It may be reasonable for technical as well as economic reasons to supply solar heat to a second consumer from a single collector area. This is the case, e.g., for room heating, room-air cooling, swimming-pool heating for indoor pools.

The guideline focuses on solar systems for multi-family homes with collector surface areas of up to 20 m^2. However, the statements made can be applied by analogy to single-family and two-family homes. Where special considerations are required for such small systems, this is pointed out. In addition to planning and dimensioning criteria, guidance is given regarding systems technology and the selection of components and any particularities of solar technology.

For information on VDI, please visit www.vdi.eu. To order or download VDI guidelines, please visit www.beuth.de.