ISO 52032-1:2022

Overview

ISO 52032-1:2022 - "Energy performance of buildings - Energy requirements and efficiencies of heating, cooling and domestic hot water (DHW) distribution systems - Part 1: Calculation procedures" - defines a standardized method to calculate the energy performance of water-based distribution systems for space heating, space cooling and domestic hot water (DHW). The standard covers calculation of the heat flux from distributed water to the space and the auxiliary energy of related pumps, using mean input/output values over defined time intervals (hour, month, year). Measurements may be used instead of calculations if they match the calculation time intervals.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope of calculation: thermal loss of distribution systems, recoverable thermal loss, auxiliary (pump) energy demand and recoverable auxiliary energy, for heating, cooling and DHW.
• Time intervals: calculations can be performed for any time interval (hour, month, year). Input/output data are mean values for the chosen interval.
• Input-data categories: product technical data, system configuration and design, operating/boundary conditions, constants/physical data, and Annex A inputs (with default choices in Annex B).
• Calculation procedure (Clause 6.4): includes choosing applicable time interval, determining operating conditions, calculating heat losses, recoverable energy, auxiliary energy (including pump control modes like setback/boost), ribbon heater auxiliary energy, and pipe length considerations.
• Templates and defaults: Annex A provides an input/method selection template; Annex B supplies default choices to ensure consistency and transparency.
• Quality and conformance: procedures for quality control and conformance checks are specified to validate calculation results.
• Terminology & symbols: aligned with ISO 52000-1 and ISO 7345, including standardized symbols, subscripts and definitions for EPB (energy performance of buildings) assessments.

Practical applications and users

ISO 52032-1:2022 is practical for:

• Architects, HVAC and building services engineers performing energy performance assessments
• Energy auditors and consultants preparing regulatory compliance reports
• Building designers and system specifiers sizing and selecting distribution components (pipes, pumps)
• Regulators and certification bodies developing or verifying EPB calculations
• Researchers and software developers implementing calculation modules in building simulation and energy assessment tools

Use cases include estimating distribution system losses for building energy certification, comparing system design options, and validating measured distribution performance against standardized calculation procedures.

Related standards

• ISO 52000-1:2017 - Overarching EPB framework and procedures
• ISO 52031 - Calculation method for space emission systems (heating and cooling)
• ISO 7345 - Thermal performance terminology and definitions
• ISO/TR 52032-2 and relevant CEN technical reports for additional guidance and context

Keywords: ISO 52032-1:2022, energy performance of buildings, distribution systems, water-based distribution, heating cooling DHW, pump auxiliary energy, heat loss calculation, EPB standards.