Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1834 of 3 July 2024 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 327/2011

Article 1

Subject matter and scope

This Regulation shall not apply to:

(a) fan impellers mounted on the shaft of electric motors with the sole purpose of cooling the motor itself;

(b) fans integrated into laundry and washer-dryers with maximum electric input power lower than or equal to 3 kW;

(c) fans integrated into kitchen hoods with total maximum electric input power attributable to the fan(s) lower than 280 W;

(d) fans with a best energy efficiency point at 8 000 revolutions per minute or more;

(e) jet fans with maximum electric input power lower than 750 W;

This Regulation shall not apply to fans that are specified to operate exclusively as follows and are specifically designed and marketed as such:

(a) in potentially explosive atmospheres, as defined in Article 2, point (5), of Directive 2014/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (¹);

(b) for emergency use only, with regard to fire safety requirements as set out in Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (²), capable of short-time duty operation of 1 hour or more at temperatures of 300 ^oC and above;

(c) in nuclear installations, as defined in Article 3, point (1), of Council Directive 2009/71/Euratom (³);

(d) in military establishments (bunkers) and civil defence establishments (bomb shelters);

(e) where operating temperatures of the gas being moved can be higher than 100 °C, or lower than – 40 °C, or both;

(f) where operating ambient air temperatures for the motor driving the fan, if located outside the gas stream, can be higher than 60 °C, or lower than – 30 °C, or both;

(g) with a supply voltage higher than 1 000 V AC or higher than 1 500 V DC;

(h) for handling toxic, highly corrosive or flammable gases or vapours as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁴);

(i) for material transport, characterised by handling substances with a solid particle concentration of more than 10 mg/m³ and particles with an average size of at least 0,1 mm and a hardness of at least 2 on the Mohs scale, while having an average blade angle of 50° to 90°;

(j) for handling gases containing biohazardous substances of risk groups 2, 3 and 4 as set out in Directive 2000/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁵);

(k) for handling gases containing carcinogens or mutagens as defined in Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁶);

(l) for handling gases with a compressibility factor, rounded to the nearest second decimal, in the designated pressure and temperature range of the scope that is not equal to 1,00;

(m) in cordless or battery-powered equipment;

(n) in handheld equipment whose weight is supported by hand during operation;

(o) in hand-guided mobile equipment moved while in operation;

(p) air circulating fans.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) ‘fan’ means a rotary-bladed machine that receives energy and utilises it by means of one or more impellers to maintain a continuous flow of air or other gas passing through it and, with a specific ratio lower than 1,1 and an output air velocity lower than 65 m/s, which can be of the following categories: axial, centrifugal, cross-flow, mixed-flow or jet, and made of at least an impeller, a motor and a stator, and includes any other significant elements that are supplied with the fan;

(2) ‘significant elements’ means the elements of a fan that contribute to the continuous conversion of electric power into air volume flow rate and pressure, or that influence the efficiency of that conversion, namely: (a) impeller(s), including all rotating elements that have an aerodynamic influence; (b) electric motor; (c) stator; (d) other stationary aerodynamic elements that have an aerodynamic influence, including: (i) inlet cone; (ii) inlet or outlet guide vanes; (iii) diffuser; (e) other stationary elements that have an aerodynamic influence, including: (i) mechanical transmission (aerodynamic influence and influence on efficiency); (ii) electrical transmission (aerodynamic influence and influence on efficiency), such as cable conduits, frequency inverter, variable speed drive, terminal box, AC/DC converter; (iii) structural components that hold the assembly in place and may interfere with the airflow (such as brackets supporting the motor or the bearings);

(3) ‘best efficiency point’ (BEP) means the best energy efficiency point for fan operation, determined at inherent speed;

(4) ‘impeller’ means the rotating part of the fan that is imparting energy into the gas flow and is also known as the fan wheel;

(5) ‘electric motor’ or ‘motor’ means a device that converts electrical input power into mechanical output power in the form of a rotation with a rotational speed and torque that depends on factors including the frequency of the supply voltage and the number of poles of the motor as applicable;

(6) ‘inlet cone’, also known as venturi inlet, inlet bell, inlet radius, means a device that steers the air into the impeller and reduces the vena contracta and turbulence that would occur at the entrance of the impeller;

(7) ‘inlet guide vanes’ means vanes positioned before the impeller to guide the gas stream towards the impeller and which may or may not be adjustable;

(8) ‘outlet guide vanes’ means vanes positioned after the impeller to guide the gas stream from the impeller and which may or may not be adjustable;

(9) ‘diffuser’ means a device that influences the fan performance through static recovery;

(10) ‘protective guard’ means a grid placed at fan inlet or outlet designed to prevent relatively large foreign bodies or human body elements from reaching the moving parts;

(11) ‘stator’ means the stationary part of the fan that interacts with the air stream passing through the impeller and, within the geometrical air-stream envelope between defined fan inlet and outlet sections, includes any element that may increase, and excludes any non-fan element that may decrease, the fan efficiency;

(12) ‘drive system’ means electric motor, transmission or direct drive and a variable speed drive if supplied;

