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Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 626/2011 of 4 May 2011 supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of air conditioners

EU Regulation No 626/2011 · Adopted 4 May 2011 · Extends to United Kingdom

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise this item, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 626/2011

of 4 May 2011

supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of air conditioners

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2010/30/EU of 19 May 2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources energy-related productsf1, and in particular Article 10 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Directive 2010/30/EU requires the Commission to adopt delegated acts as regards the labelling of energy-related products representing significant potential for energy savings and having a wide disparity in performance levels with equivalent functionality.

(2)

Provisions for the energy labelling of air conditioners were established by Commission Directive 2002/31/EC of 22 March 2002 implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling of household air-conditionersf2. The implementing Directive establishes different labelling scales for air conditioners using different technologies and the determination of energy efficiency is based on full load operation only.

(3)

The electricity used by air conditioners accounts for a significant part of total household and commercial electricity demand in the Union. In addition to the energy efficiency improvements already achieved, the scope for further reducing the energy consumption of air conditioners is substantial.

(4)

Directive 2002/31/EC should be repealed and new provisions should be laid down by this Regulation in order to ensure that the energy label provides dynamic incentives for manufacturers to further improve the energy efficiency of air conditioners and to accelerate the market transformation towards energy-efficient technologies.

(5)

The provisions of this Regulation should apply to air-to-air air conditioners up to 12 kW cooling power output (or heating power output, if only heating function is provided).

(6)

Technological developments in the energy efficiency improvement of air conditioners have been very rapid in recent years. This has allowed several third-countries to introduce stringent minimum energy efficiency requirements and led to a process of introducing new energy labelling schemes based on seasonal performance. Today's appliances, excluding single and double duct air conditioners, that achieve the highest efficiency levels have largely surpassed the A efficiency levels established by Directive 2002/31/EC.

(7)

This Regulation introduces two energy efficiency scales based on the primary function and on specific aspects important to consumer. Given that air conditioners are used mainly in part-load conditions, the efficiency testing should be changed to a seasonal efficiency measurement method, except for single and double duct air conditioners. The seasonal measurement method takes better into account the benefits of the inverter driven technology and the conditions in which these appliances are used. The new efficiency calculation method with an Ecodesign implementing measure setting minimum energy efficiency requirements higher than the current A level, will lead to a reclassification of these appliances. Consequently, split, window and wall air conditioners should have a new A-G energy efficiency class scale with a ‘+’ added on the top of the scale every two years until the A+++ class has been reached.

(8)

For double duct and single duct air conditioners, steady-state energy efficiency performance indicators should continue to be applied, as there are currently no inverter units on the market. As no reclassification of these appliances is appropriate, single and double duct air conditioners should have an A+++-D scale. While these, inherently less efficient than split appliances, can go only up to an A+ energy efficiency class in a scale of A+++-D, the more efficient split appliances can reach up to the A+++ energy efficiency class.

(9)

This Regulation should ensure that consumers get more accurate comparative information about the performance of air conditioners.

(10)

The combined effect of energy labeling set out in this Regulation and of Regulation implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for air conditionersf3 is expected to result in annual electricity savings of 11 TWh by 2020, compared to the situation if no measures are taken.

(11)

The noise level of an air conditioner could be an important aspect for end-users. In order to enable them to make an informed decision, information on noise emissions should be included on the label of air conditioners.

(12)

The information provided on the label should be obtained through reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement procedures, which take into account the recognised state of the art measurement methods including, where available, harmonised standards adopted by the European standardisation bodies, as listed in Annex I to Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulationsf4.

(13)

This Regulation should specify a uniform design and requirements as to the content of labels for air conditioners.

(14)

In addition, this Regulation should specify requirements as to the technical documentation and the fiche for air conditioners.

(15)

Moreover, this Regulation should specify requirements as to the information to be provided for any form of distance selling, advertisements and technical promotional material of air conditioners.

(16)

It is appropriate to provide for a review of the provisions of this Regulation taking into account technological progress.

(17)

In order to facilitate the transition from Directive 2002/31/EC to this Regulation, air conditioners labelled in accordance with this Regulation should be considered compliant with Directive 2002/31/EC.

(18)

Suppliers wishing to place on the market air conditioners that can meet the requirements for higher energy efficiency classes should be allowed to provide labels showing those classes in advance of the date for mandatory display of such classes.

(19)

Directive 2002/31/EC should therefore be repealed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

OJ L 153, 18.6.2010, p. 1.

f2

OJ L 86, 3.4.2002, p. 26.

f3

Not yet adopted.

f4

OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37.

