If you need any advice or information on ErP, we're here to help.
The Energy related Products Directive (ErP) has been introduced to help the countries in the EU reduce the energy they use by 20%, reduce emissions by 20% and increase the share of energy generated by renewables by 20%, before the year 2020.
Since September 2015, boilers, water heaters and heating products have been labelled in the same way as refrigerators and freezers are, so you can easily see how energy efficient they are.
The ErP directive is made up of two parts, Ecodesign and Energy Labelling.
Ecodesign will make sure that manufacturers like Andrews Water Heaters are meeting 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 their efficiency grade, ranging from A++ to G. Energy labels are designed to identify and choose products which save energy; they are already a requirement for domestic white goods, such as refrigerators and freezers, and tyres.
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 when two or more products are installed together, typically a boiler and control. The installer needs to calculate the efficiency figure based on certain components of the system - the boiler, controls, solar thermal etc. - which will then be indicated on a package label upon installation. 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.