What is Lot 20?

Electric heating must be EcoDesign compliant or Lot 20 controls legal from January 2018.

What is EcoDesign Lot 20?

EcoDesign complaint heating controls. Technincally known as Lot 20 is one of a number of "product lots" which are part of the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive (EED 2015/1188), Other product lots include changes we have already seen to light bulbs, washing machines and televisions.

“All local space heaters manufactured for sale in the EU after 1st January 2018 which use electricity, gaseous or liquid fuels, must comply with a minimum efficiency standard. This includes electric radiators, electric underfloor heating and electric and gas fires.”

What about Brexit?

Even with our current path to leave the European Union Britain has already signed up for this directive.

What does this mean?

Very basically… From 1^st January 2018 all local space heaters manufactured in the EU must meet a minimum efficiency standard, this essentially means all heaters will have to incorporate intelligent room temperature controls to minimise wasted energy.

What is a local space heater?

Local room or space heating products are defined as appliances that provide heat to indoor spaces.

What are intelligent controls?

Intelligent controls managing the running times of your heater will incorporate three key features.

24 hour or 7 day Timer Control. This could be an integral programmer or wireless through a smartphone app with WIFI connectivity.
Thermostatic Control. Accurate room temperature measurement by an electronic thermostat.
Smart Delayed Start Control. Open door or window recognition technology reduces wasted energy when a thermostat detects a drop in temperature the heater will choose when to provide heat.

Why the change?

The EU commission has recognised the lack of efficient controls on electric heating is contributing to wasted energy in the form of heat, this directive is a huge drive to minimise that wasted energy to meet our carbon reduction targets. Half of the energy used in our homes is used in the form of heat so it’s quite easy to see how much of a difference this could make across the European Union.

Who is responsible?

Re-sellers and installers of electric space heaters will have to ensure any heaters they sell or fit comply with Lot 20 from 1^st January 2018

How will this affect me?

To the consumer this is going to affect prices quite dramatically especially on the lower value products where the cost of additional controls aren’t so easily absorbed. Price increases aren’t likely to kick in immediately as this initially effects manufacturing and not sales. Wholesalers are already stock piling products in anticipation of the rising cost.

This is a huge shake up for the manufacturing industry, big brands such as Dimplex, Nobo, Creda are having to redesign their entire product portfolio.

Does this effect all heaters?

Lot 20 does not effect towel rails and tubular heaters. Some heaters are already Lot 20 compliant, take for example the Dimplex Quantum storage heater or Qrad Radiator these incorporate “Eco Start” technology which prevent the heater immediately kicking in when a drop in temperature is recorded, such as an open window or door.

Please see our Dimplex and Creda product conversion tables to reference the old part number to the new.

Lot 20 Ecodesign Compliant Electric Heating

Dimplex Quantum Storage Heaters

Dimplex Qrad Radiators

Dimplex LST Panel Heaters

DImplex PLXE panel heaters to replace the old PLX range

Dimplex XLE Storage Heaters to replace the DuoHeat, CXLS and XLS auto/ combi heaters

Dimplex Monterey MFPE Panel Heaters to replace the old Monterey

Dimplex Girona GFPE Panel Heaters to replace the old Girona

Dimplex Saletto LPPE Panel Heaters to replace the old Saletto

Dimplex BPH100G or BPH100M to replace the old Dimplex Apollo

What is the future?