NF PAC 2026 label now mandatory: what changes for your heat pump with the new NF 414 standard

1 January 2026 marked a discreet but major turning point for the French heat pump market: the NF PAC label is now mandatory for all reversible air/water heat pumps sold in France, based on the NF 414 standard revised by AFNOR. For households considering a renovation, condominiums, offices, hotels and all RGE installers, this new certification changes the game: a switch from fixed COP to seasonal SCOP, stricter performance thresholds, mandatory extreme-cold testing, integration of R32 and a direct impact on eligibility for MaPrimeRénov', CEE certificates and the zero-interest eco-PTZ loan. Here is the Proclimo breakdown of a reform that aims to bring France into line with the best European practices and to eliminate the 'under-performing heat pumps' that hit the headlines in 2024-2025.

Why is the NF PAC label becoming mandatory in 2026?

A response to the 2024-2025 confidence crisis

Between 2024 and 2025, several consumer associations (UFC-Que Choisir, 60 Millions de Consommateurs) and ADEME documented an awkward phenomenon: air/water heat pumps sold with a nominal COP of 4.5 that, once installed in the customer's home, showed a real seasonal SCOP of 2.3 to 2.8 — i.e. 30 to 50 % more consumption than expected. The reason: the fixed COP announced by manufacturers was measured in ideal conditions (+7 °C outside, +35 °C water) that do not reflect the reality of a French heating season (average 5 to 10 °C outside, with peaks at -10 °C). The Ministry for Ecological Transition therefore imposed, via the decree of 28 June 2024 amending the decree of 6 April 2022, the mandatory NF PAC label based on a renovated standard (NF 414) incorporating seasonal performance.

A transposition of the European EPBD directive

This evolution is part of Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings (revised EPBD), which requires Member States to make HVAC equipment labelling more reliable and to make public grants conditional on performance measured in real conditions. France has chosen to go further by making the certification mandatory rather than merely recommended, with a tight schedule: publication of the NF 414 standard in May 2025, entry into force on 1 January 2026, and a 12-month transitional period for selling off stocks of old references.

The three objectives of the reform

1. Make announced performance reliable: move from a COP 'in the best case' to a SCOP measured over the entire heating season.
2. Guarantee installation quality: include in the certification a section on commissioning and on leak-tightness control of refrigerants.
3. Make grants conditional: reserve MaPrimeRénov', the bonus CEE and the zero-interest eco-PTZ loan for heat pumps actually certified NF PAC 2026 (or equivalent: Heat Pump KEYMARK, Eurovent, historical NF PAC).

What actually changes in the NF 414 standard

The shift from fixed COP to seasonal SCOP

This is the flagship measure of the reform. Until 2025, the COP (coefficient of performance) of a heat pump was announced for a single condition: +7 °C outside, +35 °C water. However, over an entire French heating season, the average outside temperature is more like +5 °C (H1 zone, north-east) to +10 °C (H3 zone, Mediterranean), with winter peaks at -10 °C or even -15 °C.

The SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) measures the average seasonal performance by weighting performance by the actual distribution of outside temperatures over the season (Météo-France data by climate zone). For the same heat pump, the SCOP is almost always 15 to 25 % lower than the announced fixed COP.

Minimum 2026 thresholds

Climate zone	Outside reference temperature	Minimum SCOP	Minimum SEER (cooling)
H1 (north-east, altitude)	-7 °C to +5 °C	3.4	4.5
H2 (centre, west, Île-de-France)	-3 °C to +10 °C	3.2	4.7
H3 (south, Mediterranean coast)	+1 °C to +15 °C	3.1	5.0

Concrete example: a Daikin Altherma 3 H HT (high-end model) used to advertise a COP of 5.0 at +7 °C. With the NF 414 standard, its SCOP in H2 zone is 4.2 and in H1 zone 3.8 — still excellent, but the 15 to 20 % gap with the fixed COP justifies the argument of the reform.

New acoustic requirements

The NF 414 standard requires sound power measurements at different power levels (no longer a single point) and a documented noise spectrum. The objective: avoid heat pumps that are too noisy in residential areas, a recurring point of friction with neighbours (see our article on air conditioning noise and neighbourhood relations). European Directive 2000/14/EC on outdoor equipment noise emissions is harmonised with this new measurement.

Extreme cold testing

For air/water heat pumps installed in H1 zone (mountains, north-east), the NF 414 standard requires tests at -15 °C outside to verify:

• Power output maintained (without sudden drop forcing an electric backup),
• Absence of prolonged frosting on the evaporator,
• Automatic defrosting (short and infrequent cycles),
• Cold start without failure.

