Energy efficiency
What ErP means for water heaters
E
uropean Union (EU) member states are subject to a number of directives aimed at improving energy efficiency of buildings.
Whilst there was some initial uncertainty post- Brexit, it is now clear that these initiatives will remain in some capacity following Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. One of the most important pieces of legislation is
the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive, which came into force in 2009. ErP dictates performance requirements for products that use energy, or have an indirect impact on energy consumption – a category which includes water heaters. The minimum requirements for each product group were divided into three tiers and staggered over a four-year period. The tier relating to space heating, combination heaters and water heaters with an output equal to or less than 400kW, and storage tanks with a volume equal to or less than 2000 litres came into force in September 2015; manufacturers whose products did not meet these minimum requirements were not legally allowed to place them on the market in the UK and other EU countries after this date. A complementary and related framework is the
Energy Labelling Directive (ELD). This only applies to boilers and water heaters with outputs of up to 70kW and storage cylinders of up to and including 500 litres volume. ELD dictates that products should display an alphabetised, colour-coded label according to their efficiency. The labelling system provides transparency for consumers, enabling them to compare the energy credentials of all
products on the market, based on the outcome of standardised laboratory tests. Energy labelling was first introduced with a scale of A to G for water heaters. However, as of September 26, 2017, the rating system will be updated to introduce an A+ energy efficiency class and the G rating will be removed. The colour scale will remain the same, with dark green representing the highest energy efficiency class and red the lowest. Unlike Ecodesign, ELD affects not only manufacturers but also contractors. It is their responsibility to ensure a package calculation datasheet – otherwise known as a fiche – and package label are made available to the end-user when installing certain combinations of products together. For contractors, this change means it will be more straightforward than ever to specify the most energy efficient products for a job. It also means that the overall performance standard for water heaters (and other energy-using products) will be raised. To ensure the process of producing a fiche is as straightforward as possible, Andrews Water Heaters has updated its installation instructions to make it easier for specifiers and contractors to find information on performance and efficiency parameters. Efficiency data is readily available online, in product brochures and leaflets. Guidance documents are also free to download from many manufacturers’ websites, including Andrews Water
Jonathan Tedstone
New legislation which came into force this month specifies new minimum and maximum efficiency ratings for water heating equipment. In addition, further changes regarding mandatory limits on NOx emissions are expected in September next year. Jonathan Tedstone, category manager at Andrews Water Heaters, explains how these changes will affect contractors and the ways manufacturers are providing a helping hand
Heaters. More change is on the horizon, with mandatory limits on NOx emissions for gas, LPG and oil-fired water heaters expected on September 26, 2018. For gas/LPG fired products the maximum NOx emissions will be 56mg/kWh and for oil-fired products 120mg/kWh. We expect this new requirement will generate significant changes to the water heating sector with new or improved models entering the market as a result. Indeed, Andrews Water Heaters has invested heavily in research and development to identify ways to make products more efficient, including improvements to heat exchanger and burner designs. In addition to this, we have also focused on
compliance, testing our water heaters to the latest standards to ensure we meet legal requirements. Investment in quality testing equipment means we can get the most accurate results for every product. These efforts ensure we are always prepared for future changes to legislation and can supply contractors with the right products to remain compliant.
Bearing in mind that a review of the
regulations is underway, further amendments may take place in the near future. Regardless of the political landscape, manufacturers will always take steps to ensure products meet the highest standards and contractors are kept well-informed to stay compliant.
Andrews Water Heaters’ ECOflo is a fully condensing direct fired efficient water heater that will meet ErP requirements
28 September 2017
www.heatingandventilating.net
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