TARGETING QUIETER LOW-CARBON HEAT

Specify & Build met with Craig Dolan, Senior Product Manager at Dimplex, to learn how the Latitude Commercial air source heat pump addresses practical low-carbon specification challenges.

As the UK built environment continues its shift away from fossil fuel heating, specifiers are being asked to balance decarbonisation targets, compliance, acoustic performance, operational efficiency and practical installation considerations, often all at once. Dimplex has developed its new Latitude heat pump range with exactly those pressures in mind. Craig Dolan said the Latitude Commercial monobloc range is intended to meet demand for larger residential and light commercial applications, where acoustic performance, flexibility and future-ready design are increasingly important. Initially launching in 20kW and 40kW models, with a 30kW version due later this year, the three-phase R290 propane-based systems are aimed at larger homes, care settings, retail environments and leisure facilities, particularly where noise considerations play a significant role.

“One of the biggest focuses during Latitude Commercial’s development was sound,” said Craig. “The 20kW unit has a sound power rating of 52dBA, which is extremely quiet. The R&D team took their inspiration from owl wings. When an owl flies, the ends of the wings taper in a way that softens airflow and reduces wind noise. We’ve adopted that same principle in the fan design to reduce the aerodynamic noise as much as possible.”

Heat pump acoustics have become an increasingly important issue, particularly where multiple units are being installed in cascade, or where planners are scrutinising noise impacts more closely. “Planning teams seem very focused on heat pump noise,” Craig continued. “That makes acoustic performance a genuine specification consideration, especially in built-up areas.”

A PRACTICAL SOLUTION

Beyond sound reduction, Dimplex has also focused heavily on usability and ease of installation. Features including crane lugs, flexible hydraulic connections, integrated forklift tunnels and concealed fixings have all been designed around installer feedback and observed site practices. Sensitive integrated components are structurally separated, which allows for quick and safe installation.

“Our development team spent a lot of time on site looking at how installers actually work and trying to solve those challenges before they become problems,” Craig explained.

The Latitude range uses R290 refrigerant, aligning with the wider industry shift driven by F-Gas phasedown requirements and the move toward lower global warming potential refrigerants. Because propane is flammable, safety has been a major consideration. The units include an integrated propane detection sensor designed to isolate the system and trigger an alarm in the unlikely event of a leak.

Craig is keen to stress that the move to propane being seen across the industry should be viewed in context. “We’ve been using flammable gas to heat our homes for decades, so we are used to managing it. What we’re doing here is removing the flame.”

The Latitude systems can provide both heating and cooling, offering flexibility for large domestic and commercial applications. They can operate standalone, be installed in cascade arrangements, or be incorporated into hybrid systems alongside existing fossil fuel boilers where a phased approach may be more practical.

Importantly, Craig believes successful adoption is not simply about product selection, but about specification quality. “As we move away from fossil fuel systems, M&E consultants are having to revisit some of the fundamentals around hydraulics, flow rates and temperature differentials,” he said. “It’s not that the knowledge has disappeared, but the design assumptions are different.”

That shift is particularly relevant as regulations continue evolving. While the Future Homes Standard is focused on new domestic dwellings, Craig believes its influence is already shaping wider conversations across specification.

“The notional dwelling now includes a heat pump for the first time,” he said. “Fossil fuel appliances are not banned, but meeting compliance with them has become much more challenging.”

For specifiers, that creates a need to think more holistically about building performance, from insulation levels and low-temperature heat emitters through to smart controls and renewables integration. Craig also highlighted the likely growing importance of system interoperability, particularly as building energy modelling evolves and buildings become more responsive to energy availability and efficiency demands.

“I think that’s where we’ll move to in the future,” he said. “Pre-heating, pre charging, and tweaking efficiencies to maintain comfort while keeping operational costs as low as possible. ”Dimplex has invested in supporting the specification community through CPDs, training platforms and technical guidance, all to help consultants and installers build confidence in low temperature system design. With stock and accessories already available in the UK, backed by design guidance and technical support, the first specifications are underway, showing that Dimplex’s positioning of the Latitude Commercial as a practical response to current specification needs and future regulatory expectations is meeting demand.