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Four industry organisations are backing a campaign calling for action on incorrectly specified or installed heat pump pipe insulation. Campaign supporters say insulation that is not resistant to ultraviolet light can deteriorate in sunlight, reducing thermal performance; the scale of resulting losses and any policy response remain unclear.
Three industry organisations have joined a campaign calling for action on incorrectly specified or installed heat pump insulation, adding support to an initiative launched in the UK in 2025. The campaign warns that pipe insulation not designed for exposure to ultraviolet light can break down in sunlight, potentially reducing energy performance and requiring earlier replacement.
The Proof is on the Roof campaign was started by certified low-carbon energy assessor Lawrence Leask and Chris Ridge of the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA). It is now backed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) and CEFEP, the European association representing manufacturers of flexible elastomeric foam and polyethylene foam insulation.
The campaign focuses on insulation used around external heat pump pipework. According to the report, some materials, including standard black elastomeric foam that is not UV-resistant, can deteriorate rapidly under direct sunlight. The campaign’s supporters are calling for better attention to material selection and installation, rather than treating pipe insulation as a minor finishing detail.
Leask said he began raising the issue after observing degraded refrigeration pipe insulation during nearly all of his TM44 inspections. The report does not provide inspection numbers or a measured estimate of heat pump energy losses. Its account describes the campaign’s concerns and supporters’ statements, not a quantified assessment of the problem across all installations.
Insulation Can Affect Heat Pump Performance
Heat pump systems depend on pipework insulation to limit unwanted heat transfer and help control condensation. If insulation exposed outdoors cracks or degrades, its performance may decline, and moisture can enter the material. The campaign’s supporters say choosing insulation suited to local weather conditions can help maintain thermal performance and reduce the risk of premature replacement.
The issue matters because it concerns equipment installed as part of efforts to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel heating and cooling. Poorly performing insulation could undermine some of the efficiency expected from a heat pump, although the report supplies no national estimate of the energy, emissions or household cost impact. Readers should not treat the campaign’s broad claims about energy losses as independently verified measurements.
The organisations’ backing also puts the issue before groups representing contractors, refrigeration professionals and insulation manufacturers. Their call is for policymakers and industry to give more attention to specification and installation practices. No specific regulatory change, enforcement action or timetable is announced in the report.
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How the Campaign Gained Support
Leask and Ridge launched Proof is on the Roof in 2025, following Leask’s observations during inspections of refrigeration pipework. The campaign began in the UK, but its organisers and supporters believe incorrect insulation may also be an issue elsewhere in Europe. The report does not cite cross-country inspection data to establish how widespread the problem is.
Responsibility for insulation work can vary by installation. The report says most pipe insulation installations require a thermal insulation specialist, while commercial air-to-air heat pump pipework is usually insulated by the refrigeration contractor. That difference may affect who selects materials and carries out the work, but the report does not identify a single cause of incorrect specification or installation.
“Over several years of external pipework inspections, I’ve witnessed the environmental impact of using non-UV-resistant pipe insulation materials on heat pumps.”
— Lawrence Leask, certified low-carbon energy assessor and campaign co-founder
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Scale and Policy Response Remain Open
The report does not establish how many heat pump installations use unsuitable insulation, how much energy is lost as a result, or how those losses vary by material, climate and installation quality. Leask’s inspection experience is attributed to him, but no inspection count, methodology or independent verification is supplied. The assertion that losses are equivalent to those of a large power station is also Leask’s claim, not a quantified finding documented in the report.
It is also unclear whether the campaign will lead to new guidance, changes to building requirements, enforcement measures or industry training. The report identifies backing from four organisations in total, including TICA, but sets out no formal policy proposal or government response. The extent of the issue beyond the UK has not been established with comparative European data.
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Calls for Better Specification
The campaign’s immediate focus is to build awareness among policymakers and professionals involved in specifying and installing heat pump pipework. Its supporters are asking for greater attention to whether insulation is suitable for long-term exposure to sunlight, rain, frost and changing temperatures. The source report does not announce a deadline, scheduled meeting or government decision.
Further evidence would help clarify the scale of the problem, including inspection data, material specifications and estimates of performance changes over time. Until such information or a policy response is released, the campaign’s claims should be distinguished from independently measured sector-wide effects.
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Key Questions
What is the Proof is on the Roof campaign?
It is a campaign launched in 2025 by Lawrence Leask and Chris Ridge of TICA to draw attention to incorrect specification and installation of insulation on external heat pump pipework.
Why can some heat pump pipe insulation fail outdoors?
The report says insulation that is not UV-resistant, including some standard black elastomeric foam, can deteriorate when exposed to direct sunlight. Weather exposure can also involve rain, frost and temperature changes.
Which organisations now back the campaign?
The campaign is backed by TICA, CEFEP, BESA and the Institute of Refrigeration. CEFEP represents European manufacturers of flexible elastomeric foam and polyethylene foam insulation.
How widespread is incorrect heat pump insulation?
The report provides no sector-wide count or independent estimate. Leask says he observed degraded insulation during nearly all of his TM44 inspections, but the number and scope of those inspections are not specified.
Has a new rule or government action been announced?
No. The report describes calls for action and growing industry backing, but does not identify a new regulation, government response or implementation timetable.
Source: rss
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