Since 2013 Ecodesign and Energy Label measures are in place for Central Heating Boilers (CHB). The Ecodesign-scope includes gas- and oil-fired boilers, electric resistance boilers and electric or gas-fired hydronic heat pumps with power output ≤400 kW (≤70 kW for the Energy Label) as well as cogeneration boilers producing both heat and electricity having a maximum electric output ≤50 kW.
Solid fuel or biomass boilers, central air heaters and local space heaters are excluded here but addressed through other Ecodesign and Labelling measures. District heating end-use equipment as well as very large, typically custom-made CH-boilers are excluded because they are outside the scope of the Ecodesign Directive. The Ecodesign and Labelling measures rate the space heating performance. If the boiler also provides sanitary hot water (‘combi-boiler’), that functionality is rated separately to make them comparable to the Ecodesign-rating of dedicated water heaters for which there are separate regulations.
Ecodesign introduced –for the first time– the space heating performance rating not only of single boilers, but also of boiler-packages with possibly a series of boilers (‘cascades’), multiple boiler-technologies (‘hybrids’ e.g. of conventional boiler and heat pump), thermal solar assistance and temperature control devices. This increases transparency for installers and consumers and promotes the use of these often more energy efficient but also more complex heating solutions.
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Scope
The following table shows some examples of products in scope and out of scope
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Check the complete list in the Regulation.
Ecodesign Requirements
The regulations set ecodesign requirements on:
- energy efficiency
- performance
- product information
Energy Label
A new space heater comes with an energy label showing its energy efficiency class. For individual products, ratings go from G (least efficient) to A++ (most efficient).
The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) offers more detailed information on models placed on the EU market. This can be accessed by scanning the QR code featured on the new energy labels. The database provides additional information such as the consumption in standby mode, panel technology, whether voice recognition, automatic brightness control and a room sensor are present, or the minimum duration of guarantee offered by the supplier.
Understanding the Space Heater Energy Label
Packages
Space and combination heaters include packages. A package of a space heater (or combination heater), temperature control and solar device means a package designed either by manufacturers or by installers containing a space heater possibly also containing a supplementary heater, indoor temperature controls and solar thermal panels. Packages in EPREL are offered by manufacturers. Components of packages are also registered in EPREL. Installers can also design packages on the basis of components available in EPREL.
Consult the Packages of Space heaters/Combination heaters in EPREL.
Consult space and combination heater package components: temperature controls, solar devices.
Highlights
Energy efficient household space and water heaters can save European consumers over €60 billion by 2020. For example, if your home is equipped with a conventional gas boiler using 20 MWh of energy per year, a new condensing gas boiler can save you €275 per year. A new boiler will pay back its original cost in just seven years while also reducing your energy consumption by more than 20%.
Energy efficient space and water heaters could save 600 TWh of electricity per year, avoiding the emission of 135 million tons of CO2.
Facts & Figures
This graphic shows the estimated sales, stock, energy consumption (primary, electric or fuel), greenhouse gas emissions, consumer expenses and business revenues for years 2010 and 2030. The estimated values inside the graph bars are those from the EIA ECO-scenario, they include the effects of ecodesign and energy labelling measures.
The difference with the business as usual (BAU) scenario without these estimated measures is shown next to the graph bar. These figures indicate the estimated savings obtained due to the measures.
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Product: Central Heating Combi, Space Heating Measures: Regulation (EU) 813/2013, Regulation (EU) 811/2013 |
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SALES (x1000 units)  |
STOCK (x1000 units)  |
Primary Energy (TWh/a)  |
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GHG-EMISSION  |
CONSUMER EXPENSES  |
REVENUES  |
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Expected Savings
More than half of the systems (51%) are medium-sized and meet e.g. the heat demand of an apartment in an older building. However, since energy consumption of these systems is also moderate, the total energy consumption of all M-sized systems accounts for only 29.4% of the total energy consumption of central heating. Most energy is consumed by systems of size 4XL (19.8% of total) and XL (18.9% of total) with related sales shares of respectively 0.6% and 9.8%. This phenomenon can be seen in all of the larger products: System sizes L to 4XL only have a 23.5% sales share, but consume 62.6% of the energy.
Share of Central Heating Products in Sales, Load and Energy Consumption
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Documents
Suppliers
Suppliers shall ensure that:
From 26 September 2015 suppliers placing space heaters on the market and/or putting them into service, including those integrated in packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device, shall ensure that:
(a) a printed label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 1.1 of Annex III is provided for each space heater conforming to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency classes set out in point 1 of Annex II, whereby: for heat pump space heaters, the printed label is provided at least in the packaging of the heat generator; for space heaters intended for use in packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device, a second label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 3 of Annex III is provided for each space heater;
(b) a product fiche, as set out in point 1 of Annex IV, is provided for each space heater, whereby: for heat pump space heaters, the product fiche is provided at least for the heat generator; for space heaters intended for use in packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device, a second fiche, as set out in point 5 of Annex IV, is provided;
(c) the technical documentation, as set out in point 1 of Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;
(d) any advertisement relating to a specific space heater model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(e) any technical promotional material concerning a specific space heater model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
From 26 September 2019 a printed label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 1.2 of Annex III shall be provided for each space heater conforming to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency classes set out in point 1 of Annex II, whereby: for heat pump space heaters, the printed label shall be provided at least in the packaging of the heat generator.
