Ministers Launch New Retrofit Standards Collection

A new collection of standard recommendations has been compiled to guide the delivery of high-quality, sustainable, and efficient building upgrades.

Launched by Ministers Simon Coveney and Neale Richmond, the collection includes clear guidelines around heat pump systems, solar photovoltaic micro-generators, conventional heating systems and solar thermal systems, when being installed in the home, and include:

• S.R. 50-1 – Building services – Code of practice – Part 1: Water based heating systems in dwellings

• S.R. 50-2 – Building services – Code of practice – Part 2: Thermal solar systems

• S.R. 50-4 – Building services – Code of practice – Part 4: Heat pump systems in dwellings

• S.R. 55 – Solar photovoltaic micro-generators for dwellings – Design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance

Speaking at the Building Better Business event at The Osprey Hotel, in Naas Co. Kildare, Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney TD said: "This launch is about recognising the importance of standards in retrofitting and the impact that these standards can have in meeting key government targets around sustainability in the construction sector. Supporting the uptake of retrofitting plays a role in a number of different commitments from the Programme for Government in relation to housing, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and supporting enterprise in Ireland."


Minister of State with responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, Neale Richmond TD also noted the importance of this new retrofit collection: "Building Better Business events are designed to help your business to navigate the green journey and boost your performance. Many businesses aspire to excellence in their work but may be unsure about how to get there. This collection of standards from NSAI provides a clear and reliable pathway for businesses in the construction sector, enabling them to confidently deliver high-quality retrofit installations to their customers. By adopting this collection of standard recommendations, businesses in the retrofit sector can ensure excellence in their services, to the benefit of both themselves and their clients."

The development of these standards, and all standards, involves multi-sector collaboration to determine best practice. This approach ensures that the resultant standards are as robust as possible while also benefitting from the practical expertise of industry to ensure they are deliverable in a practical context. Speaking on the importance of that work, NSAI CEO Geraldine Larkin commented: "This collection has directly benefitted from the input of various stakeholders, including government departments and agencies, training providers, equipment manufacturers, engineering consultants, professional representative bodies, and plumbers and electricians. Professionals and organisations within the retrofit sector have recognised the value of these documents in guiding their efforts to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and efficient building upgrades. It is clear that the adoption of the retrofit collection demonstrates a commitment to best practices and sustainable energy systems."

The Retrofit Collection is now available to buy from NSAI’s webstore, NSAI Standards Store – National Standards Authority of Ireland, at the promotional price of €100.

Further information about the work of NSAI in supporting Irish industry is available at www.nsai.ie.