Control of distribution pumps in networks

What is distribution pump control?

Distribution pumps circulate hot water through a building's heating network. Service H-1d assesses how intelligently these pumps are controlled within the Heating domain.

A well-regulated pump delivers only the amount of water needed. This saves energy and reduces wear, and it improves comfort because rooms heat more evenly.

What levels are there?

The Smart Readiness Indicator defines five functionality levels for this service, numbered 0 to 4.

• Level 0: no automatic pump control.
• Level 1: on-off control, the pump runs or is switched off.
• Level 2: multi-stage control, with a few fixed speed settings.
• Level 3: variable speed pump control where the pump unit itself estimates the required speed.
• Level 4: variable speed pump control based on an external demand signal from the building management system.

The higher the level, the more precisely the pump adapts to the actual heating demand in the building.

Why does this service not count in method A?

The Smart Readiness Indicator uses two assessment methods. Method A is a simplified version with 27 smart-ready services, method B is the full version with 54 services.

H-1d is not among the 27 services of method A. This service is therefore weighted only when a building is assessed using the more comprehensive method B.

This does not mean the service is unimportant. It simply indicates that the simplified assessment contains less detail about distribution pump control.

How does this count towards the score?

Each smart-ready service is assessed against seven impact criteria, including energy efficiency and maintenance. Three key functionalities carry equal weight in this assessment.

The outcome of all services combined determines the building's overall score, expressed as a percentage and classified into one of seven classes.