The Energy related Products Directive (ErP) has been introduced across the EU to help reduce energy use and related emissions.
Requirements related to water heating products came into effect in September 2015, with incrementally tighter requirements introduced in September 2017 and 2018.
The ErP directive is made up of two parts, Ecodesign and Energy Labelling.
Ecodesign will requires that products from manufacturers like Andrews Water Heaters meet minimum energy performance and environmental standards. Water heating products with an output equal to or less than 400kW and tanks with a storage volume equal to or less than 2000 litres must meet a minimum energy performance standard in order to be legally sold in the UK and the rest of the EU.
Working in conjunction with Ecodesign, the Energy Labelling directive requires all energy-related products to clearly display an efficiency rating, ranging from A++ to G. Energy labels are designed to help consumers identify and choose products which save energy; they are a long established requirement for domestic white goods, such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Energy labels are required for water heaters, boilers, and combination heaters with a rated heat output equal to or less than 70kW, and for storage tanks that have a volume equal to or less than 500 litres.
Unlike the Ecodesign Directive, Energy Labelling affects the installer as well as the manufacturer. Manufacturers now ensure that their individual products have compliant energy labelling, while installers are responsible for providing an overall energy efficiency label for a package of products, if relevant.
A "package" of products is defined as two or more products are installed together. The installer needs to calculate the package efficiency rating - which will then be indicated on a package label upon installation. In the case of water heaters this will typically represent a water heater up to 70kW output installed together with a solar thermal array. This means that both the manufacturer and the installer are responsible for ensuring the legal Energy Labelling requirements are met. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary measures via market surveillance authorities.
Andrews Water Heaters provide a package calculation tool to help with compliance and make this process easy
