Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 626/2011Show full title

Article 1 Subject matter and scope

1. This Regulation establishes requirements for the labelling and the provision of supplementary product information for electric mains-operated air conditioners with a rated capacity of ≤ 12 kW for cooling, or heating, if the product has no cooling function.

2. This Regulation shall not apply to:

(a) appliances that use non-electric energy sources;

(b) air conditioners of which the condensor- or evaporator-side, or both, do not use air for heat transfer medium.

Article 2 Definitions

In addition to the definitions set out in Article 2 of Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council(1), the following definitions shall apply:

(1)

‘air conditioner’ means a device capable of cooling or heating, or both, indoor air, using a vapour compression cycle driven by an electric compressor, including air conditioners that provide additional functionalities such as dehumidification, air-purification, ventilation or supplemental air-heating by means of electric resistance heating and appliances that may use water (either condensate water that is formed on the evaporator side or externally added water) for evaporation on the condensor, provided that the device is also able to function without the use of additional water, using air only;

(2)

‘double duct air conditioner’ means an air conditioner in which, during cooling or heating, the condensor or evaporator intake air is introduced from the outdoor environment to the unit by a duct and rejected to the outdoor environment by a second duct, and which is placed wholly inside the space to be conditioned, near a wall;

(3)

‘single duct air conditioner’ means an air conditioner in which, during cooling or heating, the condensor or evaporator intake air is introduced from the space containing the unit and discharged outside this space;

(4)

‘rated capacity’ (P_rated ) means the cooling or heating capacity of the vapour compression cycle of the unit at standard rating conditions;

(5)

‘end-user’ means a consumer buying or expected to buy an air conditioner;

(6)

‘point of sale’ means a location where air conditioners are displayed or offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase.

Additional definitions for the purpose of Annexes II to VIII are set out in Annex I.

Article 3 Responsibilities of suppliers

1. Suppliers shall take action as described in points (a) to (g):

(a) a printed label is provided for each air conditioner respecting energy efficiency classes as set out in Annex II. The label shall comply with the format and content of information as set out in Annex III. For air conditioners, except single and double duct air conditioners, a printed label must be provided, at least in the packaging of the outdoor unit, for at least one combination of indoor and outdoor units at capacity ratio 1. For other combinations, the information can be alternatively provided on a free access web site;

(b) a product fiche, as set out in Annex IV, is made available. For air conditioners, except single and double duct air conditioners, a product fiche must be provided at least in the packaging of the out door unit, for at least one combination of indoor and outdoor units at capacity ratio 1. For other combinations, the information can be alternatively provided on a free access web site;

(c) technical documentation as set out in Annex V is made available electronically on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;

(d) any advertisement for a specific model of an air conditioner shall contain the energy efficiency class, if the advertisement discloses energy-related or price information. Where more than one efficiency class is possible, the supplier or the manufacturer, as appropriate, shall declare the energy efficiency class for heating at least in ‘Average’ heating season. Information in the cases where end-users cannot be expected to see the product displayed is to be provided as set out in Annex VI;

(e) any technical promotional material concerning a specific model of an air conditioner which describes its specific technical parameters shall include the energy efficiency class of that model as set out Annex II;

(f) instructions for use are made available;

(g) single ducts shall be named ‘local air conditioners’ in packaging, product documentation and in any advertisement material, whether electronic or in paper.

2. The energy efficiency class shall be determined as set out in Annex VII.

3. The format of the label for air conditioners except for single and double duct air conditioners shall be as set out in Annex III.

