Plant size ratio PSR
The plant size ratio (PSR) is the nominal heat output of a heating plant divided by the design heat loss (the average heat loss of the building on a cold day with a temperature differential of 24.2°C).
Note: The heating plant emission rate includes any auxiliary space and water heating that may be necessary, i.e. it represents the performance of all heating plant needed to provide space and water hating service to the building, assuming a standard demand pattern. For a given heat demand, the plant size ratio determines the part-load condition for the heating plant.
The SAP Supporting Document:: "Calculation Method: CALCM:01. SAP Revised heat pump performance method Issue 1.2" published by BRE 5 September 2017 mentions Plant Size Ratio (PSR) thus:
"Heat pump annual performance calculations were first introduced in SAP 2005 via a SAP Appendix Q procedure. In SAP 2009 they were adopted and included in a newly expanded SAP appendix (Appendix N) which includes provision for heat-led micro-cogeneration. Heat pumps were included in the same appendix as cogeneration because both technologies have an annual performance that is highly dependent on the plant heating capacity divided by the design heat loss of a dwelling. This is known as the Plant Size Ratio (PSR)."
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Accredited energy assessor.
- Air tightness.
- Are Energy Performance Certificates accurate?
- BS EN 15232 Energy performance of buildings: impact of building automation, controls and building management.
- Building energy models.
- Building heating systems.
- Building performance metrics.
- Building services compliance with the building regulations.
- Building services.
- Carbon ratings for buildings.
- Corrosion in heating and cooling systems.
- Display energy certificate.
- Domestic building services compliance guide.
- Emission rates.
- Energy certificates for buildings.
- Energy performance certificate EPC.
- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
- Energy related products regulations.
- Gross calorific value.
- Heat pump.
- Heat recovery.
- Heating.
- Heating plant emission rate.
- Heating system glandless circulator.
- Low carbon heating and cooling.
- Minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES).
- National Calculation Method.
- National Retrofit Strategy NRS.
- Non-domestic building services compliance guide.
- Overheating.
- Performance gap.
- Product Characteristics Database
- Radiant heating.
- SAP.
- Simplified Building Energy Model.
- Space heating system.
- The EPC consultation in the context of changes to the NCM.
- The Home Energy Model and Future Homes Standard assessment wrapper.
- Underfloor heating.
- U-value conventions in practice: Worked examples using BR 443.
Featured articles and news
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.
Biomass harvested in cycles of less than ten years.
An interview with the new CIAT President
Usman Yaqub BSc (Hons) PCIAT MFPWS.
Cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales
Proposed policy option costs for design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales.
Do you receive our free biweekly newsletter?
If not you can sign up to receive it in your mailbox here.






