These conditions correspond to the winters of 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 that France experienced: -10 to -15 °C for several days in January and February, a period during which thousands of heat pumps broke down or under-performed, causing a peak in calls to installers.

Integration of R32 and leak-tightness control

The new certification explicitly incorporates R32 as the reference refrigerant, with a leak test compliant with Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated gases (F-Gas 2026) and with French requirements on the capacity certificate (category I). R290 (propane), a very low GWP refrigerant, is also recognised, mainly on small monobloc heat pumps (see our dossier on the R290 propane refrigerant).

Impact for households: what to check before buying

1. The presence of the NF PAC 2026 logo on the documentation

Since 1 January 2026, every reversible air/water heat pump distributed in France must display the NF PAC 2026 logo on its rating plate and commercial documentation. The accepted equivalents are:

• Heat Pump KEYMARK (European label managed by CEN),
• Eurovent Certified Performance (international label),
• Historical NF PAC (for models installed before 2026 and still sold in stock).

The easiest way to check: consult the official AFNOR directory (nf.afnor.org) which lists all certified references. The France Rénov' directory (france-renov.gouv.fr/annuaire-rge) also lists RGE installers trained in the new standard.

2. The 'seasonal data sheet'

Ask your installer for the 'seasonal data sheet' of the model you are considering. It must clearly indicate:

• The SCOP by climate zone (H1, H2, H3),
• The SEER (for cooling),
• The sound power at different settings,
• The result of the -15 °C test (if H1 zone),
• The refrigerant used and its GWP (Global Warming Potential).

A heat pump whose manufacturer refuses to communicate these data is a warning signal: walk away.

3. The detailed quote and maintenance contract

A compliant NF PAC 2026 quote must specify:

• The exact reference of the model (with the NF PAC 2026 logo or equivalent),
• The expected SCOP for your climate zone,
• The commissioning cost including the documented leak test,
• The annual maintenance contract (mandatory, see our article on the mandatory maintenance of air conditioners),
• The expected performance (estimated annual consumption in kWh) based on the seasonal SCOP, not the fixed COP.

4. Eligibility for 2026 grants

Public grant	NF PAC 2026 condition	Indicative 2026 amount
MaPrimeRénov' (accompanied path)	SCOP ≥ 3.5 + RGE QualiPAC + NF PAC 2026	€3,000 to €5,000
CEE 'Coup de Pouce Chauffage' (BAR-TH-171 air/water, BAR-TH-172 water/water)	SCOP ≥ 3.9 + NF PAC 2026	€4,500 to €7,000
Eco-PTZ	NF PAC 2026 + work package	Up to €50,000 at 0 % over 20 years
Reduced VAT at 5.5 %	NF PAC 2026 or equivalent	On supply and installation
Regional grants (Île-de-France, PACA, AURA…)	Variable, often conditional on SCOP	€500 to €4,000

A non-compliant NF PAC 2026 heat pump remains technically installable, but loses access to the bonus grants and is subject to the ordinary-law regime (standard CEE, MaPrimeRénov' per work item, without Coup de Pouce). The shortfall can reach €5,000 to €8,000 depending on the project.

Impact for RGE installers: train before the deadline

Mandatory training to keep the QualiPAC qualification

The decree of 28 June 2024 does not only modify heat pumps: it also requires RGE QualiPAC installers to follow a specific NF PAC 2026 training course (AFNOR/Uniclima modules, 7 to 14 hours depending on the level). Without this training, the QualiPAC qualification is not renewed and the installer can no longer let their customers benefit from the bonus grants.

Schedule:

• 2024-2025: gradual rollout of training by approved bodies (AFNOR Compétences, Uniclima, Qualit'ENR).
• 1 January 2026: enforceable requirement for any new assisted installation.
• 31 December 2026: end of the transitional period for already RGE installers.

New measurement tools to acquire

To carry out an NF PAC 2026 compliance audit, the installer must be equipped with:

• Calibrated outside temperature probe (± 0.5 °C accuracy),
• Flow meter on the water circuit (actual flow measurement, not nominal),
• Wattmeter on the heat pump's electrical supply,
• Seasonal SCOP/SEER calculation software (Uniclima tools or thermal balance editor),
• Digital manifold with R32 pressure sensor (for leak testing),
• Thermal camera (optional but recommended) to check for thermal bridges.

The investment is between €2,500 and €5,000 per installation team. This is an item that craftspeople must include in their 2026 training plan.

