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Heat pump installations

Hot water heat pump installation compliance

In March 2024, Solar Victoria, the Essential Services Commission, the Victorian Building Authority (now the Building and Plumbing Commission), Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) and WorkSafe Victoria joined forces to improve the compliance of heat pump hot water system installations across the state, in line with industry and safety standards.

This follows the rapid growth in heat pump hot water system installations under the Solar Homes and Victorian Energy Upgrades programs, which offer incentives for people to install energy efficient products in Victorian homes and businesses.

This page provides plumbing practitioners with the guidance they need to ensure they are compliant when installing hot water heat pumps.

Safe installation of heat pump water heaters

Well-designed and properly installed heat pump water heater systems are safe and run efficiently and cheaper for longer.

Installation of heat pump water heaters below covered clearances is a compliance issue that has been identified in audits that we have undertaken. Heat pump water heaters must be installed in well-ventilated areas, typically outdoors.

Since they produce noise similar to air conditioners, it’s recommended that you position them away from bedrooms and install them where they won’t disturb neighbours.

Consideration should be given to the installation of a heat pump water heater when near mineral oils, paints and other flammables. Installing heat pump water heaters in high salt level areas and corrosive environments should also be avoided.

Installers can use Solar Victoria’s hot water audit checklist and guidance to improve their understanding of compliance standards and should always refer to the manufacturer’s installation requirements and relevant Australian Standards.

Compliant gas consumer piping sealing as part of decommissioning work

The non-compliant sealing of gas consumer piping where an existing gas hot water system is decommissioned and replaced with a heat pump hot water system is dangerous, with the potential to cause serious injury or death.

Recently, we have received numerous complaints where this non-compliance has occurred and is urging plumbing practitioners that undertake this work to only seal and/or cap gas consumer piping using appropriate materials to ensure compliance with AS/NZS 5601.1: 2022 Gas Installations, Part 1: General Installations.

Relevant requirements under AS/NZS 5601.1: 2022 include:

  • Clause 2.2.1.9 Decommissioning of gas installations
  • Clause 3.4.2 Open ends to be sealed while work is in progress.
  • Clause 3.4.3 Outlet provided for future connection to be sealed.

Installation guidance on temperature pressure relief valves

In collaboration with Solar Victoria and TechSafe Australia, we have developed hot water installation guidance sheets to help installers maintain standards.

They include installation advice and examples of compliant and non-compliant installations relating to the safe drainage of temperature pressure relief valves in reference to the standards, codes and regulations.

Using a licensed plumbing practitioner

All plumbing work is required to be performed by a plumbing practitioner who is licensed by the BPC to do that work, or by registered and apprentice plumbers working under the supervision of a plumbing practitioner licensed by the BPC to do that work.

If the installation involves removing a gas water heater, the relevant class of plumbing work is gasfitting work. Gasfitting work differs in nature, complexity and risk. For this reason, gasfitters need to be qualified for and experienced with the type of appliance on which they are working.

If the heat pump installation requires connection of refrigerant pipework, the plumber needs to be accredited in water supply and in either:

If the refrigerants in the split system heat pump water heaters being installed and commissioned are ozone depleting refrigerants, practitioners are required to hold an appropriate ARCTick licence:

If the heat pump installed is a self-contained unit or does not require the connection of refrigerant pipework, the plumber needs to be accredited in water supply.

Penalties apply for plumbing work that is carried out without the right BPC accreditation.

Solar Homes Program hot water retailers must use plumbers with the right BPC accreditation.

Any electrical work would need to be carried out by an appropriately licensed electrician.

Compliance certificates

A compliance certificate must be issued by a licensed plumber for all heat pump water heaters installations when they exceed monetary thresholds. The plumber who performed or supervised the work has the obligation to issue the compliance certificate and is accountable for the compliance of the work.

If two different plumbers are involved, one to disconnect gas piping and the other to install a heat pump, each must issue a separate compliance certificate for their respective plumbing work.

The installation or modification of a gas fitting line or appliance, including the removal or disconnection of an appliance, requires a compliance certificate.

A compliance certificate is issued for refrigeration work when refrigeration work is carried out on installing refrigerant lines from the condenser unit to the hot water storage cylinder.

