How a Heat Pump Readiness Assessment Works
Click here to see our Example Home Survey
If you’re considering a heat pump or future low-carbon heating, the first step is understanding how your building actually performs – not just its EPC rating.
A Technical Heat Pump Assessment focuses on heat loss, building fabric, and system suitability. This approach is already used in Ireland through SEAI and is being considered for Northern Ireland, where future grant support is expected to require minimum building performance standards — not just a certificate.
At the centre of this is a simple question:
Does your home retain heat well enough to run efficiently at low temperatures?
To answer that, we assess:
- Fabric heat loss (walls, roof, floors, windows)
- Ventilation and air leakage losses
- Construction type and insulation levels
- Overall building performance per m²
This is expressed through metrics like:
HLI (Heat Loss Indicator) – used in Ireland
HLP (Heat Loss Parameter) – used in UK modelling
Both measure how much heat your home loses relative to its size.
In Ireland, homes typically need an HLI ≤ 2.3 W/m²K to qualify for a heat pump grant.
This is why many homes need upgrades before a heat pump is installed.
Why this matters
A heat pump in the wrong building can lead to:
- Higher running costs
- Poor comfort levels
- Oversized or inefficient systems
That’s why the industry is shifting toward:
Fabric first → then heating system
This assessment gives you clarity before you spend thousands — not after problems appear.
