Air Source Heat Pump Noise Policy Workshop on 17th July 2025, Maxwell Building, University of Salford
On the 17th July 2025, Prof. Antonio J. Torija Martinez and Dr Simone Graetzer of the Acoustics Research Centre will host an Air Source Heat Pump Noise Policy Workshop. You can access the programme here.
There will be presentations on noise-related policy, regulations, practices and procedures and barriers and risks in heat pump deployment from a number of key stakeholders. These will include representatives of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Heat Pump Association (HPA), BSRIA, Nesta, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), the Energy Innovation Agency, Apex Acoustics Ltd and Mason UK Ltd. The presentations will be followed by a brief summary of the research we have been conducting at the University of Salford, predominantly within the Innovate UK funded Future Homes project and aligned with the International Energy Agency Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT) Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) Annex 63 on Placement Impact on Heat Pump Acoustics. We’ll share a policy brief summarising our recent research findings and recommendations for updating MCS 020 a) and related planning guidance.
In the afternoon, Bean Beanland of the Heat Pump Federation will moderate a panel discussion on gaps in policy, regulations and procedures and what is needed to bridge those gaps. This will be followed by a road map exercise led by Roger Hitchin (formerly Technical Director of the Building Research Establishment). In this exercise, we will develop a road map for addressing noise and vibration issues that could hinder wider adoption of air source heat pumps.
We are grateful for our funding from UK Research and Innovation via the UKRI Research England Policy Support Fund and from Innovate UK for Future Homes (Acoustics) with Project ID 1345384. The Future Homes Acoustics team includes David Waddington, Jonathan Hargreaves, Volkan Acun, Lucy Barton and Max Radivan, who all contributed to the research. Thanks to our PhD students Kathryn Salter and Max Ellis for their assistance on the day, and for Kathryn’s contribution to the policy brief. Thanks to our partners on Future Homes, including Energy House Labs and William Swan in particular. Find out more about Future Homes Acoustics here.
