In 2013, as part of the European Union, a new directive for Energy-related Products (ErP) was introduced in Bulgaria. This directive was adopted by the European Parliament in 2009 – 2009/125/EC. Covering all requirements for fans, motors, and electric engines with power from 125 W to 500 kW, the new energy efficiency standards for fans introduce the use of fans that are 30% more efficient, along with correspondingly more efficient motors. The regulation also has a second phase in 2015, when the standards became even stricter.
Why does this directive exist?!
The new standards are being introduced to support the obligations of EU member states in fulfilling the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. The directive has been applied to many products that use electricity, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, dishwashers, and air conditioners. All components in these appliances are tested, and the products receive an energy passport (certificate).
The directive will be implemented in two stages – ErP 2013 and ErP 2015. Fans are not considered as a single unit, but rather as a combination of an impeller/turbine and a motor. This allows manufacturers, in addition to replacing motors with more efficient ones, to reduce electricity consumption by improving the design of the impeller or turbine. The directive covers fans with directly coupled motors as well as those driven by a belt transmission.
According to ErP 2013 and 2015, fans that do not meet the minimum efficiency criteria will not be allowed to be sold in Europe after the directive comes into force. This ban applies not only to fans as standalone units, but also to any equipment in which they are built, including air handling units, energy-saving ventilation systems, and others.
Which fans does the directive cover?!
The ErP directive covers axial fans, centrifugal fans (with forward- and backward-curved blades), tangential fans, and all other fans with an electric power between 125 W and 500 kW. Fans are classified into categories according to their operation and efficiency. Each fan must have a new chart with data on its power consumption and how it meets the required energy efficiency according to the ErP 2013 or ErP 2015 standard. The directive does not cover explosion-proof fans EX – “ATEX”.
How is efficiency calculated?!
The energy efficiency of each fan is calculated based on the ratio between the electrical power input and the air power output.
The changes in this directive will affect all fan manufacturers worldwide. The production process and new technologies require the replacement of manufacturing equipment, which will naturally lead to an increase in the prices of end products. All major manufacturers in Europe have already begun work on modifying their AC motors, and the use of electronically commutated DC motors – the so-called EC motors – has also become increasingly common.
In this regard, the company “TANGRA” would like to inform its customers that the centrifugal fans ARM, ART, TAM, and TAT will undergo a price increase in April. The alignment of Bulgarian and European standards under Directive 2009/125/EC is mandatory, and since TANGRA’s products are sold in more than 15 European countries, we must comply with these requirements.