If a plumbing practitioner carries out work for which a compliance certificate is required and fails to hold accreditation in that class of work, they may be subject to a maximum penalty of 500 penalty units (approximately $94,000).

Audits and inspections

BPC and ESV Authorised Officers and inspectors are checking that heat pump hot water systems are installed to the relevant standards safely and without fault.

One area of focus for Authorised Officers and inspectors includes temperature pressure relief valves and drainage.

Practitioner technical guidance

Protecting water services from freezing

Guidelines to protect water services from freezing in areas where temperatures drop to or below 0°C:

  • Protection Requirement: Water services shall be protected from freezing in cold regions (AS/NZS 3500.4:2021, Clause 4.11.1).
  • External Pipes: Bury pipes and fittings to a minimum depth of 300 mm or cover with waterproof insulation if burial is impractical (Clause 4.11.2).
  • Pipes on Metal Roofs: Pipes shall not touch metal roofs and must be insulated (Clause 4.11.3).
  • Internal Pipes:
    • Avoid installing pipes in areas prone to freezing, such as unheated roof spaces, cellars, near windows, or cold surfaces (Clause 4.11.4.1).
    • Keep pipes in unheated roof spaces at least 100 mm from the roof and external walls (Clause 4.11.4.2).
    • Position pipes in external walls at least 20 mm from the surface and preferably on the heated side of insulation (Clause 4.11.4.3).
  • Insulation: Pipes and fittings in cold areas must be insulated according to Table 4.11.5(B) (Clause 4.11.5).

Support of water heaters or water storage tanks installed other than in a roof space or above a roof

Clause 5.5.3 (AS/NZS3500:4:2021).

Storage water heaters and cold water storage tanks installed other than in a roof space or above a roof shall be floor-mounted or supported as follows:

  1. By brackets or hangers, designed to withstand the applied load.
  2. On a level, stable and impervious base designed and located to avoid ponding and made of:
    • bonded brick or concrete cast in situ, having a thickness of not less than 75 mm; or
    • pre-cast concrete having a thickness of not less than 50 mm.
  3. On a platform of timber, or other suitable, and not less durable, material. Where such a platform is located at or near ground level, it shall be supported so that a clearance of not less than 100 mm is maintained from the surrounding ground. NOTE A typical platform construction is shown in Figure 5.5.3.
  4. In a recess in a wall structure able to withstand the applied load.

Piping associated with storage water heaters

Practitioners should refer to section 4.11, section 8 Energy efficiency & 8.2 Thermal insulation. 8.2.1 Piping associated with storage water heaters.

Piping shall be thermally insulated to achieve a minimum R-value as given in Table 8.2.1 for the climate regions identified in Appendix K for Australia, as follows:

  1. The inlet and outlet pipes, including valves, for a storage water heater, for at least the first 500 mm or, where an external heat trap is fitted, to a point 150 mm down the heat trap vertical leg closest to the water heater.
  2. All relief valves fitted directly to a storage water heater.
  3. The primary flow and return pipes, including valves, between an auxiliary heater and a storage water heater.
  4. All vent pipes to 300 mm above the maximum operating water level of the heated water system (does not apply to PTR drain).
  5. On multiple installations, the whole heated water manifold, including valves, to a point at least 500 mm past the heated water outlet branch from the last water heater.
  6. On a solar water heater installation, the pipework between a solar pre-heater and an in-line supplementary water heater.

The insulation installed in accordance with the above shall be installed so as not to impede the operation of the valves.

NOTE 1 Care should be taken to ensure the continuity of insulation at wall and roof penetrations. Insulation should be carried through roof penetrations into the ceiling area.

NOTE 2 All exposed heated and cold water piping to and from externally mounted water heaters in frost-prone areas may require additional insulation to prevent freezing.

Fully funded training to install a hot water heat pump

Solar Victoria is offering free training for accredited plumbers and fourth-year plumbing apprentices to design and install energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems.

This free training will equip registered and licensed plumbers and fourth-year plumbing apprentices in Victoria with the skills needed to design and install energy efficient heat pumps and solar hot water systems.

This training does not replace requirements for accreditation but is valuable additional training.

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