New noise requirements for heat pumps and air conditioners that were to take effect on 1 January in the new Building Decree have been postponed to 1 April 2021. The ministry is thus giving the construction and installation sector some extra time to prepare for the change.

Originally, these requirements were to come into force at the same time as the new BENG system. It has since emerged that there is not yet a complete list of all maximum sound power levels of heat pumps available on the market. Suppliers have to calculate that capacity based on a calculation tool, but that tool - market parties previously claimed - was available far too late, said the Vakblad Warmtepompen.

With the new requirement, the outdoor unit of air-to-air heat pumps and air conditioners may produce a maximum of 45db of noise at the property boundary during the day and 40db at night. If the unit does not have a quiet mode, the maximum daytime noise production is also 40db.

Housing Minister Ollongren has been concerned for several years about heat pumps making too much noise. The advance of the energy-efficient devices is increasingly causing noise pollution to local residents.

Many new heat pumps are already a lot quieter than before. The devices are equipped with larger fans, for example.

Sources: Vakblad Warmtepompen, Essent/ANP