S.I. No. 483/2004 - European Communities (Energy Labelling of Household Electric Refrigerators and Freezers) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

1. Household refrigerators, without low temperature compartments.

2. Household refrigerator/chillers, with compartments at 5 °C and/or 10 °C.

3. Household refrigerators, with no-star low temperature compartments.

4. Household refrigerators, with low temperature compartments*.

5. Household refrigerators, with low temperature compartments**.

6. Household refrigerators, with low temperature compartments***.

7. Household refrigerator/freezers, with low temperature compartments*(***).

8. Household food freezers, upright.

9. Household food freezers, chest.

10. Household refrigerators and freezers with more than two doors, or other appliances not covered above.

SCHEDULE 5

ENERGY EFFICIENCY CLASS

Part 1

Definitions of Classes A+ and A++

An appliance shall be classified as A+ or A++, where the energy efficiency index alpha (I

α

) is within the ranges specified in Table 1.

Table 1

Energy Efficiency index

α

(I

α

)

‘energy efficiency class’

30 > I

α

A++

42 > I

α

≥30

A+

I

α

≥42

A to G (see below)

In Table 1

Where

AC = annual energy consumption of appliance (in accordance with Schedule I, note V).

SCα = standard annual energy consumption α of appliance

SCα is calculated as

Where

Vc is the net volume (in litres) of the compartment

(in accordance with standards referred to in Article 1 (2))

Tc is the design temperature (in °C) of the compartment

The values of M

α

and N

α

are given in Table 2 and the values of FF, CC, BI and CH are given in Table 3

Table 2

Type of appliance

Temperature of coldest compartment

M

α

N

α

1 Larder Fridge

>-6°C

0.233

245

2 Refrigerator/chiller

>-6°C

0.233

245

3 Refrigerator no star

>-6°C

0.233

245

4 Refrigerator *

≤-6°C *

0.643

191

5 Refrigerator **

≤-12°C **

0.450

245

6 Refrigerator ***/

≤-18°C ***/ *(***)

0.777

303

7 Fridge-freezer*(***)

≤-18°C ***/ *(***)

0.777

303

8 Upright freezer

≤-18°C *(***)

0.539

315

9 Chest freezer

≤-18°C *(***)

0.472

286

10 Multi-door or other appliance

(

†

)

(

†

)

Table 3

Correction Factor

Value

Condition

FF

1.2

For ‘frost free’ (ventilated) frozen food compartments

(frost free)

1

Otherwise

CC

1.2

For ‘Tropical’ appliances

(climate class)

1.1

For ‘sub-Tropical’ appliances

1

Otherwise

BI

1.2

For built in appliances‡

of under 58 cm in width.

(built in)

1

Otherwise

CH (chill compartment)

50 Kwh/y

For appliances with a chill compartment of at least 15 litres

0

Otherwise

If an appliance is not A+ or A++, it shall be classified in accordance with the following part 2

Part 2

Definitions of Classes A to G

The energy efficiency class of an appliance shall be determined in accordance with the following Table 1:—

TABLE 1

Energy efficiency index 1

Energy efficiency class

<= 1 < 55

A

55 <= 1 < 75

B

75 <= 1 < 90

C

90 <= 1 < 100

D

100 <= 1 < 110

E

110 <= 1 < 125

F

125 <= 1

G

where

‘energy efficiency index’ (expressed as a percentage) = annual energy consumption of appliance

(1)

/(standard annual energy consumption of appliance

‘standard annual energy consumption of appliance’ (expressed in kWh/year = M x adjusted net volume + N

and

adjusted net volume (expressed in litres) = net volume of fresh food compartment + Ω x net volume of frozen food compartment.

(1)

In accordance with Schedule 1, note 2.V.

The values of M, N and Ω are taken from Table 2.

TABLE 2

Class of appliance

Ω

M

N

1 Larder fridge

—

0.233

245

2 Refrigerator/chiller

0.75

(1)

0.233

245

3 Refrigerator no star

1.25

0.233

245

4 Refrigerator*

1.55

0.643

191

5 Refrigerator**

1.85

0.450

245

6 Refrigerator***

2.15

0.657

235

7 Fridge/freezer*(***)

(3)

0.777

303

8 Upright freezer

2.15

(2)

0.472

286

9 Chest freezer

2.15

(2)

0.446

181

10 Multi-door or other appliances

(3)

(4)

(4)

(1)

For refrigerator/chillers the adjusted volume = net volume of fresh food compartment + Ω x net volume of chiller (10°C) compartment (expressed in litres).

(2)

For ‘no frost’ appliances as defined in Schedule 2, point 10, this index is increased by a provisional factor of 1.2, giving a value of 2.58. (This allows for the possible bias of the measurement method, which does not allow for the lack of ice build up on ‘no frost’ appliances. In practical use ice build up will somewhat increase the consumption of ‘conventional’ appliances).

