Partner organisation MCS presents its regular column for REI
Opinion
Energy-related
Product Labelling
Kelly Butler, marketing director at BEAMA, reminds readers
of the legal implications of this year’s ErP introduction
From September 26 2015, new boilers, heat pumps and water heaters need to display
a label to show their energy performance. A mandatory energy label is being launched
that grades product performance from A+++ to G (with A+++ being the highest
performing product).
In addition to this ‘product label’, a package label will also be needed for
packages (http://www.centralheating.co.uk/energy-labelling/Packages), i.e. when
heating products are installed.
Heating installers, merchants, manufacturers and importers of space and water
heaters will be affected.
• Heating installers are often the ones who sell heating products to the end
customer. This means that they take on labelling responsibilities as the ‘dealer’
which include displaying the labels to their customers. Installers will also be
legally required to produce a ‘package label’ when selling certain combinations
of heating equipment to customers. This can be as simple as ¿tting a room
thermostat with a boiler, and as this is required under the UK building regulations
it could mean that you need to produce a package label eYery time you ¿t a boiler.
• Merchants or other retailers of heating products will also take on labelling
responsibilities as the ‘dealer’ but only when they are selling to end customers.
This will mean that they are required to display the labels with space heaters and
to produce a ‘package label’ if they sell space heaters to an end customer along
with other items of heating equipment such as a separate temperature control.
• Manufacturers of heating controls will need to indicate the ‘product class’ of any
temperature controls they place on the market so that they can be incorporated
into a ‘package label’.
• Importers of space heaters will take on the responsibilities of ‘suppliers’ which
means that they need to produce the product label. This requirement is not limited
to manufacturers but to anyone who places the product on the market.
For further guidance, including a glossary of terms, FAQs, and your responsibilities as
an installer, distributor or manufacturer, please visit http://www.centralheating.co.uk/
energy-labelling
BEAMA has worked with the HHIC and the Hot Water Association to develop the
de¿nitive industry information site, go to www.energylabelling.co.uk.
10 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
As I write this column, the announcement
has come through from DECC of another
degression in the domestic RHI biomass tariff,
coming into effect 1 April 2015. I understand
that there is a fixed budget and that the
uptake for biomass has been dramatically
increased, but it seems a huge shame to
‘punish’ the technology which has been the
most popular choice for householders. It is
also true to say that the inevitable ‘frenzy’
which came after the last announcement
of the January degression has undoubtedly
been the major factor in the next degression
and exceeding the super trigger point.
The options for those requiring high
temperature devices in buildings where
improving insulation and air tightness are
both disruptive and expensive, are few. I
do hope that we don’t cut off the options of
renewable heat to some of those who have
suffered from some of the most challenging
circumstances over the last few years.
Let us also hope that we see a marked
uptake in some of the other technologies
where the RHI has been less effective. There
should be opportunities for all of them if
householders choose the most appropriate
solutions for their individual requirements.
Perhaps the introduction of third party
finance options will open a few doors, if there
is a successful conclusion to the current
consultation? We have a cracking range of
products in all the RHI technology groups and
we are proud of our service offer to our valued
customers. Some of the latest developments
will undoubtedly increase the potential for
more widespread and different applications.