Most heat pumps carry a hidden performance clause: they deliver their rated output at moderate temperatures, then derate significantly as conditions worsen. At -15 °C, the gap between what the specification sheet promised and what the system actually produces can be substantial.
For industrial operations, construction sites, and process-critical facilities, that gap is not an inconvenience. It is an operational failure.
Where most heat pumps fail below freezing
Conventional heat pumps are rated at nominal conditions, typically around +7 °C outdoor temperature. Below that threshold, capacity drops. The colder it gets, the further the output falls from the rated figure.
This is not a design flaw unique to any single manufacturer. It is how most air-source heat pump technology works. The problem arises when procurement decisions are made based on rated capacity figures without accounting for actual site conditions.
The consequences are predictable:
- Heating output falls short when demand is highest, during the coldest periods
- Process temperatures drift below setpoint, triggering production interruptions
- Backup systems that were sized as contingency become primary heating sources
- Energy consumption rises as the system works harder to compensate for lost efficiency
For operations where thermal continuity is non-negotiable, a heat pump that performs well in mild conditions but struggles in extreme cold is not a solution. It is a liability.
How full-capacity cold-weather performance is engineered
AirTreater systems are guaranteed to deliver at least nominal capacity at all outdoor temperatures. This is not a rated condition or a best-case scenario. It is a guarantee.
AirTreater Biegga, the containerised air-to-air heat pump designed for large industrial spaces and halls, delivers a minimum of 81 kW at every outdoor temperature, without exception. Maximum heating capacity reaches 165 kW, and at least 81 kW is guaranteed at all outdoor temperatures, combining 84 kW of heat pump output with 81 kW of integrated electric heating support.
The engineering behind this guarantee relies on two principles:
- Compressor sizing for cold-weather operation: The heat pump circuit is sized to maintain output at sub-zero temperatures, not optimised for mild conditions and then derated in the cold
- Integrated backup activation: When outdoor temperatures reach extremes, the integrated electric heating element activates automatically to maintain the guaranteed output floor, without manual intervention and without interruption to the heated space
AirTreater Biegga covers spaces up to approximately 1,000 m² from a single unit. The system arrives as a ready-to-connect containerised unit, connects on site in a single working day, and is fully operational within 4 hours of arriving on site when no heat distribution network is required.
When a backup system is still the right choice
The integrated backup within AirTreater Biegga is not an afterthought. It is a deliberate engineering decision that eliminates the performance cliff that affects conventional heat pump cold weather performance.
For sites with extreme thermal demand or where liquid-cycle heat distribution is already in place, AirTreater Čáhci, the air-to-water heat pump, maintains 120 kW of nominal heating capacity at -15 °C using compressors alone. Maximum output reaches 420 kW at -15 °C. The heat pump operates down to -28 °C, and below -28 °C the backup system guarantees at least 300 kW even without external electric power in hazardous situations.
The right configuration depends on site-specific factors:
- Whether the site uses air distribution or a hydronic heat network
- The floor area and insulation characteristics of the space
- Whether an existing borehole field is available for ground-source integration
- The availability of sufficient electrical capacity for electric boiler backup
For process industry applications with specific cooling or heating profiles, AirTreater Prosea is engineered to each site’s requirements. Every Prosea configuration is designed from the ground up for the target process, not adapted from a general-purpose product.
What guaranteed output means for your operation
A guaranteed nominal output at all outdoor temperatures changes the procurement calculus entirely.
When the heating capacity figure on the specification is a guarantee rather than a rated condition, you can size the system to actual demand without applying a cold-weather derating factor. The number you plan around is the number you get.
For industrial facility managers, this means:
- Process temperatures remain at setpoint regardless of what the outdoor thermometer reads
- The system that heats your facility in October delivers the same output in January
- Backup heating infrastructure does not need to be sized to compensate for a primary system that underperforms in cold conditions
AirTreater systems are monitored and managed via an automated remote management platform, providing real-time operational data and full settings control through a standard web browser, from any location, at any time. Named end users can also have access to the automation system. A 24/7/365 help desk operates through the AirTreater service centre, with alerts routed directly to the team for immediate response.
For operations that run continuously, that support structure is not a feature. It is a requirement.
Find the right configuration for your site
Industrial heat pump performance in extreme cold is an engineering question, not a marketing one. The answer depends on your site’s thermal load, distribution infrastructure, outdoor temperature profile, and operational continuity requirements.
AirTreater systems are available in configurations that cover a range of site types:
- AirTreater Biegga: Air-to-air, 81 kW guaranteed minimum, 165 kW maximum, for halls and open industrial spaces up to approximately 1,000 m²
- AirTreater Čáhci: Air-to-water, 120 kW nominal at -15 °C compressor-only, 420 kW maximum, with at least 300 kW guaranteed via the integrated backup system below -28 °C, for liquid-cycle distribution networks and large-scale heating demand
- AirTreater Prosea: Process-specific configurations designed to each site’s cooling or heating requirements in process industry applications
Every configuration ships as a containerised unit, connects on site in a single working day, and integrates with existing building automation systems via standard bus protocols.
To determine which configuration matches your site’s requirements, contact the AirTreater technical team with your floor area, distribution type, and target operating temperatures. The team will confirm the appropriate system and provide full technical documentation for your procurement review.
