Ecodesign requirements for local space heaters (GEN – 1469.00)

27 March 2023

GEN – 1469.00. On 21 March 2023 the European Commission opened the feedback period on the draft Ecodesign new Regulation for local space heaters. EU Citizens can submit comments until 18 April 2023.

On 21 March 2023 the European Commission opened the feedback period on the draft Ecodesign new Regulation for local space heaters. EU Citizens can submit comments until 18 April 2023 on the “Have your say” webpage

Context and schedule

In 2015, the EU adopted an Ecodesign measure on local space heaters that set minimum energy efficiency requirements. The measure came into effect in 2018 and is supported by an energy labelling measure.

This initiative will review the measure in light of technological progress and circular economy objectives, the draft act is open for feedback for 4 weeks and feedback will be taken into account for finalising this initiative.

Even if the adoption of the new Regulation is planned for the second quarter of 2023 as reported on the “Have your say” webpage, it is more likely that the process will be concluded by the end of 2023.

The new Regulation should apply from 1 July 2025.

Scope and main contents

The draft regulation lays down Ecodesign requirements for placing on the market and putting into service of domestic local space heaters with a nominal heat output of 50 kW or less and commercial local space heaters with a nominal heat output of the product or a single tube segment heat output of 300 kW or less.

Local space heaters are defined as: “device equipped with one or more heat generators to convert electricity or gaseous or liquid fuels directly into heat transfer. This contributes to a certain level of thermal comfort for human beings in the enclosed space in which it is situated by direct heat transfer, possibly combined with heat output to other spaces or with heat transfer to a fluid.”

Commercial local space heater means “either a luminous local space heater or a tube local space heater.”

Annex II establishes the Ecodesign requirements in terms of seasonal space heating efficiency, emissions for liquid and gaseous fuel local space heaters, low power modes, product information requirements and resource efficiency requirements concerning the availability and delivery of spare parts, that shall be ensured within 15 working days after having received the order.

Resource efficiency

It is worth noting that within Annex IV, Transitional Methods, four CEN standards are reported concerning the disassembly, recyclability and recoverability of materials.

Recommended actions

Interested Members are invited to assess the draft act and submit comments via the “Have your say” webpage