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
Stravanzer25 Apr 2022 15:46guckuck2 schrieb:
You can also skip the buffer; the authorities aren’t really interested in that. They only care about the ERR. ...but then the heating contractor wouldn’t have agreed and would have done a basic standard installation. Their attitude would be: “It will always get warm, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” However, the heating contractor won’t cover my electricity costs once we’ve moved in!
That’s why we now officially have the ERR exemption, so we’re safe. Furthermore, the heating contractor no longer has any arguments left…. 😉
H
Hausbau 5525 Apr 2022 16:20Benutzer200 schrieb:
Congratulations on your success as well.
However, not every authority is as bureaucratic as yours. In any case, the 950€ (about $1,020) is money well spent, and you are formally compliant 😀 Did you think this nonsense through before writing your response? Probably not. You are one of the main advocates who constantly brings up this IB. 950 euros (about $1,020) plus all the bureaucratic hassle and an extra 100 euros (about $107) for the letter—is this reasonable? For the IB, this is marketing on the backs of homeowners aimed at winning contracts. Show us one of “your many examples” as concretely as described in this status report. Which district offices handle this more cheaply? You imply that building authorities take different approaches to identical situations? You should explain that to us in more detail. What is clear now is that you are recommending a company, IB, here that in this case is not acting as an expert. I suspect this is not an isolated incident.
B
Benutzer20025 Apr 2022 16:49Hausbau 55 schrieb:
Did you think this nonsense through before writing your reply? Probably not. You are one of the main proponents constantly bringing up this IB. 950 euros plus all the bureaucratic hassle plus 100 euros for the letter, are you serious? For the IB, this marketing effort is carried on the backs of the homeowners with the goal of gaining contracts. Show us one of your "many examples" as concretely as described in this status report. Which district offices handle it cheaper? You are suggesting that building authorities act differently in identical situations? You should explain that more closely. What’s clear now is that you are recommending IB here, a company which, in this case, is not an expert. I suspect this is not an isolated case. I originally didn’t want to respond to you on principle. But now I have some time and feel like it.
1. Cost €950 + letter
How much do 16 actuators, individual room controllers, and integration by the electrician in the distribution panel cost? Both materials and labor. You will not cover that with just a few euros.
On top of that, you are officially allowed to waive the ERR.
2. Bureaucratic effort / different approaches
I’m not assuming anything. I know—there is a difference.
Because according to the Building Energy Act, the authority is not obliged to obtain expert certification. They may do so, but are not required. You can look this up in Section 102 of the Building Energy Act. Therefore, different authorities will—and can—have different procedures.
Hausbau 55 schrieb:
What is clear now is that you are recommending IB here, a company that in this case is not an expert. What’s the problem with the fact that he is not an expert? Did I ever claim that? He does an excellent job with heat load calculation and heating system design.
Everyone does what they are good at. Otherwise, he would open an expert office and not perform heat load calculations.
My example: Letter Heckmann ==> Submission to the building authority ==> Brief reply with approval (after a phone call clarifying exactly what I need as confirmation). The cost was about 25€.
It looks really straightforward like this:
B
Benutzer20025 Apr 2022 17:56@Hausbau 55: Sorry, I was mistaken. The cost was 40€. In North Rhine-Westphalia.
Apart from the rhetorical misstep, which I personally do not appreciate, I would like to add something. How many homeowners here have received a room-by-room heating load calculation, including the design of the underfloor heating, from the standard general contractor/subcontractor/heating installer/developer? I suggest that this is likely the case for only a single-digit percentage.
The engineering firm criticized here provides a service for the fee that offers genuine added value. Mostly in financial terms, but also in the "automation" of the underfloor heating system.
The engineering firm criticized here provides a service for the fee that offers genuine added value. Mostly in financial terms, but also in the "automation" of the underfloor heating system.
schubert7926 Apr 2022 06:42We have received this complete heating load calculation from our general contractor.
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