GSHP Standards
The Ground Source Heat Pump Association has recognised that the ground source industry requires installation standards in order to define and maintain a high level of installation quality, protect the environment and maintain the reputation of the industry.
The Standards have been drawn up by the GSHPA to help designers and installers of ground source systems, architects and engineers specifying ground source systems. They can be used by contractors employing specialist companies to install ground source systems. The Standards should also prove to be a useful for general reference.
The GSHP Standards provide concise information for the materials and general specification of installations. They are not installation or training manuals. The Standards must be referred to in conjunction with recognised design qualifications and training programmes. The Standards are designed to enable reference to minimum materials specification, techniques and qualification requirements and to ensure that installations comply with the Standards, or that contractors are employing companies that comply with the Standards.
Vertical Borehole Standard
The first to be published was the Vertical Borehole Standard which covers Closed Loop Vertical Borehole: Design, Installation & Materials Standards under the following headings:
- Government and regulatory agency requirements
- Design and installation – training requirements
- Design methods and compliance
- Thermal response testing of the ground
- Ground heat exchange materials and sizing
- Pipes, joints, methods and materials
- Grouts
- Pipe installation
- Testing of ground heat exchange loops
- Thermal transfer fluids
- Design drawings and records
The Vertical Borehole Standard is now referenced as an authority by the Environment Agency's Environmental ground source heating and cooling good practice guide and by the MCS MIS 3005 installation guide for Heat Pump systems.
ICAX Ltd is a member of the GSHPA and all its installations conform to the GSHP Standards.
Borehole Thermal Energy Storage
As well as using a borehole to extract heat for heating in winter, a borehole can be used to reject heat in summer as part of a Renewable Cooling system: a borehole can be used for Borehole Thermal Energy Storage.
ICAX projects using vertical boreholes include:
Merton Acacia Intergenerational Centre, Mitcham
Suffolk One Sixth Form College, Ipswich
Tesco Supermarket, Greenfield
Wellington Civic Centre, Shropshire
