Directive 2010/30/EU requires the Commission to adopt delegated acts as regards the labelling of energy-related products that have a significant potential for energy savings but exhibit a wide disparity in performance levels with equivalent functionality.

The energy consumed by water heaters and hot water storage tanks accounts for a significant share of the total energy demand in the Union, and water heaters and hot water storage tanks with equivalent functionality exhibit a wide disparity in terms of water heating energy efficiency and standing loss. The scope for reducing their energy consumption is significant and includes combining water heaters with appropriate solar devices. Water heaters, hot water storage tanks and packages of water heaters and solar devices should therefore be covered by energy labelling requirements.

Water heaters that are designed for using gaseous or liquid fuels predominantly (more than 50 %) produced from biomass have specific technical characteristics which require further technical, economic and environmental analyses. Depending on the outcome of the analyses, energy labelling requirements for those water heaters should be set at a later stage, if appropriate.

Harmonised provisions should be laid down on labelling and standard product information regarding the energy efficiency of water heaters and hot water storage tanks in order to provide incentives for manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of these products, to encourage end-users to purchase energy-efficient products and to contribute to the functioning of the internal market.

As regards significant energy and cost savings for each type of water heater and for hot water storage tanks, this Regulation should introduce a new single labelling scale from A to G for conventional water heaters, solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters and for hot water storage tanks. A dynamic class A⁺ should be added to the classification after two years to accelerate the market penetration of the most efficient water heaters and hot water storage tanks.

This Regulation should ensure that consumers get more accurate comparative information about the performance of solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters in three European climate zones.

The sound power level of a water heater could be an important consideration for end-users. Information on sound power levels should be included on the labels of water heaters.

This Regulation should specify a uniform design and content of product labels for water heaters and hot water storage tanks.

In addition, this Regulation should specify requirements for the product fiche and technical documentation for water heaters and hot water storage tanks.

Moreover, this Regulation should specify requirements for the information to be provided for any form of distance selling of water heaters and hot water storage tanks and in any advertisements and technical promotional material for such products.

In addition to the product labels and fiches for water heaters and hot water storage tanks laid down in this Regulation, a package label and fiche based on product fiches from suppliers should ensure that the end-user has easy access to information on the energy performance of water heaters in combination with solar devices. The most efficient class A⁺⁺⁺ may be reached by such a package.

It is appropriate to provide for a review of the provisions of this Regulation taking into account technological progress,