In focus: The Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) - ErP

Environmentally conscious product design and increased efficiency

With the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC), the EU has set the European legal framework for the requirements for environmentally friendly design and energy efficiency labelling of energy-related products (ErP).

The ErP Directive stipulates that specified minimum requirements must be met, amongst other things, with regard to energy efficiency. Products that do not meet these requirements may not be placed on the market in EU member states. Regulations for certain product groups ("lots") specify the binding minimum requirements for specific product groups as well as a time frame.


Contact

Introduction of ErP minimum efficiency accelerates technological progress

Since 1.1.2018, all manufacturers of heating appliances that fall within the scope of the Ecodesign Regulations have been bound by a uniform test and evaluation procedure with which the annual space heating efficiency of the heating system and, if applicable, other parameters such as the auxiliary electrical energy consumption and NOx emissions must be determined and declared. 

In the evaluation procedure of the ErP regulations it is assumed that heaters operate on average 85% in partial load operation, i.e. in the transition periods, and only about 15% in full load operation. On this basis, the minimum value of the so-called "seasonal energy efficiency" or the annual space heating efficiency is determined. Modulatingly controllable heaters with combustion air adjustment in partial load operation are also gaining in importance for this reason. This advantage will additionally drive the optimization of the systems.


The minimum value "Seasonal energy efficiency" from 2018 is for:

Warm Air Heaters

  72% - according to Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2016/2281

Tube Heaters

  74% - according to Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2015/1188

Luminous heaters

  85% - according to Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2015/1188


The heating systems produced by almost all figawa member companies of the “Warm Air Heaters” and “Radiant Gas Heaters” working groups already meet or exceed the required minimum efficiency.

Warm air heaters

The hot air is tempered in the heat exchanger, which is heated by a burner, and is blown out in the desired direction. By using the condensation heat in the exhaust gas (condensing boiler technology), energy is saved and efficiency is significantly increased.

Tube heaters

The heat radiation is emitted by radiant tubes, which are heated by a flame or the exhaust gases inside the radiant tube. Insulated reflectors direct the heat radiation in the desired direction and reduce convection losses. Optional condensing technology extracts the residual heat from the exhaust gas of the radiant heaters for further use.

 

Luminous heaters

The thermal radiation is emitted by the glowing ceramic surface in which the gas/air mixture burns. Specially insulated reflectors direct the maximum amount of thermal radiation in the desired direction.

ErP creates market transparency through objectively comparable product performance data

By specifying the uniformly determined room heating annual efficiency, planners, tradesmen and hall operators are given a high degree of security for the best possible product selection, as market transparency is now created for the first time and a product comparison in terms of energy efficiency is now possible.

In contrast to other heating appliances affected by the ErP regulations, products from the field of decentralized hall heating technology (warm air heaters, dark radiators, light radiators) do not require additional energy labelling in the form of a standardized product label, since hall heating systems are generally not designed and selected by private consumers but by specialist planners.