From 26 September 2015 suppliers placing combination heaters on the market and/or putting them into service, including those integrated in packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device, shall ensure that:
(a) a printed label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 2.1 of Annex III is provided for each combination heater conforming to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency classes and water heating energy efficiency classes set out in points 1 and 2 of Annex II, whereby: for heat pump combination heaters, the printed label is provided at least in the packaging of the heat generator; for combination heaters intended for use in packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device, a second label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 4 of Annex III is provided for each combination heater;
(b) a product fiche, as set out in point 2 of Annex IV, is provided for each combination heater, whereby: for heat pump combination heaters, the product fiche is provided at least for the heat generator; for combination heaters intended for use in packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device, a second fiche, as set out in point 6 of Annex IV, is provided;
(c) the technical documentation, as set out in point 2 of Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;
(d) any advertisement relating to a specific combination heater model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(e) any technical promotional material concerning a specific combination heater model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
From 26 September 2019 a printed label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 2.2 of Annex III shall be provided for each combination heater conforming to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency classes and water heating energy efficiency classes set out in points 1 and 2 of Annex II, whereby: for heat pump combination heaters, the printed label shall be provided at least in the packaging of the heat generator.
From 26 September 2015 suppliers placing temperature controls on the market and/or putting them into service shall ensure that:
(a) a product fiche, as set out in point 3 of Annex IV, is provided;
(b) the technical documentation, as set out in point 3 of Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission.
From 26 September 2015 suppliers placing solar devices on the market and/or putting them into service shall ensure that:
(a) a product fiche, as set out in point 4 of Annex IV, is provided;
(b) the technical documentation, as set out in point 4 of Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission.
From 26 September 2015 suppliers placing packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device on the market and/or putting them into service shall ensure that:
(a) a printed label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 3 of Annex III is provided for each package of space heater, temperature control and solar device conforming to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency classes set out in point 1 of Annex II;
(b) a product fiche, as set out in point 5 of Annex IV, is provided for each package of space heater, temperature control and solar device;
(c) the technical documentation, as set out in point 5 of Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;
(d) any advertisement relating to a specific package of space heater, temperature control and solar device model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(e) any technical promotional material concerning a specific package of space heater, temperature control and solar device model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
From 26 September 2015 suppliers placing packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device on the market and/or putting them into service shall ensure that:
(a) a printed label complying with the format and content of information set out in point 4 of Annex III is provided for each package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device conforming to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency classes and water heating energy efficiency classes set out in points 1 and 2 of Annex II;
(b) a product fiche, as set out in point 6 of Annex IV, is provided for each package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device;
(c) the technical documentation, as set out in point 6 of Annex V, is provided on request to the authorities of the Member States and to the Commission;
(d) any advertisement relating to a specific package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(e) any technical promotional material concerning a specific package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
Documents
Dealers
Dealers shall ensure that:
(a) each space heater, at the point of sale, bears the label provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 3(1), as set out in point 1 of Annex III, on the outside of the front of the appliance, in such a way as to be clearly visible;
(b) space heaters offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase, where the end-user cannot be expected to see the space heater displayed, are marketed with the information provided by the suppliers in accordance with point 1 of Annex VI;
(c) any advertisement relating to a specific space heater model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(d) any technical promotional material concerning a specific space heater model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
Retailers of combination heaters shall ensure that:
(a) each combination heater, at the point of sale, bears the label provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 3(2), as set out in point 2 of Annex III, on the outside of the front of the appliance, in such a way as to be clearly visible;
(b) combination heaters offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase, where the end-user cannot be expected to see the combination heater displayed, are marketed with the information provided by the suppliers in accordance with point 2 of Annex VI;
(c) any advertisement relating to a specific combination heater model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(d) any technical promotional material concerning a specific combination heater model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
Retailers of packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device shall ensure, based on the label and fiches provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 3(1), (3), (4) and (5), that:
(a) any offer for a specific package includes the seasonal space heating energy efficiency and the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class for that package under average, colder or warmer climate conditions, as applicable, by displaying with the package the label set out in point 3 of Annex III and providing the fiche set out in point 5 of Annex IV, duly filled in according to the characteristics of that package;
(b) packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase, where the end-user cannot be expected to see the package of space heater, temperature control and solar device displayed, are marketed with the information provided in accordance with point 3 of Annex VI;
(c) any advertisement relating to a specific package of space heater, temperature control and solar device model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(d) any technical promotional material concerning a specific package of space heater, temperature control and solar device model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
Retailers of packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device shall ensure, based on the label and fiches provided by suppliers in accordance with Article 3(2), (3), (4) and (6), that:
(a) any offer for a specific package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device includes the seasonal space heating energy efficiency, the water heating energy efficiency, the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and the water heating energy efficiency class for that package under average, colder or warmer climate conditions, as applicable, by displaying with the package the label set out in point 4 of Annex III and providing the fiche set out in point 6 of Annex IV, duly filled in according to the characteristics of that package;
(b) packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase, where the end-user cannot be expected to see the package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device displayed, are marketed with the information provided in accordance with point 4 of Annex VI;
(c) any advertisement relating to a specific package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device model and containing energy-related or price information includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model;
(d) any technical promotional material concerning a specific package of combination heater, temperature control and solar device model and describing its specific technical parameters includes a reference to the seasonal space heating energy efficiency class and water heating energy efficiency class under average climate conditions for that model.
Policy
Ongoing legislative work
Please check the ongoing initiatives on the Have your say portal.
Regulation (EU) 813/2013 of 2 August 2013 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for space heaters and combination heaters Text with EEA relevance.
Regulation (EU) 811/2013 of 18 February 2013 supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the energy labelling of space heaters, combination heaters, packages of space heater, temperature control and solar device and packages of combination heater, temperature control and solar device Text with EEA relevance.
Disclaimer: please pay attention to possible updates/changes as indicated in the Official Journal (green dot)