Europe is on the brink of a heat pump revolution. Driven by the RePowerEU plan and stringent F-gas regulations, millions of heat pumps will be installed across the EU in the coming years. While this transition is essential for a greener future, it also presents significant safety challenges.
A promising refrigerant for heat pumps is R290 (propane), which has a minimal environmental impact. However, its flammability requires special handling and installation. Current safety standards often do not cover the entire lifecycle of these heat pumps, putting installers and homeowners at risk. To make matters worse, existing safety guidelines across Europe are fragmented, with different regulations and standards at national and industry level. This lack of a consistent approach hinders the safe and efficient installation of heat pumps.
SKILLSAFE-EU is responding to this critical need. Our project aims to develop a comprehensive, industry-wide guideline for the safe design, storage, transport, installation, and disposal of R290-based monobloc heat pumps for residential use. By bringing together leading manufacturers, industry associations, and training institutions, we will create a robust framework to upskill installers and safeguard our communities.
Through extensive testing and feedback, we will refine our guidelines to ensure they meet the practical needs of the industry. Our work will not only enhance safety but also accelerate the adoption of sustainable heating solutions across Europe.
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The Project Resources section provides a structured repository of project deliverables, relevant documents, and communication & dissemination kits created to support stakeholders in understanding and engaging with SKILLSAFE EU prject. These resources reflect the latest advancements across our project and are curated to provide comprehensive insights and valuable materials to help fully engage with our objectives and contribute meaningfully to our collective mission.
In July 2025 the second number of SKILLSAFE EU bi-annual newsletter was sent out! This second number serves to collect all the activities we have done in the last 6 months of the project, from the publication of the first version of the Guidelines, together with the selected Join Industry Expert Group, to the various international events in which we have participated to present them. Download it here to discover
Guideline on safe handling on self-contained air-to-water residential heat pumps with refrigerants with higher flammability installed outdoors in Europe We are pleased to share the first edition of our guideline, now available online. This document focuses on the safe handling of self-contained air-to-water heat pumps (AWHP) designed for outdoor installation in single-family homes, specifically those using refrigerants with higher flammability, such as R-290. Following the adoption of the revised F-gas
The SKILLSAFE EU and Smart-Pumps projects are joining forces for this first thematic online seminar, bringing together experts and stakeholders from the heat pump and energy sectors. As the energy transition accelerates, upskilling and reskilling the workforce is essential to ensure safe and efficient adoption of innovative technologies; for this reason, we have organised this session to explore how two different EU funded projects are contributing to this goal, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration. What
Call for Experts: Be part of the Joint Industry Expert Group Following the success of our first guideline on self-contained air-to-water residential heat pumps, SKILLSAFE EU is excited to launch a second call for interest to gather heat pump experts! The SKILLSAFE EU project focuses on Skills Enhancement for the Safe Handling of Highly Flammable Refrigerants in the EU. With this next guideline, we aim to expand best practices for
In January the first number of SKILLSAFE EU bi-annual newsletter was sent out! This first number serves to collect all the activities we have done to kick-off the project and start to work on the development of the Guidelines, together with the selected Join Industry Expert Group! Download it here to discover more about it! 📩 DOWNLOAD HERE SKILLSAFE EU’s NEWSLETTER!
Since September, we have been holding a series of meetings with the Joint Industry Expert Group (JIEG) of the SKILLSAFE EU project. The consortium is working closely with the JIEG to develop the “Guideline on Safe Handling of Self-Contained Air-to-Water Residential Heat Pumps with Higher Flammability Refrigerants Installed Outdoors in Europe.” The JIEG brings together key representatives from the heat pump industry, including manufacturers, component suppliers, installers, building owners, and
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
