Is the heating industry ready for another label?

The heating industry has been warned it must ensure it is ready for the Energy Labelling Directive (ERD) It’s been on the horizon for a while now and ERD was finally introduced on the 1^st January 2018, although it may have fallen beneath many peoples radars. The Ecolabel energy rating system brought in with the Directive is exemplified by the multi-coloured A to G sticker seen on white goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines. When the Energy Related Products Directive was first introduced for boilers a couple of years ago, it was met with resistance and proved to be a major talking point for most of 2015.  

What does the new label cover?

The newly introduced labelling directive covers solid fuel appliances such as wood burners or Roomheater Stoves (providing heat into the room in which they are installed). It means they must display the multi-coloured label to make appliance selection easier for consumers. It is also designed to make clear the efficiency levels of solid fuel equipment. Ian Sams, commercial director at Specflue, the flue, chimney and renewable heating supplier, said: “The legislation impacts manufacturers who need to ensure that their products are appropriately labelled, and installers who need a good understanding of the requirements to ensure commissioned installations comply with the rules.” All newly manufactured solid fuel appliances sold by retailers and from suppliers will now require a copy of the energy label fixed to them. The label will show technical details and information on the appliance performance capabilities and energy rating. The Energy Labelling Directive scheme identifies products and services with a reduced environmental impact. It runs on an A++ to G scale (A++ being the best, G being the worst). The majority of modern wood burning stoves are expected to come in at the A and A+ level. Pellet burning stoves should be achieving A++. Electronic versions of the label and fiche are also available to dealers. The information shown on the energy label includes the supplier’s name or trade mark and model identifier, the energy efficiency class and the direct heat output of the appliance in kW.  

Be in the know

By now Energy labelling should be familiar territory for gas heating engineers. HETAS has produced some useful reading material for installers, retailers and manufacturers. You can check it out here.