Does the new Noise Regulation for heat pump hot water systems affect rebates for hot water systems?
An amendment to Clause 52 of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2008 prevents the operation of heat pump hot water systems on residential premises during certain hours of the night and early morning if they are impacting upon neighbours. Heat pumps may not be used in a way that causes noise to be heard in a habitable room of a neighbouring residence during the following hours: • 10pm to 8am on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and • 10pm to 7am on any other day. The regulation aims to stop noisy heat pumps from being installed in poor locations i.e. too close to a neighbour’s bedroom or living area, where the noise may disturb people in their homes. Advice may be needed to site and install heat pump water heaters correctly and existing systems may need to be acoustically treated if noise is affecting neighbours. They may not cause offensive noise at any other time.
