New revision published for SNZ PAS 5210 on high temperature heat pumps

Why a further revision was needed

Commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), this guidance update forms part of a wider suite of publicly available specifications designed to support the uptake of more efficient technologies and practices across New Zealand. High‑temperature heat pump (HTHP) technology continues to evolve quickly, with new systems and components now able to efficiently deliver heat at temperatures exceeding 100 °C - levels critical for industrial processes such as drying, steam generation, and high‑grade process hot water.

While the 2024 revision broadened the scope of the original 2021 PAS to cover domestic, commercial, and industrial applications, this latest update provides additional technical detail to better support decision‑makers and designers working at higher temperature ranges and with more complex industrial integrations.

The specification continues to reference and align with relevant Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS), international standards, and applicable legislation to ensure it reflects current good practice.

What has changed in this revision

The majority of the 2024 content remains current. The changes introduced in this revision are focused and technical in nature, with updates agreed by the technical advisory group. Key changes include:

• Refocusing Section 13.4.4 on high‑temperature heat pumps operating above 100 °C, including clearer descriptions of the technology types in this category and the key systems and components that are commercially available or under development.
• Relocating and updating refrigerant content for clarity, moving discussion from Section 13.4.4 to Section 13.5, alongside other refrigerant material, and incorporating new refrigerant information relevant to operation above 100 °C.
• Adding a new Industrial Applications section covering sink temperatures from 100 °C to 200 °C, with practical design considerations for applications such as drying, steam generation, and process hot water in industries including dairy and meat processing.

Supporting informed design and investment decisions

This published revision of SNZ PAS 5210 provides up‑to‑date, practical guidance to support informed investment, design, and implementation decisions for high‑temperature heat pump systems across domestic, commercial, and industrial contexts. By reflecting the latest technological developments and industry good practice, the PAS supports the transition away from fossil‑fuel‑based high‑temperature heat toward more energy‑efficient and lower‑emissions solutions

EECA have generously sponsored access to SNZ PAS 5210 to help users make better informed decisions.

Download a copy of SNZ PAS 5210:2026 High-temperature heat pumps(external link)