Electric Space Heating New Regulations Lot20
What is Lot 20?
From 1st January 2018, all local space heaters manufactured for sale in the EU which use electricity, gas or liquid fuels must comply with a minimum efficiency standard. The aim of this legislation is to remove inefficient technologies and reduce the energy used by the products that heat our homes, helping to achieve our overall carbon reduction targets.
Lot 20 will affect:
Storage heaters
Direct acting heaters
Portable heaters
Radiant heaters
Electric fires
Gas fires
Underfloor heating
Infra-red heaters
Lot 20 will not affect:
Local space heaters using a vapour compression cycle (heat pumps)
Local space heaters that are specified for outdoor use only
Sauna stoves
Slave heaters
Tubular heaters
Towel rails
Frost protection heaters
Air curtains
How does this affect me?
The Lot 20 regulation is a significant change in the electrical heating industry and will affect all members of the market, from manufacturers to end-users.
Non-compliant products will no longer be manufactured from January 2018, but can still be sold after that date until they are cleared through the market. This means that you will need to change the products that you buy, install and/or recommend as the new regulations come into the market during 2018.
To check if a heater is EcoDesign compliant, use the free Efficiency Calculator at www.lot20.co.uk/efficiency-calculator.
What does it mean to the installer?
From 1st January 2018 installers of electric space heaters will need to ensure that the products they install comply with Lot 20. So, don’t be caught out by suppliers selling off their old stock at discounted prices!
The key to driving the efficiency of local space heaters is through the use of intelligent controls. Installers will be in a good position to specify the latest energy efficient products, and by using smart technologies that can help reduce running costs will give their customers confidence that they have a better quality product.
It will also present an opportunity for installers to re-engage with previous customers to inform them of the new legislation, giving them an opportunity to upgrade to the latest compliant products.
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