An installation standard for ground-source heat pumps was identified by industry, utilities, and government alike as being needed to ensure good quality installations. The standard raises industry awareness of the special cold-climate needs of this technology. The standard provides customer assurance through the inclusion of a ground-loop warranty. Finally, the standard enhances utility confidence in the long-term system performance and reliability of ground-source heat pumps. Canadian conditions have proved particularly severe for the installation of closed-loop systems. Problems caused by the formation of subterranean ice lenses in certain soils have disabled ground-source systems in the past. This standard will help prevent such occurrences in the future.

KEYWORDS: soil heat pumps, installing, Canada, standards, performance, reliability, ice prevention, sizing, heat pumps.