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The ErP Directive For Ventilation units

Raising efficiency and lowering energy consumption: To achieve these aims in ventilation units, regulations 1253/2014 and 1254/2014 came into force on 1 January 2016 as part of the ErP Directive. On 1 January 2018 these regulations will be further strengthened.

Differentiation into three categories.

The regulations are relevant for ventilation units with electrical power consumption of more than 30 W. They are divided into three categories according to air flow rate:

  • Up to 250 m³/h air flow: Residential ventilation units (1254/2014)
  • Between 250 and 1,000 m³/h air flow: Ventilation units for residential and non-residential buildings.
  • Above 1,000 m³/h air flow: Ventilation units for non-residential buildings (1253/2014)

Above 1,000 m³/h air flow, the Directive differentiates between simple air supply or air exhaust units and units that combine both functions.

Differentiation into one-way and two-way ventilation units

One-way ventilation units (ELA)

To achieve particularly efficient operation, since 1 January 2016, one-way ventilation units (ELA) must have a speed control system or a multiple speed drive.

This ensures that the power consumption is adjusted as precisely as possible to actual requirements.

Two-way ventilation units (ZLA)

Since two-way ventilation units have a supply fan and an exhaust fan, the requirements for this category are defined differently. However, in the same way as ELAs, since 1 January 2016 these systems have also had to have a multiple speed drive in order to improve efficiency. Furthermore, a defined SFPint value must also be complied with, which is calculated individually for each air flow and then aggregated. The sum must not exceed the specified threshold.

Exceptions prove the rule

The new regulations do not however apply to the following ventilation units:

  • Ventilation units with one or more independent fans and electricity consumption of below 30 W.
  • Axial or centrifugal fans that are only equipped with a housing.
  • Ventilation units that are designed solely for emergency operation.
  • Ventilation units that operate with an air flow temperature of over 100 °C.
  • Ventilation units with the ambient temperature of the motor (outside the air flow) of over 65 °C.
  • Ventilation units where the air flow temperature or the ambient temperature of the drive motor (where this is outside the air flow) is below -40 °C.
  • Ventilation units where the supply voltage is greater than 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC.
  • Ventilation units operating in toxic, highly corrosive or flammable environments.
  • Ventilation units classed as kitchen appliance hoods.
  • Ventilation units operating in process air, e.g. machine exhaust air, server rooms, data centres, agricultural applications, foundries, halls with industrial furnaces, paper production, commercial kitchens, recirculation units in clean rooms, swimming pools etc.

Safe as houses with Lossnay

No question: The new regulations represent a sensible step forward in terms of environmental protection and energy efficiency. However, changes and new rules create more work for planners and installers. It’s good then that you can rely on Lossnay products to provide solutions that meet the ErP Directive and can therefore be installed with total confidence.

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