent noise inside the house. With good planning, there are no issues.

thatniks schrieb:

Assuming I manage the piping, how do I maintain the 30 dB level? Common devices are all around 45-50 dB, and sound surely isn’t reduced by -15 dB one meter in front of the opening—according to AI, only -7 dB.

There are sound attenuators for that. Technically, it is manageable.
It’s great that the quality of living in your residential area is considered in the building regulations / planning permission. Once you overcome that hurdle, you will benefit: it will be quiet—at least technically.