TCLOutdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A

The TCL Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A is an air-to-water heat pump with a SCOP of 4.7 (35 °C) and a sound power level of 64 dB(A). Under permitted development the limit is 37 dB(A) measured 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window. Free-standing, the indicative minimum distance is 8.9 m; against a wall 12.6 m.1
Key figures
Rules in the UK
Minimum distance to your neighbour
MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025)2 · 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window
Indicative calculation (hemispherical, no barriers). Not a substitute for an MCS 020 assessment.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Check conditions£7,500 – £9,0003Fixed grant (England & Wales)
Fixed grant in England and Wales, deducted from your installer’s quote. £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid (until March 2027). Scotland: Home Energy Scotland grant instead.4,5
- Must be MCS-certified (product and installer). Check the Ofgem product eligibility list.
- Rated output 12 kW; the scheme covers systems up to 45 kW.
- SCOP at 55 °C: 3.48. The installed system needs a SCOP of at least 2.8 (MCS calculation).
Technical specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Type (source) | Air-to-water1 |
| Performance | |
| Heating capacity (A7/W35) | 12.1 kW1 |
| Rated output 35 °C | 12 kW1 |
| Rated output 55 °C | 12 kW1 |
| Min. outdoor temperature | -22 °C1 |
| Efficiency | |
| SCOP (35 °C) | 4.71 |
| SCOP (55 °C) | 3.481 |
| Seasonal efficiency ηs 35 °C | 185 %1 |
| Seasonal efficiency ηs 55 °C | 136 %1 |
| Energy label 35 °C | A, , , 1 |
| Energy label 55 °C | A, , 1 |
| COP A7/W35 | 51 |
| Noise | |
| Outdoor unit sound power | 64 dB(A)1 |
| Indoor unit sound power | 44 dB(A)1 |
| Refrigerant | |
| Refrigerant | R321 |
| Refrigerant GWP | 6751 |
| Refrigerant charge | 1.84 kg1 |
Variants
This model is registered in 5 combinations (for example with a different indoor unit or cylinder) with exactly the same performance. All figures on this page apply to each of these types. The part of the type number that differs is in bold; small differences (e.g. cylinder volume or anode) are listed after it:
- Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A
- Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKLd-16D/3HBp-A
- Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKLd-16S/6HBp-A
- Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKLd-16S/9HBp-A
- Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-AF, Indoor unit: SMKLd-16S/9HBp-AF
Manufacturer documentation
- Product page
- Datasheet / specifications — R32 Tri-thermal ATW Heat Pump – Specifications
External links to TCL's official website. The manufacturer may change or move documents; where they differ, the manufacturer's latest version applies.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install the TCL Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A without planning permission?
Under MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025) the unit must not exceed 37 dB(A) 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window. With a sound power of 64 dB(A) that indicatively means 8.9 m free-standing, 12.6 m against a wall or 17.9 m in a corner. Your MCS installer must confirm this.1
How much Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant can you get for the TCL Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A?
£7,500 in England and Wales, provided the product and installer are MCS-certified (£9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid, until March 2027). The installer applies and deducts the grant from your quote.1
Which refrigerant does the TCL Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A use?
The TCL Outdoor unit: THF-12S/HBpO-A, Indoor unit: SMKL-16D/HBp-A uses R32.1
Sources
- Heat Pump Keymark certificates — EHPA / DIN CERTCO (Heat Pump KEYMARK) · accessed 29 Sept 2026
- MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025)
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme: guidance for installers (V5) — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme product eligibility — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026