Exhaust Air Heat Pump Testing: Independent Documentation for European Compliance and Market Access
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Accredited laboratory testing provides heat pump manufacturers, importers, and HVAC system integrators with the empirical documentation required to verify ventilation heat recovery, thermal efficiency, acoustic performance, and regulatory compliance in modern buildings.
Exhaust air heat pumps (EAHPs) combine continuous mechanical ventilation with active thermodynamic heat recovery, capturing residual thermal energy from extracted indoor air before it is vented outside. By simultaneously providing controlled air exchange, space heating, and domestic hot water (DHW), EAHPs serve as a core technology in airtight, low-energy residential and commercial buildings. However, navigating the European market requires verifiable documentation demonstrating compliance with dual regulatory frameworks covering both space heaters (Ecodesign 813/2013) and residential ventilation units (Ecodesign 1253/2014), alongside strict energy labelling standards.
At Danish Technological Institute, our Heat Pump Test Laboratory delivers independent, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited testing specifically configured for ventilation-integrated heat pump systems. Backed by more than 20 years of specialised testing experience in this product category, we provide manufacturers, OEMs, and distributors with traceable empirical data according to EN 14511, EN 14825, EN 13141-7, EN 16147, and EN 12102-2. Our accredited documentation reduces technical uncertainty, mitigates non-compliance risks ahead of national market surveillance audits, and directly supports European product certification under schemes such as CEN Heat Pump KEYMARK, the EHPA Quality Label, and national building code compliance frameworks.
Controlled Aerodynamic and Thermodynamic Testing for Multi-Functional Systems
Exhaust air heat pump performance is governed by the complex interplay between aerodynamic airflow rates, indoor air extraction temperatures, relative humidity, ambient surrounding conditions, and heat pump cycle dynamics. Evaluating these multi-functional units requires advanced climate chambers and test rigs capable of precisely controlling ambient surroundings, external static pressure, duct airflow volumes, and hydraulic supply/return temperatures simultaneously.
Our specialised climate chambers and calibrated airflow systems simulate realistic residential indoor climates, extract profiles, and thermal loads, verifying performance across continuous extraction regimes (20∘C to 22∘C extract air), outdoor air intake mixing, and varying space heating or DHW delivery temperatures:
Key Measured Performance & Compliance Metrics
- Heating & Heat Recovery Performance: COP (Coefficient of Performance) / SCOP, thermal capacity, and exhaust air heat recovery efficiency (EN 14511, EN 14825)
- Ventilation & Aerodynamic Characteristics: Airflow rates (m3/h), external static pressure differences (Pa), specific power input (SPI / SFP), and leakage rates (EN 13141-7)
- Domestic Hot Water (DHW) Production: COPDHW, tapping cycle efficiency (ηwh), reference hot water temperature, and heat-up duration (EN 16147)
- Acoustic Sound Power Levels: In-duct sound power levels (LW A) for supply/extract air and casing-radiated noise (LW A) in acoustic chambers under defined fan and compressor speeds (EN 12102-2 / EN ISO 3741 / EN ISO 5136)
- Regulatory Frameworks: Ecodesign (EU 813/2013 for space heaters & EU 1253/2014 for ventilation), Energy Labelling (EU 811/2013 & EU 1254/2014)
Moving from Internal Simulation to Accredited Third-Party Verification
Because exhaust air heat pumps function simultaneously as ventilation appliances and primary heat generators, internal R&D estimations must be verified under accredited conditions to satisfy complex multi-directive compliance. Validate aerodynamic fan curves, heat exchanger evaporator defrost cycles, and variable-speed compressor modulation. Accredited test data eliminates design discrepancies, verifies technical rating plates, and accelerates certification workflows under European quality schemes like CEN Heat Pump KEYMARK and national subsidy registers. Procuring and distributing integrated ventilation-heating systems involves strict acoustic and energy commitments. Independent third-party verification confirms that standard production units deliver declared seasonal efficiency (ηs) and specific fan power (SFP) without exceeding indoor acoustic thresholds in living spaces. Testing under harmonised European standards in accredited climate chambers provides national market surveillance authorities with reproducible, high-precision empirical data, establishing a defensible baseline for regulatory conformity assessments.Empirical Verification for EAHP Manufacturers & R&D Teams
Risk Mitigation for HVAC Distributors, Wholesalers & System Integrators
Legally Traceable Data for Market Surveillance Audits
Substantiating Environmental Claims with Empirical Data
With increased regulatory oversight under the EU Green Claims Directive, environmental and energy-efficiency claims for combined ventilation and heat recovery systems must be substantiated by rigorous empirical data rather than theoretical simulations.
Danish Technological Institute provides the independent testing required to document product performance. By generating certified performance metrics under standardized airflow, humidity, and temperature conditions in our climate chambers, we provide manufacturers and distributors with the empirical foundation needed to support Energy Label declarations, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and decarbonisation claims with complete regulatory validity.
