Installers are being warned by Heatrae Sadia that they must stay up-to-date with upcoming changes to the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations (ERP) to ensure they choose compliant products.
The ERP will enter its next phase on September 26, 2017. From this point onwards, the minimum rating for standard size domestic direct water heaters will be C, or B for size 3XS and 2XS units.
This means that manufacturers will no longer be allowed to introduce models beneath this efficiency level into the market, although merchants will be able to sell remaining stock that is compliant with the current regulation requirements through.
The energy label itself will also be changing to encompass a new A+ rating, while the G band will be removed. Although the colours associated with each rating will change, the actual efficiency parameters per band will stay the same.
Heatrae Sadia is warning that for installers, it’s worth paying close attention to how these energy ratings have been calculated, to ensure they work in practice.
For example, it’s not unheard of for manufacturers to rate a unit based on a test conducted when the unit is only partially heated, or when the water is only heated to a relatively low temperature, which would not actually be the temperature required in practice. By checking through the technical fiche of a product, installers can feel confident that they are choosing a unit which genuinely reaches the rating advertised.
Alan Clarke, technical support manager, said: “As we approach the latest phase of ErP, it’s vital that installers stay up-to-date with upcoming changes to ensure they choose compliant products.
“While the energy label is a helpful starting point, it is by no means infallible, and it is important that installers refer to the technical fiche – which is required by ErP Energy Labelling regulations – in order to determine whether a product will reach the necessary level of performance when it is in-situ.”