(3)

Adjusted net volume AV is calculated by the formula:—

all compartments

Where Tc is design temperature (in °C) of each compartment, Vc is the net volume (in litres) of each compartment, and Fc is a factor which equals 1.2 for ‘no frost’ compartments and 1 for other compartments.

(4)

For these appliances the values of M and N will be determined by the temperature and star rating of the compartment with the lowest temperature, as follows:—

TABLE 3

Temperature of coldest compartment

Equivalent class

M

N

> - 6°C

½/3/ Larder fridge/no star

0.233

245

refrigerator/refrigerator chiller

<= - 6°C*

4 Refrigerator (*)

0.643

191

<= - 12°C**

5 Refrigerator (**)

0.450

245

<= - 18°C***

6 Refrigerator (***)

0.657

235

<= - 18°C*(***)

with freezing capacity

7 Fridge/freezer*(***)

0.777

303.”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

20

th

July 2004.

DERMOT AHERN

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The purpose of the Regulations is to give legal effect to Commission Directive 2003/66/EC of 3 July 2003 which amends Commission Directive 94/2/EC of 21 January 1994 and Council Directive 92/75/EEC of 22 September 1992 in so far as it relates to household electric refrigerators, freezers and their combinations.

The effect of Directive 2003/66/EC is to divide the existing energy efficiency rating category of A on energy labels required to be affixed to household refrigeration appliances displayed for sale, into 3 new categories (A, A+ and A++).

These Regulations which amend the EC (Energy Labelling of Household Electric Refrigerators and Freezers) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 122 of 1995-the “Principal Regulations”) come into operation on 20 July 2004 and apply to electric mains operated household refrigerators, frozen food storage cabinets, food freezers and their combinations. Appliances that may also use other energy sources such as batteries, used appliances and appliances of which production has ceased before 30 June 2004 are excluded.

Where a person offers an appliance for sale by way of a communication (as defined in Regulation 3 of the Principal Regulations as amended), that person is required by Regulation 6 of the Principal Regulations as amended to provide essential information to the potential purchaser as set out in Schedule 3. The maximum penalty for a summary offence is being increased from £1,500 to €3,000 in line with current maxima of summary offences.

1

O.J. No. L170, 9.7.03, p10

2

O.J. No. L45, 17.2.94, p.1

1

O.J. No. L170, 9.7.03, p10

3

O.J. No. L204, 21. 7.98, p. 37

(1)

O.J. No. L99, 11.4.1992, P.1.

(

†

For these appliances, the temperature and star rating of the compartment with the lowest temperature will determine the values of M and N. Appliances with -18°C *(***) compartments shall be considered as Fridgefreezers *(***).

(

†

For these appliances, the temperature and star rating of the compartment with the lowest temperature will determine the values of M and N. Appliances with -18°C *(***) compartments shall be considered as Fridgefreezers *(***).

‡

An appliance is ‘built in’ only if it is designed exclusively for installation within a kitchen cavity with a need of furniture finishing, and tested as such.

11. ‘Power cut safe Zh’ defined as ‘temperature rise time’ in accordance with the harmonised standards.

12. ‘Freezing capacity’ in kg/24 h in accordance with the harmonised standards.

13. ‘Climate class’ in accordance with the harmonised standards. Where appliance is of ‘temperate’ climate class this may be omitted.

14. The giving of information relating to noise shall apply only where that information is required under Article 3 of Directive 86/594/EEC.

15. If the model is produced in order to be built-in, this should be stated.

Where applicable, noise measured in accordance with Directive 86/594/EEC. Where an appliance contains compartments other than a single fresh food compartment and a single frozen food compartment, extra lines may be added at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 to include the information in respect of these compartments. In this case the naming and order of listing of the compartments shall be consistent. Where the design temperature of a compartment does not conform to the star rating system, or the standard fresh food compartment temperature (5°C), this design temperature shall be given.

The information contained in the label may be given in the form of a copy of the label, either in colour or in black and white. In this case the further information given only in the fiche must still be included.

SCHEDULE 3

MAIL ORDER AND OTHER DISTANCE SELLING

Mail order catalogues and other printed communications referred to by Article 2 (5) of the Directive shall contain the following information, given in the order specified

S.I. No. 483 of 2004

European Communities (Energy Labelling of Household Electric Refrigerators and Freezers) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

I, Dermot Ahern, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 3

of the

European Communities Act 1972

(No. 27 of 1972), and for the purpose of giving effect to Commission Directive 2003/66/EC of 3 July 2003

1

, hereby make the following regulations