Heating industry leaders are calling on government for a comprehensive national standard for heat pump installation, warning that the current system leaves consumers exposed to inconsistent quality and rising bills.
Existing standards, including the MCS accreditation scheme, are “fragmented and incomplete, offering no unified framework for the design, installation, or monitoring of heat pump systems”, according to the EUA. Around 45% of installations in 2025 were not MCS accredited, leaving them outside any recognised quality assurance scheme.
The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s flat £7,500 grant and low system efficiency expectations fail to reward high-performance installations, EUA says, contributing to a “two-tier system”, where some households benefit from efficient systems while others face unexpectedly high running costs due to poorly setup systems.
The sector is urging government to work with the British Standards Institute and industry to develop a national British Standard, alongside mandatory performance monitoring and performance-linked incentives.
Chief Executive of EUA, Mike Foster, said: “Heat pump volumes will only increase when consumers feel it is the right choice for them; that means lower running costs as well as lower carbon. Having the highest standards of installation and regular check-ups after the event should give consumers the assurances they are looking for.
“A comprehensive British Standard for the design, installation and maintenance of heat pump systems is key to enabling low-carbon technologies to enjoy the same level of oversight as more established, mass market heating technologies.”
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