Vakblad Warmtepompen article: "Apparaatje maakt thermische legionellapreventie in boilervat overbodig"
We're proud to share that Vakblad Warmtepompen — the leading Dutch trade publication for the heat pump industry — published an in-depth feature on Sensiblue. The article, which became the most-read piece in February, explores how our technology can eliminate the need for the weekly 60°C "legionella run" in boiler systems.
The problem
As the Netherlands moves away from gas, more and more households rely on heat pumps and electric boilers for hot water. Unlike a gas boiler, these systems struggle to efficiently reach the 60°C required by NEN 1006 to prevent Legionella growth. The mandatory weekly temperature boost consumes significant energy and undermines the efficiency gains of switching to a heat pump.
How Sensiblue solves this
Sensiblue produces a small, safe amount of active chlorine from ordinary dishwasher salt — without using any external electricity. Installed on the cold water line before the boiler, it continuously disinfects the incoming water. This means the boiler temperature can stay well below 60°C, saving between 350 and 1,000 kWh per year.
Independent validation underway
The article also highlights our collaboration with KWR Water Research Institute, which is currently testing Sensiblue's effectiveness against Legionella under controlled laboratory conditions. Upon successful completion, field tests will follow at The Green Village (TU Delft) in real-world housing conditions. Bas van der Zaan, microbiological water quality researcher at KWR, confirmed that the institute recognises the importance of lowering hot water temperatures safely and is actively measuring the system's performance.
Pathway to market approval
We are working closely with the Dutch Ministry of the Interior (BZK) toward a formal equivalence declaration (gelijkwaardigheidsverklaring) that would allow installers to use Sensiblue as a certified alternative to thermal disinfection under NEN 1006. This process involves scientific validation through KWR and TU Delft, followed by larger-scale field trials in homes connected to low-temperature heat networks.
Read the full article
The original article (in Dutch) is available here: Vakblad Warmtepompen