The Testing Process: A Collaborative, Transparent Approach
We apply a structured 5-step methodology to ensure precision and project alignment throughout the testing programme: We evaluate the unit’s operational architecture (exhaust-air-to-water, exhaust-air-to-air, or combined outdoor/exhaust air systems), target airflow ranges, hydraulic configurations, and specific European standard profiles. Your unit is installed in our climate and acoustic test chambers, connected to calibrated test ductwork and hydronic loops, and instrumented with precision flow nozzles/orifice plates for airflow measurement, 4-wire Pt100 temperature sensors, humidity transmitters, differential pressure sensors, and multi-channel power analysers. Tests are conducted under strict climate chamber tolerances to measure steady-state thermal performance, ambient heat loss, aerodynamic pressure-flow curves, dynamic defrost behavior, and auxiliary power consumption (standby modes). Engineering teams can monitor live sensor streams, chamber ambient conditions, air enthalpy balances, and dynamic COP figures remotely via a secure portal, enabling immediate technical dialogue and adjustments. You receive a comprehensive, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited test report containing complete airflow-pressure curves, thermal capacities, acoustic frequency spectra, component specifications, rating plate documentation, and measurement uncertainty calculations.1. Scope Definition & Operating Profile Alignment
2. Chamber Installation & Precision Instrumentation
3. Controlled Execution & Equilibrium Testing
4. Real-Time Remote Data Access
5. Accredited Test Reporting
Technical Facilities and Specialised Ventilation Test Rigs
Our laboratory facilities are specifically engineered to accommodate the multi-variable testing demands of exhaust air and ventilation-integrated heat pumps:
Specialised reverberant and semi-anechoic acoustic facilities equipped for measuring casing-radiated airborne noise as well as in-duct sound power transmission to supply and exhaust ductwork, ensuring compliant indoor acoustic ratings. Precision air-handling duct test rigs capable of delivering tightly regulated extract air volumes, controlled relative humidity, and variable external duct resistance across standard residential airflow ranges (50–500+ m3/h50–500+m3/h). Environmental climate chambers providing stable ambient temperature and humidity conditions to measure casing heat losses and overall thermodynamic efficiency. Climate chambers and test rigs configured to safely test units charged with traditional fluorinated refrigerants as well as flammable, low-GWP, and natural refrigerants under strict safety protocols.Acoustic & In-Duct Sound Test Climate Chambers
Calibrated Aerodynamic Test Rigs Test Chambers
Controlled Climate Chambers
Multi-Refrigerant Infrastructure
Comprehensive Testing for Synthetic, HFO, and Natural Refrigerants
The European heating and ventilation sector is undergoing a profound transition driven by the revised EU F-gas Regulation (EU 2024/573) and prospective PFAS restrictions under REACH. Because exhaust air heat pumps are indoor appliances often installed within utility rooms, kitchens, or plant cupboards, transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants involves unique charge limit and safety considerations.
Our Heat Pump Test Laboratory is engineered and certified to safely accommodate the full spectrum of refrigerants:
- Natural Refrigerants (A3, A1): Safe, ATEX-compliant testing environments equipped to handle flammable (A3) fluids such as Propane (R290) and Isobutane (R600a), as well as high-pressure (A1) fluids like CO2 (R744).
- HFOs and Low-GWP Blends (A2L): Dedicated testing protocols for mildly flammable lower-GWP alternatives including R454C, R454B, R1234ze, and R32.
- Conventional Synthetic Refrigerants (A1): Comprehensive testing capabilities for legacy HFC systems (such as R410A and R134a).
- Our climate chambers and testing stations feature integrated combustible gas detection arrays, mechanical ATEX emergency exhaust systems, and spark-free electrical interfaces to handle flammable charge limits safely during testing.
Discuss Your Exhaust Air Heat Pump Testing Requirements
Whether validating a new R290 exhaust air prototype, verifying dual Ecodesign compliance for residential ventilation and space heating, or generating accredited data for European quality marks, our laboratory team provides the necessary capacity and technical expertise.
Contact our Heat Pump Testing Laboratory to define your testing scope, verify lead times, and book laboratory capacity.
Lasse has overall responsibility for the team, the laboratory and its technical direction. He has more than 25 years of experience in refrigeration and heat pump technology, covering product testing, laboratory measurements, and market surveillance, as well as energy efficiency and the implementation of international standards. He is an expert in testing in accordance with international standards and has extensive experience with heat pumps, refrigeration systems, condensing units and related components for both public authorities and industry.
Preben has worked in the energy sector for more than 20 years. He specialises in testing heat pumps as well as providing technical consultancy and product assessment. He is a member of national and international standardisation committees, and he is also a member of an international committee of test laboratories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exhaust Air Heat Pump Testing
Do you have questions regarding test standards (EN 14511, EN 14825, EN 13141-7), dual Ecodesign compliance, acoustic testing in climate chambers, or the handling of flammable refrigerants like R290?
Explore our dedicated FAQ section on the next page for in-depth technical answers and insights into our accredited testing procedures.