Reinforced leak testing

The NF 414 standard requires a leak test on commissioning, in accordance with the F-Gas 2026 regulation (see our dossier on the F-Gas R32 2026 regulation). This test includes:

• Pressure test of the refrigerant circuit with nitrogen (test pressure),
• Leak search with electronic detector (sensitivity 5 g/year minimum),
• Establishment of a test certificate archived for 5 years,
• Recording on Operat for tertiary installations over 70 kW (BACS obligation).

Recording in the AFNOR directory

The RGE installer must update their profile in the France Rénov' directory by mentioning their NF PAC 2026 training and attaching the training certificates. Without this update, their profile no longer appears in the search results of households, which can represent a significant loss of turnover.

Impact for the tertiary sector: GTB, BACS and cross-compliance

Coupling with the BACS decree (mandatory GTB)

For buildings of more than 290 kW (threshold lowered to 70 kW in 2028), the BACS decree requires the installation of a class A or B GTB (Building Management System), with real-time monitoring of consumption (see our analysis of the BACS 2026 decree and class A GTB). The NF 414 standard complements this obligation directly:

• The GTB makes it possible to measure the real SCOP over the current year and to compare it with the announced SCOP,
• In the event of a deviation > 15 %, an alert is raised and a diagnostic is triggered,
• The annual reporting is integrated into the Operat file for tertiary decree compliance.

The tertiary decree and the reduction trajectory

The tertiary decree (Éco Énergie Tertiaire) requires a reduction of -40 % by 2030 on the consumption of buildings over 1,000 m² (see our article on the tertiary decree 2026). An NF PAC 2026 compliant heat pump is a major lever to reach this objective: a SCOP of 3.5 (instead of an advertised fixed COP of 4.5) still brings heating consumption to about 28 % of the consumption of a gas boiler — a gain that makes it possible to reach the 2030 milestone without heavy envelope renovation.

Eligibility for the 'Coup de Pouce Tertiaire' CEE

The Coup de Pouce Tertiaire bonuses CEE for buildings over 1,000 m², subject to a prior energy audit and RGE QualiPAC + NF PAC 2026 installation. The premiums can reach €15,000 to €50,000 depending on the size of the building, stackable with the ADEME Heat Fund and regional grants.

The 2026-2027 compliance schedule

Deadline	Obligation	Audience concerned
1 January 2026	NF PAC 2026 mandatory for new reversible air/water heat pumps	Manufacturers, importers, distributors
1 January 2026	NF PAC 2026 training mandatory for RGE QualiPAC installers	Installers, craftspeople, refrigeration engineers
1 January 2026	MaPrimeRénov' accompanied path eligibility conditional on NF PAC 2026	Households, condominiums
30 June 2026	End of transitional period for selling off stocks of old references	Distributors
31 December 2026	Deadline for compliance for already RGE installers	RGE installers
1 January 2027	Mandatory compliance audit for heat pumps installed between 2022 and 2025	Owners, landlords, condominium managers
1 January 2028	Extension of the BACS decree to installations over 70 kW	Tertiary facility managers

Brands and models already NF PAC 2026 compliant

Several manufacturers anticipated the reform and obtained certification as early as 2025 for their flagship ranges:

• Daikin Altherma 3 H HT (EPRA-HHA range, 8-16 kW): SCOP 4.2 in H2, SEER 5.2, R32. NF PAC 2026 + Heat Pump KEYMARK + Eurovent label.
• Mitsubishi Ecodan Hydrobox (PUZ-W range, 8-14 kW): SCOP 4.0 in H2, SEER 5.0, R32. Triple certification.
• Atlantic Calypso (2026 range, 9-16 kW): SCOP 3.8 in H2, SEER 4.9, R32. French design, European manufacture. NF PAC 2026 + KEYMARK.
• Toshiba Estia Hi-Temp (HWS range, 8-11 kW): SCOP 3.9 in H2, SEER 4.8, R32. NF PAC 2026 label.
• Hitachi Yutaki S (RASM range, 8-14 kW): SCOP 3.7 in H2, SEER 4.7, R32. KEYMARK certification.
• Panasonic Aquarea High Performance (WH-UD range, 9-12 kW): SCOP 4.1 in H2, SEER 5.1, R32. Triple certification.
• Saunier Duval GeniaAir (2026 range, 8-15 kW): SCOP 3.6 in H2, SEER 4.6, R290 or R32. NF PAC 2026 label.

