ORNL Surveys for the GHP National Certification Standard Project

Prepared by Xiaobing Liu of Oak Ridge National Laboratory with Phil Henry of Geoexchange Solutions and WebSynergetics

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is working with the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO, formerly known as the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium) and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) on developing the first national certification standard for all primary personnel involved in the installation of GHP systems as defined in GHP System Disciplines 07-06-2011. The standard will be designed to increase customer confidence in the technology, reduce the potential for improperly installed systems, and assure product quality and performance.

As part of this project, ORNL will be conducting a series of surveys on federal experience with GHP systems to identify common causes for faulty functioning of systems, industry best practices for GHP system design, installation, and maintenance, and the key barriers that prevent wide application of GHP systems. Based on the results of this survey, suggestions on what topic areas the national certification standard should address to ensure the quality and performance of GHP systems will be provided to GEO.

The first two surveys are designed for federal employees at agency or facility level, or private sector employees, who have worked on GHP projects in federal facilities. The first survey focuses on the characteristics and actual performance of GHP systems installed at federal facilities; and the second survey focuses on the qualifications and requirements of the GHP disciplines.

In order to obtain industry wide opinion on the qualifications and requirements for each of the GHP disciplines we have published a modified version of the above second survey that is designed for and available to all stakeholders in the GHP industry.

ORNL and the GHPNCS Project Management Team appreciate your participation in these surveys. Your responses will be an invaluable source of information as the GHP National Certification Standard(GHPNCS) is developed.

Surveys on Federal experience with GHP systems

Survey of GHP Systems at Federal Facilities

This survey focuses on the characteristics and actual performance of GHP systems installed at federal facilities. It is designed for federal employees at agency or facility level, or private sector employees, who have worked on GHP projects in federal facilities.

Survey of Qualifications and Requirements for GHP Disciplines in Federal Facilities

This survey focuses on the qualifications and requirements of each of the GHP Disciplines. It is designed for federal employees at agency or facility level, or private sector employees, who have worked on GHP projects in federal facilities.

GHP Industry Stakeholder Survey

Industry Stakeholder Survey of Qualifications and Requirements for GHP Disciplines

This survey focuses on the qualifications and requirements of each of the GHP Disciplines. It is designed for all GHP industry stakeholders including those not named in GHP Discipline Classifications.