15 May 2026
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Greater scrutiny of thermal insulation standards is needed for domestic, communal, and commercial heat pump installations, as it is essential for energy security and maintaining public trust.
Thermal insulation of pipework is a genuine “no-regrets” option for decarbonisation in both domestic and commercial applications. Yet, thermal insulation of pipework is often an afterthought and energy saving opportunities are often being overlooked.
Chris Ridge, Technical Director of the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) will establish the case for greater scrutiny of thermal insulation standards on domestic, communal and commercial heat pump installations. Furthermore, he will argue that with the debate regarding our national energy security becoming increasingly polarised, thermal insulation is a basic tenet that we have to get right if we are to win public trust.
The drivers for change
The new Government Warm Homes Plan1 reports that 84,000 heat pumps were installed in 2024. The Heat Pump target under "Vision for UK Homes" is for 450,000 heat pumps per year by 2030. This will require a huge increase in heat pump installations over the next five years.
There has been a significant focus on motor efficiencies and the CoP of heat pumps, with equipment manufacturers competing on ever tighter efficiency gains. According to Laurence Leask FInstR “we need to broaden our focus to “whole system efficiency” and should be encouraging equipment manufacturers to work collaboratively with the rest of the market”.
There is growing evidence that nonUV resistant flexible insulation is being utilised on many heat pump installations. Non-UV resistant flexible insulation can very quickly become subject to embrittlement, leading to water saturation and degradation. Thermal Insulation is therefore often the weak link in system efficiencies, and this will need to be addressed if Government is to win public trust and realise the ambitious targets laid out in the Warm Homes Plan.
What can be done to improve the thermal insulation specification and reduce inefficiencies? Whilst the general principles are constant, the routes to market are different, depending on whether the heat pump is for a single domestic unit or for a larger communal or commercial application.
The domestic heat pump market
The Domestic Heat Pump market relies heavily on the application of flexible foams such as nitrile rubber or polyethylene. These products are easier to install than other types of pipe insulation such as phenolic or mineral fibre and do not require the appointment of a thermal insulation specialist.
Standard flexible foam products are suitable for internally located applications but not suitable for external locations. Weather and UV-resistant alternatives are marketed but rarely utilised. When non-UV resistant flexible foams are installed in external locations, the embrittlement and degradation process can start within days of the installation.
The installation can be further compromised by poor practices, such as the use of cable ties which can strangle the insulation, reducing thermal performance and potentially damaging the exterior of the insulation.
A typical domestic heat pump project will require anywhere between two and four metres of UV-resistant flexible foam insulation for the externally located services. The price difference between using the correct insulation and the incorrect insulation is a drop in the ocean compared to the overall cost of the heat pump installation.
Bearing in mind the scale of heat pump installations earmarked between now and 2030, even a small recurring inefficiency could snowball into a national issue. Lisa Malyon, founder of national energy service WattsWatt2 has commented: “Accessing heat hours at the best price is what’s vital to UK households right now. The reputation of heat pumps has already been tarnished by the UK’s national media, so it’s vital that those installing the technologies ensure the systems are optimised. Insulation is a crucial element that appears to be overlooked, so we need to change that - and quick - before this winter.”
The commercial and communal heat pump market
Commercial heat pumps and communal heat pumps (those servicing more than one billing address) typically require larger pipes and longer pipe runs. These installations will typically require a phenolic or mineral fibre specification with an additional cladding product. A specialist thermal insulation contractor (TIC) should always be appointed for commercial and communal heat pump projects.
If the thermal insulation work is not carried out correctly, the client will be left with an inadequate installation and increased energy bills that can only be rectified with an additional financial and embodied carbon cost. However, commercial and communal heat pumps are often located in less visible areas, such as flat roofs, and problems are often “out of sight, out of mind”. A regular inspection and maintenance schedule should be considered essential.
There is no single point of failure in the supply chain, and awareness needs to be raised throughout the contractual route to avoid expensive mistakes occurring. Building Services Consultants and Contractors need to be clear in their specifications for externally located insulation.
Even insulation protected with a professionally installed external cladding system can be susceptible to damage and careful co-ordination between trades is required if the usual pitfalls are to be avoided. A classic example is the pipe support detail. Very often pipe support brackets are installed direct to pipe, presenting a weak point for water ingress where the threaded rod penetrates through insulation and cladding.
Conclusion
Everyone has a part to play if we are to promote good practice on heat pump installations. We need to align the goals of consultants, M&E contractors, heat pump installers, distributors and insulation manufacturers with the energy saving goals of the client.
We should also consider the role of equipment manufacturers. Manufacturers of heat pumps can often boast of improved efficiencies for their manufactured products, but perhaps they can be encouraged to engage on the efficiencies of the entire system? For example, equipment manufacturers could lead from the front and specify a suitable thermal insulation system for use with their products!
Finally, we need to consider when a specialist contractor needs to be appointed for the task of thermal insulating heat pumps – and ensure that we verify the competence of the contractor.
The drive to decarbonise has bought about real innovations in equipment design. The thermal insulation solutions, including UVresistant materials, already exist. However, the current fragmented approach has seen us falling at what should be the easiest hurdle to clear. We will only meet the challenges that lie ahead if we work together.
https://tica-acad.co.uk/tica-home/
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