4. For the air conditioners, except for single and double duct air conditioners, the format of the label set out in Annex III shall be applied according to the following timetable:

(a) as regards air conditioners, except single duct and double duct air conditioners, placed on the market from 1 January 2013, labels with energy efficiency classes A, B, C, D, E, F, G shall be in accordance with point 1.1 of Annex III for reversible air conditioners, with point 2.1 of Annex III for cooling-only air conditioners and with point 3.1 of Annex III for heating-only air conditioners;

(b) as regards air conditioners, except single duct and double duct air conditioners, placed on the market from 1 January 2015, labels with energy efficiency classes A+, A, B, C, D, E, F, shall be in accordance with point 1.2 of Annex III for reversible air conditioners, with point 2.2 of Annex III for cooling-only air conditioners and with point 3.2 of Annex III for heating-only air conditioners;

(c) as regards air conditioners, except single duct and double duct air conditioners, placed on the market from 1 January 2017, labels with energy efficiency classes A++, A+, A, B, C, D, E, shall be in accordance with point 1.3 of Annex III for reversible air conditioners, with point 2.3 of Annex III for cooling-only air conditioners and with point 3.3 of Annex III for heating-only air conditioners;

(d) as regards air conditioners, except single duct and double duct air conditioners, placed on the market from 1 January 2019, labels with energy efficiency classes A+++, A++, A+, A, B, C, D shall be in accordance with point 1.4 of Annex III for reversible air conditioners, with point 2.4 of Annex III for cooling-only air conditioners and with point 3.4 of Annex III for heating-only air conditioners.

5. The format of the label for double duct air conditioners placed on the market from 1 January 2013 with energy efficiency classes A+++, A++, A+, A, B, C, D shall be in accordance with point 4.1 of Annex III for reversible double duct air conditioners, with point 4.3 of Annex III for cooling-only double duct air conditioners and with point 4.5 of Annex III for heating-only double duct air conditioners.

6. The format of the label for single duct air conditioners placed on the market from 1 January 2013 with energy efficiency classes A+++, A++, A+, A, B, C, D shall be in accordance with point 5.1 of Annex III for reversible single duct air conditioners, with point 5.3 of Annex III for cooling-only single ducts air conditioners and with point 5.5 of Annex III heating-only single duct air conditioners.

Article 4 Responsibilities of dealers

Dealers shall ensure that:

(a)

air conditioners, at the point of sale, bear the label provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 3(1) on the outside of the front or top of the appliance, in such a way as to be clearly visible;

(b)

air conditioners offered for sale, hire or hire purchase where the end-user cannot be expected to see the product displayed, are marketed with the information provided by suppliers in accordance with Annexes V and VI;

(c)

any advertisement for a specific model of air conditioner contains a reference to the energy efficiency class, if the advertisement discloses energy-related or price information. Where more than one efficiency class is possible, the supplier/manufacturer will declare the energy efficiency class at least in ‘Average’ season zone;

(d)

any technical promotional material concerning a specific model which describes the technical parameters of an air conditioner includes a reference to the energy efficiency class(es) of the model and the instructions for use provided by the supplier. Where more than one efficiency class is possible, the supplier/manufacturer will declare the energy efficiency class at least in ‘Average’ season zone;

(e)

single ducts shall be named ‘local air conditioners’ in packaging, product documentation and in any promotional or advertisement material, whether electronic or in paper.

Article 5 Measurement methods

The information to be provided under Article 3 shall be obtained by reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement procedures, which take into account the recognised state of the art calculation and measurement methods, as set out in Annex VII.

Article 6 Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes

When Member States assess the conformity of the declared energy efficiency class, the annual or hourly energy consumption, as appropriate, and the noise emissions, they shall apply the procedure laid down in Annex VIII.

Article 7 Revision

The Commission shall review this Regulation in the light of technological progress no later than five years after its entry into force. In particular, attention will be paid to any significant changes in market shares of various types of appliances.

Article 8 Repeal

Directive 2002/31/EC is repealed from 1 January 2013.

Article 9 Transitional provision

1. Air conditioners placed on the market before 1 January 2013 shall comply with the provisions set out in Directive 2002/31/EC.

Article 10 Entry into force and application

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. It shall apply from 1 January 2013.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 4 May 2011.

For the Commission

The President

José Manuel Barroso