As heat pumps become more widely adopted across commercial and industrial buildings, system design is becoming increasingly complex. Selecting the right equipment is only part of the process – ensuring every component complies with current legislation and industry standards is equally important.
At Orwell Design Associates, we support contractors, manufacturers and end users with the specialist design expertise needed to deliver safe, compliant and efficient heat pump installations.
Why is PRV design so important?
Pressure Relief Valves (PRVs) are a critical safety component within refrigeration and heat pump systems. If a pressure relief valve operates, refrigerant must be discharged safely without creating a risk to people, property or the environment.
Designing these discharge pipework systems requires careful consideration of pipe sizing, pressure loss, refrigerant properties, materials and routing. Every project is different, and seemingly small design changes can have a significant impact on compliance.
Supporting compliance from the outset
With the move towards lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, designers must also consider the different safety classifications of modern refrigerants and the requirements of current standards, including BS EN378 and BS EN13136.
Our engineers assess each application individually, ensuring pressure relief arrangements are designed to meet both regulatory requirements and practical installation constraints.
Providing practical engineering solutions
Clients regularly ask us questions such as:
- Can the PRV be relocated outside?
- What happens if the discharge pipe length changes?
- Can the number of bends be reduced?
- Does changing the refrigerant affect the design?
- What if a different pressure relief valve is selected?
Rather than applying a standard solution, we evaluate each scenario and provide clear, practical recommendations based on the specific application.
Independent advice you can rely on
Whether you're developing a new heat pump installation, upgrading an existing system or looking for specialist design support, ODA provides independent engineering advice that reduces risk and helps projects progress with confidence.
Alongside pressure relief design, we also support clients with CAD and BIM modelling, equipment selection, compliance guidance and coordinated mechanical, electrical and refrigeration design.