Contents

  1. 1Subject matter and scope
  2. 2Definitions
  3. 3Responsibilities of suppliers
  4. 4Responsibilities of dealers
  5. 5Measurement methods
  6. 6Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes
  7. 7Revision Repealed
  8. 8Repeal
  9. 9Transitional provision
  10. 10Entry into force and application
  11. Signature
  12. Annex IDefinitions applicable for the purposes of Annexes II to VII
  13. Annex II: Energy efficiency classes
  14. 1The energy efficiency of air conditioners shall be determined on the basis of measurements and calculations set out Annex VII.
  15. Annex III: The label
  16. LABEL OF AIR CONDITIONERS, EXCEPT SINGLE DUCT AND DOUBLE DUCT AIR CONDITIONERS
  17. 1.1Reversible air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A to G
  18. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  19. (b)Division (b)
  20. 1.2Reversible air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+ to F
  21. (a)Division (a)
  22. (b)Division (b)
  23. 1.3Reversible air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A++ to E
  24. (a)Division (a)
  25. (b)Division (b)
  26. 1.4Reversible air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  27. (a)Division (a)
  28. (b)Division (b)
  29. 1.5Label design
  30. LABEL OF AIR CONDITIONERS, EXCEPT SINGLE DUCT AND DOUBLE DUCT AIR CONDITIONERS
  31. 2.1Cooling-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A to G
  32. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  33. (b)Division (b)
  34. 2.2Cooling-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+ to F
  35. (a)Division (a)
  36. (b)Division (b)
  37. 2.3Cooling-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A++ to E
  38. (a)Division (a)
  39. (b)Division (b)
  40. 2.4Cooling-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  41. (a)Division (a)
  42. (b)Division (b)
  43. 2.5Label design
  44. LABEL OF AIR CONDITIONERS, EXCEPT SINGLE DUCT AND DOUBLE DUCT AIR CONDITIONERS
  45. 3.1Heating-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A to G
  46. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  47. (b)Division (b)
  48. 3.2Heating-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+ to F
  49. (a)Division (a)
  50. (b)Division (b)
  51. 3.3Heating-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A++ to E
  52. (a)Division (a)
  53. (b)Division (b)
  54. 3.4Heating-only air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  55. (a)Division (a)
  56. (b)Division (b)
  57. 3.5Label design
  58. LABEL OF DOUBLE DUCT AIR CONDITIONERS
  59. 4.1Reversible double duct air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  60. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  61. (b)Division (b)
  62. 4.2Label Design
  63. 4.3Cooling-only double duct air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  64. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  65. (b)Division (b)
  66. 4.4Label Design
  67. 4.5Heating-only double duct air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  68. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  69. (b)Division (b)
  70. 4.6Label Design
  71. LABEL OF SINGLE DUCT AIR CONDITIONERS
  72. 5.1Reversible single duct air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  73. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  74. (b)Division (b)
  75. 5.2Label Design
  76. 5.3Cooling-only single duct air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  77. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  78. (b)Division (b)
  79. 5.4Label Design
  80. 5.5Heating-only single duct air conditioners classified in energy efficiency classes A+++ to D
  81. (a)The following information shall be included in the label:
  82. (b)Division (b)
  83. 5.6Label Design
  84. Annex IV: Product fiche
  85. 1The information in the product fiche shall be given in the order specified below:
  86. 2Additionally, the following information shall be included in the product fiche on air conditioners on the cooling mode, when efficiency is declared on the basis of the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER):
  87. 3Additionally, the following notes define the information to be included in the fiche on the heating mode, when efficiency is declared on the basis of seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP):
  88. 4Additionally, the following notes define the information to be included in the fiche of air conditioners, when efficiency is declared on the basis of energy efficiency ratio (EERrated) or coefficient of performance (COPrated):
  89. 5Division 5
  90. 6Division 6
  91. Annex VTechnical documentation
  92. Annex VI: Information to be provided in the cases where end-users cannot be expected to see the product displayed
  93. 1The information referred to in Article 4(b) shall be provided in the following order:
  94. 2Division 2
  95. 3Division 3
  96. Annex VIIMeasurements and calculations
  97. 1Division 1
  98. 2The determination of the seasonal energy consumption and seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) shall take into account:
  99. 3Division 3
  100. 4Division 4
  101. 5Division 5
  102. Annex VIIIProduct compliance verification by market surveillance authorities
  103. Annex IX: Information to be provided in the case of sale, hire or hire-purchase through the internet
  104. (1)For the purpose of points 2 to 5 of this Annex the following definitions shall apply:
  105. (2)Division (2)
  106. (3)The image used for accessing the label in the case of nested display shall:
  107. (4)In the case of nested display, the sequence of display of the label shall be as follows:
  108. (5)Division (5)