Heat-pump retrofit
Replace the boilers. Keep the building running.
Air-to-water heat pumps for offices of 1,000 to 10,000 m², connected to what is already there wherever possible. The key question is not whether, but at which supply temperature.
Why temperature decides everything.
Gas boilers typically supply water at high temperatures. A heat pump works most efficiently at lower supply temperatures. So the real retrofit question is: which rooms can stay comfortable when the water is cooler?
That depends on three things – envelope and air-tightness, the size of the emitters, and how the building is controlled. The site survey measures all three, room by room where needed.
Two routes
Hybrid or all-electric?
Both lead to a gas-free building. The difference is the order of steps.
Hybrid first
A heat pump carries most of the annual heat; existing boilers cover the coldest days. Meanwhile emitters and envelope are improved, and the boilers are removed in a later phase.
- Starts quickly in older buildings
- Spreads investment over lease cycles
- Needs a clear plan to finish the electric step
All-electric directly
Where the building already allows lower supply temperatures, the heat pump replaces the boilers in one changeover, with a temporary fallback until tuning is complete.
- One changeover, gas disconnected
- Simplest system to maintain afterwards
- May need a heavier grid connection
What we check
The site survey, item by item.
Half a day on site, plus your drawings and metering data. You receive the findings in the route plan.
- Heat demand
- Gas use, metering, peak week
- Emitters
- Capacity at lower temperature
- Envelope
- Glazing, insulation, air leaks
- Distribution
- Pipes, pumps, balancing
- Plant space
- Roof structure, access, noise
- Electrical
- Connection capacity, switchgear
- Ventilation
- Units, ducts, heat recovery
- Controls
- BMS, curves, zoning
Questions about heat pumps in offices
How much roof space does it take?
It depends on the capacity needed and on noise limits. As a planning question rather than a promise: expect a dedicated plant zone with free airflow. The survey checks structure and acoustics.
Can the heat pump also cool?
Reversible heat pumps can supply cooling through fan coils or ceiling systems. Whether that fits your emitters is part of the route plan.
What happens if it is very cold during the changeover?
We keep a fallback – the existing boilers or a temporary unit – connected until the new system has proven itself, and plan the changeover outside the coldest period.
Will tenants notice the works?
Plant room and roof works mostly happen outside office hours. Room-level work is planned per floor with the facility manager and announced in advance.
Take it into your next meeting.
The route guide explains both routes and what the survey needs from you.
Retrofit route guide for office ownersPDF, 3 pages · Demonstration document