Website: eucert.fiz-karlsruhe.de

EU-CERT-HP (EU Certified Heat Pump Installer) is a project part funded by the European Commission and involves partners from Austria, Germany, Italy, Ireland, UK, Sweden, France, Czech Republic and Slovenia. The aims of the project are to have a common training and certification methodology for heat pump installers, to ensure that quality is maintained and that the qualification is recognised in all EU countries.

The training methodology involves the publishing of a training manual which details the knowledge and requirements to become an EU Certified Heat Pump Installer, the facilities and equipment needed in an approved training laboratory the practical learning experience and the setting up of a Certification Committee to validate the qualification whilst ensuring consistency and quality of the courses and training.

The project kicked off in March 2004; the running of pilot training courses is due to commence in 2006 with the final dissemination activities due to be completed by early 2007.

Research has been undertaken in all partner countries to understand the status of the current training available, how it is applied and the target groups for such training (for example electricians, plumbers, engineers). This research was then co-ordinated to produce the first draft of a training manual.

The emphasis has now switched to defining the requirements for the training laboratory. As the participant countries will have markets for different types of heat pumps; the specification for these training laboratories will include for the minimum equipment which must be installed and optional equipment dependent on the types of heat pumps which feature in the particular host country.