Commercial heat pump adoption grows with focus on R290 safety

The commercial heating sector is seeing increased adoption of heat pump technology as businesses transition toward lower global warming potential refrigerants. Ideal Commercial Heating has launched a CIBSE-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program to address safety considerations regarding R290, a natural refrigerant also known as propane. While R290 offers high operating temperatures and low environmental impact, its high flammability requires specialized knowledge in risk assessment, installation, and maintenance under regulations such as DSEAR.

In the United Kingdom, heat pump sales rose to 98,345 in 2024, up from 62,906 in 2023, with the market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.10% between 2025 and 2030. Rinnai has demonstrated the practical application of this technology through a case study at a science park in Wales. The facility implemented a custom R290 high-temperature air source heat pump system to support its low-carbon heating and hot water strategy, utilizing units capable of producing output temperatures up to 75°C.