A REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR THE SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE OF HEAT PUMPS
As the demand for energy efficient solutions grows, heat pumps have become essential in Europe’s transition toward climate neutrality. However, ensuring their safety, reliability, and compliance with regulations requires rigorous testing. IMQ provides state-ofthe- art laboratories for comprehensive safety and performance assessments. From preventing safety hazards to optimizing energy efficiency, IMQ supports manufacturers in delivering high-quality, regulation compliant products.
As a crucial technology for decarbonization, heat pumps support the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050. However, to ensure the maximum reliability and safety of these devices, it is essential to subject them to rigorous conformity testing. In the current energy landscape, heat pumps are emerging as a technologically advanced solution for efficient and sustainable climate control. Due to their ability to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, they are becoming increasingly central in Europe’s energy transition strategies.
Heat pumps play a crucial role by cutting primary energy demand by 58.5%, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 75%, and maintaining high efficiency even in cold climates (-20°C).
However, to ensure the maximum reliability and safety of these devices, it is essential to subject them to rigorous conformity testing.
Safety tests verify that heat pumps are designed to prevent fire, explosion, or refrigerant leakage risks, while performance tests certify their energy efficiency and compliance with European regulations, such as ECODESIGN and ENERGY LABELING.
In this context, IMQ is a reference point for manufacturers, with over 75 years of experience in conformity assessment.
Through its specialized laboratories IMQ provides advanced testing to ensure products are safe, efficient, and compliant with international standards.
Safety testing
Safety testing for heat pumps is conducted at the IMQ Laboratory in Milan, in its state-of-the-art dedicated facility equipped with the latest testing technologies, in accordance with IEC 60335-1 and IEC 60335-2- 40 standards.
The main test facilities include:
•Leak Simulation Test Equipment: This equipment simulates and measures the concentration of refrigerant leakage at critical points, ensuring compliance with safety regulations to prevent fire or explosion hazards.
•Double Climatic Chamber: This facility tests heat pumps under various environmental conditions (indoor and outdoor), with temperatures ranging from -40°C to +70°C and relative humidity between 35% and 95%. It ensures realistic scenario reproduction for performance and safety verification.
Performance and efficiency testing
Performance testing is conducted at the IMQ HVAC-R Laboratory in Amaro (UD). Operating since 2003, it is one of the largest laboratories in Europe for performance and energy efficiency testing of heat pumps, air conditioners, and chillers. With an expanding area of up to 3,000 m², it offers services such as:
•Verification of performance and energy efficiency in compliance with European regulations.
•Technical support and training for manufacturers.
•Testing for certifications, research & development, and market surveillance.
The main test facilities include:
•Reverberation Rooms: This double room permit to determine the sound power level of heat pumps and other devices, assessing the acoustic impact of the products.
•Balanced Calorimeter: This equipment allows for testing thermal and energy capacity up to 18 kW, measuring key parameters to determine EER, COP, SEER, and SCOP.
•Climatic Chambers for Chillers and Heat Pumps: These chambers allow testing units up to 350 kW, simulating climatic conditions to assess seasonal performance.
•Multifunction Chamber: Developed to test heat pumps for hot domestic water and heat recovery units, with air temperature ranges from -25°C to +55°C.
IMQ laboratories are continuously evolving, with new technologies under development to ensure even more advanced and efficient testing. Thanks to its cutting-edge facilities, IMQ remains the ideal partner for heat pump manufacturers, helping them achieve safe, high-performing products that comply with regulations, thus contributing to energy transition and environmental sustainability.
