EHPA calls on the EU to simplify rules on heat pump products

At a time of rapidly expanding demand for heat pumps as a key technology for the decarbonisation of buildings and thermal processes, the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has launched a call to the European Union to simplify the regulatory framework for heat pump products and components .

The stated objective is to facilitate technical and regulatory compliance, reduce development and production costs, and promote the diffusion of these systems across all European markets, without compromising efficiency and safety standards.

Why regulatory simplification is needed

In recent years, the heat pump sector has seen significant growth thanks to growing awareness of the importance of low-emission technologies and incentives for energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. However, according to the EHPA, some rules and technical requirements of the European single market are still too complex and fragmented for manufacturers and importers.

The association's request specifically concerns the need to harmonize requirements, conformity tests, and CE marking procedures specific to heat pumps , eliminating regulatory duplication and differences in interpretation between Member States. This would reduce bureaucratic burdens and facilitate access to new technologies and innovative solutions, while maintaining high standards of energy efficiency and safety for end users.

Impacts on the market, production and design

For HVAC industry players, simplifying the rules could translate into concrete operational benefits. Specifically:

• a reduction in the time and costs for the certification of products and components destined for the European market ;
• greater regulatory predictability for manufacturers and distributors , with positive impacts on the development of high-performance product lines;
• an incentive to spread heat pumps even in less traditional segments , thanks to the reduction of technical barriers to entry into the various national markets.

Simplification could also encourage the entry of new-generation operators and technological SMEs, stimulating competition and innovation in the sector.

Towards a more efficient regulatory framework

The EHPA proposal is part of the broader European debate on the energy transition, in which technical and regulatory tools must evolve in step with the adoption of low-impact technologies.

Those working in the HVAC and air conditioning industry know how crucial it is to have a clear, consistent, and accessible regulatory framework to design, certify, and market complex systems like heat pumps without unjustified technical barriers.

For industry professionals, regulatory simplification isn't just a bureaucratic requirement, but an enabling factor for accelerating the large-scale adoption of heat pumps, with benefits for energy sustainability, reduced consumption, and the competitiveness of businesses in international markets.