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 and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”