Heat Pump Keymark is the European CEN Keymark certification for heat pumps, proving that performance was tested by an independent accredited laboratory to EN 14511, EN 14825, EN 16147 and EN 15879. Launched in 2015, it verifies the COP, SCOP and ηs figures on datasheets and feeds the eligibility lists behind national subsidy schemes.
What does Heat Pump Keymark certify?
Heat Pump Keymark is a voluntary European quality mark issued under the CEN Keymark scheme — the same certification family as Solar Keymark for collectors. It certifies that a heat pump's performance claims rest on third-party testing in an accredited laboratory, not on the manufacturer's own measurements, and that production is subject to ongoing surveillance including factory inspection. The scheme launched in 2015 and marked ten years of operation in 2025. Certified models — air-to-water, brine-to-water, water-to-water and domestic hot water heat pumps — are listed with their tested data in a public database, giving planners and subsidy administrators a verified reference.
Which standards sit behind the certificate?
| Standard | What it measures |
|---|---|
| EN 14511 | Heating capacity and COP at standard rating points such as A7/W35 |
| EN 14825 | Seasonal performance — SCOP and ηs across defined climate profiles |
| EN 16147 | Domestic hot water heat pumps — tapping cycles and DHW efficiency |
| EN 15879 | Direct-exchange ground-coupled heat pumps |
The distinction between the first two matters most for buyers. EN 14511 delivers snapshot numbers like the COP at a single operating point, while EN 14825 delivers the season-long figures — SCOP and the seasonal space heating efficiency ηs — that European energy labels and most subsidy thresholds are written around.
Heat Pump Keymark vs EHPA Quality Label: what is the difference?
The two European schemes are complementary rather than rivals. Heat Pump Keymark is a CEN certification centred on independently verified test data and factory surveillance. The EHPA Quality Label, run by the European Heat Pump Association, additionally addresses market-facing criteria such as documentation, warranty and service network commitments in participating countries. Many manufacturers hold both, and national subsidy eligibility lists draw on certified Keymark data as their evidence base.
Why does certification matter for subsidies?
Because public money follows verified numbers. National schemes maintain lists of eligible heat pumps with minimum seasonal efficiency thresholds, and third-party certified data is how a model earns its place on them. The market this gatekeeps is large and growing again: EHPA reported European heat pump sales up 13% in 2025 to 2.88 million units across 21 tracked countries, with Germany rebounding 50% as heat pumps reached half of new space-heater sales there for the first time. With volumes like that, funding bodies cannot audit every datasheet — certification schemes do it for them. Which countries fund what is covered in European heat pump grants in 2026.
What should you check on a certified datasheet?
Four things reveal whether a heat pump fits your project. First, the COP at the rating point that resembles your system — A7/W35 flatters everyone; A-7/W55 tells the winter truth for radiator retrofits. Manufacturer figures such as the COP of up to 4.92 at A7/W35 quoted for Solimpeks' Varm Up Series only become comparable when read against the standard test point they reference — which is exactly what certified databases enforce. Second, the SCOP and its climate profile: average, warmer or colder European climate change the number substantially. Third, sound power level, since EU noise rules and neighbours both care. Fourth, the refrigerant and its GWP — the EU F-Gas Regulation is steering new small monoblocks toward refrigerants below GWP 150 from 2027, so R290 propane models, such as Solimpeks' Varm Boost Series, are becoming the default choice in the EU.
Frequently asked questions
Is Heat Pump Keymark mandatory to sell heat pumps in Europe?
No — CE marking is the only legal requirement for market access. Commercially the picture differs: subsidy eligibility lists, public tenders and informed specifiers increasingly expect independently certified performance data, which is exactly what the Keymark provides.
What is the difference between CE marking and Heat Pump Keymark?
CE marking is the manufacturer's own declaration that the product meets EU legal requirements — nobody independently retests it. Heat Pump Keymark adds third-party laboratory testing to the EN standards plus annual production surveillance, which is why subsidy schemes trust it.
Where can I check whether a heat pump model is certified?
The Heat Pump Keymark database is public: it lists certified models with their tested capacity, COP, SCOP, ηs and sound data. National subsidy portals typically maintain their own eligibility lists built on the same certified figures.
Does Heat Pump Keymark cover noise levels?
Yes — sound power is part of the tested and published data set for certified units. That matters because acoustic output drives siting rules and planning acceptance for outdoor units in dense housing.