The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021

Resource efficiency requirements

3.—(1) Refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function must meet the following resource efficiency requirements.

Availability of spare parts

(2) Manufacturers, authorised representatives or importers of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function must make available to professional repairers at least the following spare parts for a minimum period of eight years after placing the last unit of the model on the market—

(a) light sources;

(b) no-frost heating resistors;

(c) printed circuit boards;

(d) software and firmware, including reset software;

(e) starting relays;

(f) temperature sensors; and

(g) thermostats.

(3) Manufacturers, authorised representatives or importers of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function must make available to professional repairers and end-users at least the following spare parts for a minimum period of eight years after placing the last unit of the model on the market—

(a) door gaskets;

(b) door handles and hinges;

(c) knobs, dials and buttons; and

(d) peripheral trays, baskets and racks for storage,

(4) Manufacturers, authorised representatives or importers of refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function must ensure that the spare parts mentioned in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) can be replaced with the use of commonly available tools and without permanent damage to the appliance.

(5) The manufacturer, authorised representative or importer must, no later than two years after the first unit of a model is placed on the market—

(a) publish for that product the list of spare parts referred to in sub-paragraph (2) and the procedure for ordering them on a website which is accessible to the public without charge; and

(b) ensure that the information referred to in paragraph (a) remains accessible throughout the period that the spare parts remain available.

(6) When the first unit of a model is placed on the market, the manufacturer, authorised representative or importer must—

(a) publish for that product—

(i) the list of spare parts referred to in sub-paragraph (3);

(ii) the procedure for ordering them; and

(iii) the repair instructions;

on a website which is accessible to the public without charge; and

(b) ensure that the information referred to in paragraph (a) remains accessible throughout the period that the spare parts remain available.

Maximum delivery time for spare parts

(7) Subject to sub-paragraph (8), during the period referred to in sub-paragraph (2), the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative must ensure delivery of spare parts for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function within 15 working days of receiving an order.

(8) In relation to products specified in sub-paragraph (2), sub-paragraph (7) does not apply to repairers who have not registered with the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative in accordance with sub-paragraph (10).

Access to repair and maintenance information

(9) From no later than two years after the placing on the market of the first unit of a model or of an equivalent model until the end of the period referred to in sub-paragraph (2), the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative must provide access to the appliance repair and maintenance information to professional repairers in accordance with the following provisions.

(10) The manufacturer’s, importer’s or authorised representative’s website must set out the process for professional repairers to register for access to repair and maintenance information.

(11) Before granting access to the information, the manufacturer, authorised representative or importer may require the professional repairer to demonstrate that –

(a) the professional repairer has the technical competence to repair refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function and complies with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989;

(b) the professional repairer is covered by insurance for liabilities resulting from its activities.

(12) The request for registration must be accepted or refused within 5 working days from the date of the request.

(13) Once registered, a professional repairer must be given access to requested repair and maintenance information within one working day of any request. The information may be provided for an equivalent model or model of the same family, if appropriate. The available repair and maintenance information must include—

(a) component and diagnosis information (such as minimum and maximum theoretical values for measurements);

(b) diagnostic fault and error codes (including manufacturer-specific codes, where applicable);

(c) a disassembly map or exploded view;

(d) information on how to access data records of reported failure incidents stored on the refrigerating appliance with a direct sales function (where applicable);

(e) instructions for installation of relevant software and firmware including reset software;

(f) list of necessary repair and test equipment;

(g) technical manual of instructions for repair;

(h) unequivocal appliance identification; and

(i) wiring and connection diagrams.

(14) Manufacturers, authorised representatives or importers may charge reasonable and proportionate fees for access to the repair and maintenance information or for receiving regular updates. A fee is reasonable if it does not discourage access by failing to take into account the extent to which the professional repairer uses the information.

Requirements for dismantling for material recovery and recycling

(15) Manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives must ensure that refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function are designed in such a way that the materials and components referred to in Annex 7 of the WEEE Directive can be removed with the use of commonly available tools.

(16) If the refrigerating appliance with a direct sales function contains vacuum insulation panels, the appliance must be labelled with the letters “VIP”, in such a way that the labelling is clearly visible, legible and indelible.