Room-based heat pump
The Illustrated Guide to Mechanical Building Services, Third Edition (BG 31/2017), by David Bleicher, published by BSRIA in 2017, describes room-based heat pumps as:
‘Individual room units, which can be floor standing or concealed in a void, such as the ceiling, are all linked by a piped water circuit that runs around the building. Each unit operates independently and is able to heat or cool the air in the immediate area. This is achieved by means of a small heat pump in the unit which takes low grade heat from the water circuit and uses it to heat the room. To cool the room, the heat pump works in reverse to remove heat from the space and transfer it to the water circuit.
‘A key benefit of this type of system is the ability to save energy by transferring heat from an area where it is not needed to an area where it is. Any additional heating required by the system is provided by either a small boiler, electric heater or a link to a separate hot water circuit in the building. Any additional cooling is performed by one or more dry coolers or cooling towers which remove waste heat from the water circuit. As with fan coil systems, a separate ventilation system is be (sic) required.’
--BSRIA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Absorption heat pump.
- Air source heat pumps.
- BSRIA articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BSRIA definitions.
- BSRIA.
- Building services.
- Earth-to-air heat exchangers.
- Exhaust air heat pump.
- Ground source heat pumps.
- Heat exchanger.
- Heat pump.
- Heat recovery.
- Solar-assisted heat pump.
- Water source heat pumps.
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
World's first mass timber data centre.
The overlooked environmental aspect of data centre development.
Introduction to radon awareness
New technical information sheet published by CIOB.
Updated supplier guide can help electrical contractors engage with NHP.
CIAT confirm the winners of the 2026 architectural technology awards.
Government launches a one stop shop for flood preparedness.
Sir Edwin Lutyens: Britain's greatest architect? Book review.
CIOB publishes free template to help assess and manage risks.
ECA's reflections on Party Conference season
Burnham wants to be confident of winning before asking for a fresh mandate.
New Chief Construction and Scientific Adviser
Sergio Cavalaro, Professor of Infrastructure Systems at Loughborough University.
Building safety levy for England
CIAT publish estimator tool for members.
Water sector faces a growing crisis that could slow the delivery of vital infrastructure.
Undervaluing our industrial past
Heritage value changes as taste for building styles changes.
















