Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1188Show full title

Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1188

of 28 April 2015

implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for local space heaters

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products(1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,

After consulting the Consultation Forum referred to in Article 18 of Directive 2009/125/EC,

Whereas:

(1) Directive 2009/125/EC requires the Commission to set ecodesign requirements for energy-related products that represent significant volumes of sales and trade, that have a significant environmental impact and that present significant potential for improvement in terms of their environmental impact without entailing excessive costs.

(2) Article 16(2) of Directive 2009/125/EC provides that in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 19(3) and the criteria set out in Article 15(2), and after consulting the Consultation Forum, the Commission should, as appropriate, introduce implementing measures for products offering a high potential for cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as local space heaters.

(3) The Commission has carried out a preparatory study to analyse the technical, environmental and economic aspects of local space heaters typically used for heating purposes in residential and commercial buildings. The study has been carried out with stakeholders and interested parties from the Union and third countries, and the results have been made publicly available.

(4) The environmental aspects of local space heaters that have been identified as significant for the purposes of this Regulation are energy consumption and emissions nitrogen oxides in the use phase.

(5) The preparatory study shows that further requirements regarding other ecodesign parameters referred to in Part 1 of Annex I to Directive 2009/125/EC are not necessary in the case of local space heaters.

(6) The scope of this Regulation should include local space heaters designed to use gaseous or liquid fuels and electricity. Local space heaters that have an indirect fluid heating functionality are also within the scope of this Regulation.

(7) Annual energy consumption related to local space heaters was estimated to have been 1 673 PJ (40,0 Mtoe) in the Union in 2010 corresponding to 75,3 Mt of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Annual energy consumption related to local space heaters is expected to be 1 630 PJ (39,0 Mtoe) in 2020 corresponding to 71,6 Mt of CO₂.

(8) The energy consumption of local space heaters can be further reduced by applying existing, non-proprietary technologies without an increase in the combined costs of purchasing and operating these products.

(9) Annual emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) from local space heaters were estimated to have been 5,6 kton of sulphur oxides (SO_x) equivalent in 2010. As a result of specific measures adopted by Member States and technological development, these emissions are expected to be 4,9 kton of SO_x equivalent in 2020.

(10) The emissions of local space heaters could be further reduced by applying existing, non-proprietary technologies without an increase in the combined costs of purchasing and operating those products.

(11) Together, the ecodesign requirements set out in this Regulation and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1186(2) are expected to result by 2020 in estimated annual energy savings of approximately 157 PJ (3,8 Mtoe), with related CO₂ emission reduction of 6,7 Mt.

(12) The ecodesign requirements set out in this Regulation are expected to result by 2020 in a reduction of equivalent SO_x emissions of 0,6 kton/year.

(13) This Regulation covers products with different technical characteristics. If the same efficiency requirements were placed on them certain technologies would be banned from the market, which would result in a negative impact for consumers. For this reason ecodesign requirements relative to the potential of each technology create a level playing field in the market.

(14) Ecodesign requirements should harmonise energy consumption and nitrogen oxides emission requirements for local space heaters throughout the Union, for the internal market to operate better and in order to improve the environmental performance of those products.

(15) The energy efficiency of local space heaters decreases during real life operation when compared with energy efficiency as tested. In order to approach seasonal space heating energy efficiency to useful energy efficiency manufacturers should be encouraged to make use of controls. For this purpose, a global discount for this divergence between these two values is assumed. This discount can be recovered by choosing a number of control options.

(16) The ecodesign requirements should not affect the functionality or affordability of local space heaters from the end-user's perspective and should not negatively affect health, safety or the environment.

(17) The time frame for introducing the ecodesign requirements should be sufficient for the manufacturers to redesign their products subject to this Regulation. The timing should take into account any cost impact for manufacturers, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, is taken into account, while ensuring timely achievement of the objectives of this Regulation.

(18) Product parameters should be measured and calculated using reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement and calculation methods which take into account the recognised state-of-the-art measurement methods including, where available, harmonised standards adopted by the European standardisation organisations following a request by the Commission in accordance with the procedures laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council(3).

(19) In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC, this Regulation specifies which conformity assessment procedures apply.

(20) In order to facilitate compliance checks, manufacturers should provide the information contained in the technical documentation referred to in Annexes IV and V to Directive 2009/125/EC in so far as that information relates to the requirements laid down in this Regulation.

(21) To further limit the environmental impact of local space heaters, manufacturers should provide information on disassembly, recycling and disposal.

(22) In addition to the legally binding requirements laid down in this Regulation, indicative benchmarks for best available technologies should be determined to ensure that information on the life-cycle environmental performance of local space heaters is widely available and easily accessible.

(23) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established under Article 19(1) of Directive 2009/125/EC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

OJ L 285, 31.10.2009, p. 10.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1186 of 24 April 2015 supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of local space heaters (see page 20 of this Official Journal).

(3)

Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on European standardisation, amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/23/EC and 2009/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decision 87/95/EEC and Decision No 1673/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 316, 14.11.2012, p. 12).