See our full dossier on the new 2026 range of air conditioners for details on air/air models, and on the reversible air/air heat pump for split models.

NF PAC 2026 and RE2020: a coherent alignment

Bbio and Cep,nr enhanced

For new buildings subject to RE2020, the NF 414 standard simplifies the calculation of Cep,nr (non-renewable primary energy consumption): an NF PAC 2026 heat pump with a SCOP of 4.0 is valued by a coefficient of 0.25 in the calculation, compared to 0.30 for an unlabelled heat pump. For a 120 m² house, this represents a gain of 4 to 6 Cep,nr points, enough to move a project from 'compliant' to 'comfortably compliant' in H2 or H3 zone.

Summer comfort and the DH indicator

RE2020 also introduces the DH indicator (degree-hours of discomfort) which penalises buildings exceeding 26 °C in summer. An NF PAC 2026 reversible heat pump with SEER ≥ 5.0 can cover cooling needs without degrading the DH indicator, coupling if necessary with dual-flow ventilation and solar protection (see our guide to cooling a home without air conditioning in a heatwave).

Proclimo's view: quality before price

Why certification changes the game for households

A non-certified entry-level heat pump at €8,000 installed may seem attractive, but:

• Expected real SCOP: 2.5 to 2.8 (high consumption),
• Grants available: base CEE only (€400 to €800), no MaPrimeRénov' accompanied path, no Coup de Pouce,
• Risk of breakdown: entry-level components, lifespan 10-12 years,
• Resale depreciation: 10 to 15 % on a home equipped with a heat pump deemed under-performing.

Conversely, a high-end NF PAC 2026 heat pump at €14,000 installed:

• Expected real SCOP: 3.8 to 4.2 (30 to 40 % saving on the bill),
• Grants available: MaPrimeRénov' (€3,000 to €5,000) + Coup de Pouce CEE (€4,500 to €7,000) + eco-PTZ + VAT 5.5 %,
• Lifespan: 18 to 22 years,
• Green value on resale: +5 to 8 % compared to an unequipped home.

The net cost of an assisted NF PAC 2026 heat pump is therefore often lower than that of an unassisted entry-level heat pump.

The role of Proclimo

Proclimo, an RGE multi-qualified QualiPAC + QualiPV + QualiSol installer in Île-de-France, supports households, condominiums, shops, offices and hotels in their NF PAC 2026 compliant heat pump projects. Our integrated offering:

• Prior technical audit: analysis of your home (surface area, insulation, climate zone), calculation of the expected SCOP, estimate of savings.
• Equipment selection: we work exclusively with manufacturers whose models are certified NF PAC 2026 + KEYMARK + Eurovent.
• Installation and commissioning: fitting by NF 414 trained technicians, documented leak test, circuit balancing, measurement of actual performance.
• Complete grant file: assembly of MaPrimeRénov' + CEE + eco-PTZ + VAT 5.5 % + regional grants, up to €12,000 of stacked grants.
• Annual maintenance contract: connected monitoring, leak test, real SCOP verification, annual reporting.

A question, a project?

Contact Proclimo for a free heat pump audit and a personalised study of your NF PAC 2026 heat pump project, or discover our service areas in Île-de-France. To go further, check out our articles on the reversible air/air heat pump, MaPrimeRénov' and CEE grants in 2026, reduced VAT at 5.5 % on reversible air conditioning, the F-Gas R32 2026 regulation, the 2026 RGE reform, the energy label for reversible air conditioners 2026, the BACS 2026 decree and class A GTB, the tertiary decree 2026, mandatory air conditioning maintenance and air conditioning noise and neighbourhood relations. Our team operates in Île-de-France in compliance with the NF 414 standard and the RGE QualiPAC 2026 framework.

Sources: AFNOR — NF 414 'Reversible air/water heat pumps' standard (May 2025) · Legifrance — Decree of 28 June 2024 amending the decree of 6 April 2022 · Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings (revised EPBD) · ADEME — Opinion 'Heat pumps: real and seasonal performance' (January 2025) · Uniclima — Seasonal SCOP/SEER 2026 technical guide · Qualit'ENR — NF PAC 2026 training module for RGE installers · Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated gases (F-Gas 2026) · UFC-Que Choisir — Survey 'Heat pumps: is announced performance reliable?' (March 2025) · Météo-France — Climate data by H1, H2, H3 zone (1991-2025 base) · Heat Pump KEYMARK — Directory of certified products · Eurovent Certified Performance — 2026 heat pump framework · Cerema — RE2020 guide and heat pumps (2026 edition).