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Published on 21 February 2019 13:10

Lot20: A Lot of Questions

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Key Learning outcomes
  • Understand what the ECODESIGN Directive is and its aim.
  • Understand which products in the electric heating sector are affected by Lot20.
  • Learn what the Lot20 compliance criteria contains.
  • Understand how Lot20 affect manufacturers and consumers.
Energy efficiency is the main topic on the minds of both electric space heating manufacturers and installers, as well as architects and engineers that specify these products and the final consumer. When you consider that in EU households, heating and hot water alone account for 79% of total final energy use, you begin to understand that these products generate an environmental impact that we all want to reduce.

With so much energy used across the continent, it´s not surprising to see new regulations in force to ensure manufacturers comply with the same set of rules to achieve a common objective: a reduction in energy consumption.

Do you know about the ECODESIGN Directive (EED 2015/1188) and the Lot20 legislation? Delve deeper into the facts that define Lot20 here, as we answer frequently asked questions.

1.0 What is the ECODESIGN Directive and Lot20?

Within the heating industry, not all products have the same level of performance nor are they manufactured to the same efficiency or eco-friendly design criteria. The ECODESIGN Directive is the European Commission’s new legislative change for energy consuming products. Its main aim is to ensure a reduction in energy consumption, by making manufacturers produce more energy efficient products. Thanks to these new regulations, poorly designed or inefficient products will no longer be available on the market.

It is a framework put in place to help the European Union achieve its target to:
• Deliver 20% energy efficiency improvement by 2020.
• Lower carbon emissions by 20% by 2020.
• Increase the share of renewables by 20% by 2020.

Coming into force from 1st January 2018, the ECODESIGN Directive consists of different regulations for specific heating products. Each regulation is more commonly known as a “Lot”. Products that have similar functionality or purpose are grouped together into one “Lot” and each has its own set of specific rules. There are 37 regulations in total, therefore 37 “Lots”. Electric space heating is defined in Lot20, which concerns local space heaters, including those with solid fuel. Space heaters (or local heaters) are appliances used to heat a single area in which they are located. They are powered by consuming electricity or a burnable fuel such as gas, propane, fuel oil or wood pellets.

These new requirements aim to regulate an industry where previously, information may have been blurred, confusing or at least hidden under layers of legalistic language. The National Measurement and Regulation Office carries out the enforcement of Lot20 through product testing and market observation. Going forward the eco-friendly design of electric space heating products and their efficiencies will be graded by one common clear regulatory standard across Europe, the Lot20 regulation.

In a nutshell, Lot20 aims to reduce the environmental impact of energy consuming products (like electric space heating) by improving their design and performance.
ECODESIGN Directive.
ECODESIGN Directive.
 
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