Evaluation of publicly available heat pump specifications for digital planning and design tools
The quality of publicly available data for heat pumps and heating peripherals is crucial for developing innovative digital solutions that enhance the planning and installation of heat pumps. In Europe, the main data formats for design and connection information are VDI 3805/ISO 16757 and ETIM. However, the quality of the data in these formats is currently heterogeneous. This paper aims to describe this heterogeneity and identify gaps within these standards that impede comprehensive heat pump system planning in existing single-family homes. To enable analysis, public data platforms for VDI 3805 data were evaluated regarding the completeness of the available data. Furthermore, a previously developed decision tree was used to visualize interactions between end customers and craftsmen, facilitating tailored solutions. Subsequently, 25 system components and 111 relevant attributes critical for planning and installation were identified and compared with the ETIM and VDI 3805 data models. The results indicate that while these models are useful, they do not cover all necessary components. Additionally, a trial was conducted to evaluate the data quality of geometric component information for 3D modelling based on the TGA diagrams of three heat pump manufacturers using only VDI 3805 connection information. This evaluation revealed gaps in the available data. However, visualization can enhance communication between planners and craftsmen and support prefabrication, leading to faster heat pump installations. Finally, eight expert-interviews with software providers of heat pump planning tools were conducted to evaluate current use and origin of heat pump data and challenges in using standardized product data formats. The study recommends extending existing data models to address planning gaps and establishing regular data verification based on real projects.