Heat Pumps Today

18 A new Government report on heat pump installations in off gas areas shows why training is so important as we begin to move away from fossil fuel heating systems, explains Anna Wakefield, Head of Marketing for Grant UK. Heat pump training: ensuring quality and overcoming barriers Recent Government research has investigated the impact of the transition away from high carbon fossil fuel heating systems on 4,000 heating installers who work in areas of England and Wales that are not connected to the gas grid. It makes for interesting reading and highlights the importance of heat pump training in the coming months and years ahead. One third of the installers surveyed said they currently install heat pumps, which is a great start and indicates that demand is rising for the technology. Interestingly, 72% of the non-heat pump installers surveyed said they would continue to work and learn how to install new low carbon technologies if the requirement for fossil fuel heating systems were to significantly reduce in areas not connected to the gas grid. This shows that the importance and need for comprehensive heat pump installation training will continue to rise. Training will also be an important way to address some misconceptions and break down barriers which were highlighted in the research. Misconceptions From the installers interviewed, those who do not install heat pumps were (perhaps understandably) the most sceptical about low carbon technology. The perception from installers was that their customers would find them too expensive to install. There was also a perception among many installers that consumers currently do not know enough about the benefits of heat pumps to request to have one installed or agree to install one if suggested by an installer. As the report points out, those installers who worked in areas with predominantly August | September 2021 older housing stock perceived the lack of insulation as a limiting factor in a heat pump’s suitability for these houses. The report suggests a need for wider installer training in identifying options for energy efficiency improvements and optimising homes for heat pumps. Some installers interviewed also said that heat pumps would not work efficiently during the winter months, despite evidence that heat pumps are able to comfortably operate at or below zero degrees Celsius. How to access training The very best heat pump manufacturers offer high quality online, as well as classroom based, often practical, product training which will help to allay the concerns outlined above. The Grant eLearning Academy, for instance, features a catalogue of courses which vary in both content and form, allowing heating engineers and other industry professionals to choose and complete training which suits their requirements. On-demand courses are available which allow candidates to work through the content at a time and place which suits them. Installers and engineers can also enrol onto instructor-led courses where online, real-time tuition can be provided by trainers. In addition, the eLearning Academy is also a platform for other useful resources, with a variety of supporting news articles and guides available to view, helping heating professionals to further their learning beyond the classroom. In the report, of the 67% of installers surveyed who stated they do not personally install heat pumps, 46% stated they would be very or fairly confident in assessing appropriateness and 38% in installing heat pumps. Without good quality training, installing heat pumps incorrectly can result in underperforming products and unsatisfied homeowners. Guess work is simply not an option. After training, and once out on-site with their customers, manufacturers like Grant UK offer extensive support for heat pump installers, including design and technical help, and field engineers can assist with the commissioning and hand over of the heating system to the homeowner. MCS Compliance can also be aided by schemes such as G-Cert, whereby Grant UK handles the administration on behalf of the installer. Just like the right training, schemes like G-Cert can break down the barriers which could otherwise discourage both installers and homeowners from choosing a heat pump. Step by step: Installing the Aerona 3 Air Source Heat Pump. T R A I N I N G