(13) ‘direct drive’ means a driving arrangement for a fan where the impeller is fixed to the motor shaft, either directly or with a coaxial coupling, and where the impeller speed is identical to the motor’s rotational speed;

(14) ‘transmission’ means a driving arrangement for a fan that is not direct drive, including using a belt drive, gearbox or slipping coupling;

(15) ‘variable speed drive’ (VSD) means an electronic power converter, integrated or functioning as a separate unit, that continuously adapts the electric power supplied to a single motor, or multiple motors in order to control the motor’s mechanical power output according to the torque-speed characteristic of the load driven by the motor, by adjusting the power supply to a variable frequency and voltage supplied to the motor, including EC (electronically commutated) motors’ internal controllers, excluding variable voltage controllers where only the supply voltage for the motor is varied, including all integrated protection devices and auxiliaries;

(16) ‘specific ratio’ means the stagnation pressure measured at the fan outlet divided by the stagnation pressure at the fan inlet at BEP;

(17) ‘fan flow angle’ means the angle between incoming and outgoing gas flow direction of the fan impeller, expressed in degrees, as set out in Annex III;

(18) ‘axial fan’ means a fan with a fan flow angle < 20°, as set out in point 4 of Annex III;

(19) ‘centrifugal fan’ means a fan with a flow angle ≥ 70°, as set out in point 4 of Annex III;

(20) ‘mixed flow fan’ means a fan with a flow angle ≥ 20° and < 70°, as set out in point 4 of Annex III;

(21) ‘centrifugal blade angle’ means the blade angle β2 of a centrifugal fan, expressed in degrees, as set out in point 5 of Annex III;

(22) ‘forward curved fan’ means a centrifugal fan with a fan blade angle β2 > 90°, as set out in point 5 of Annex III;

(23) ‘backward curved fan’ means a centrifugal fan with a fan blade angle β2 where 0°< β2 ≤ 50°, as set out in point 5 of Annex III;

(24) ‘backward inclined fan’ means a centrifugal fan with a fan blade angle β2 where 50° < β2 ≤ 90°, as set out in point 5 of Annex III;

(25) ‘cross-flow fan’ means a fan in which the gas path through the impeller is in a direction essentially at right angles to its axis both entering and leaving the impeller at its periphery;

(26) ‘jet fan’ means an axial, centrifugal or radial fan that produces a high velocity jet of air in a space (thrust), unconnected to any ducting, where the jet of air induces movement of the surrounding air, creating an overall air flow through the space, and that is designed for operation with open inlets and outlets rather than operating against pressure, including radial and centrifugal jet fans with an angle entrance of ≤ 90° to the outlet;

(27) ‘declared values’ means the values provided by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative for the stated, calculated or measured technical parameters in accordance with Article 4, for the verification of compliance by the Member State authorities;

(28) ‘equivalent model’ means a model that has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided, but which is placed on the market or put into service by the same manufacturer, importer or authorised representative as another model with a different model identifier;

(29) ‘model identifier’ means the code, usually alphanumeric, which distinguishes a specific product model from other models with the same trademark or the same manufacturer’s, importer’s or authorised representative’s name;

(30) ‘multiple speed motor’ means a motor of which the rotating speed can be varied by energising different motor windings;

(31) ‘air-circulating fan’ means a fan that is unconnected to any ducting, without a stator or with a stator that cannot be connected to ducting, used for moving air within a space, such as a room or open-air area. There is no partition between inlet and outlet and the air circulates freely from outlet to inlet, it operates against zero external pressure and is not a jet fan and is not marketed as such. Its measurement arrangement is as per measurement category E. Fans for which performance information at any pressure different than zero Pa is provided on the manufacturer’s website, catalogues, brochures, technical documentation, or other relevant means are not air circulating fans;

(32) ‘inherent speed’ means the rotation speed of the fan impeller, when the fan is operated at its nominal voltage and frequency. In case of fans with a variable speed drive or intended to be used with a variable speed drive, the inherent speed is the maximum speed achieved by the fan or the speed at which the efficiency is declared by the manufacturer, and that is in line with the fan safe operation and in line with the intended use of the fan. Where the motor is a multiple speed motor, the highest speed made available to the customer applies.

Article 3

Ecodesign requirements

The ecodesign requirements for fans are set out in Annex II and shall apply from the dates indicated therein.

Article 4

Conformity assessment

Where the information included in the technical documentation for a particular model has been obtained by either of the following means, the technical documentation shall include the details of the calculation, the assessment undertaken by the manufacturer to verify the accuracy of the calculation and, where appropriate, the declaration of identity between the models of different manufacturers:

(a) from a model that has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided but is produced by a different manufacturer;

(b) by calculation on the basis of design or extrapolation from another model of the same or a different manufacturer, or both.

A fan to which a VSD is added shall not be considered a new fan model requiring a new conformity assessment if:

(a) the VSD is physically located so as not to interfere with the air stream;

(b) the VSD can be removed from the fan for verification without damaging the fan and the VSD.

Article 5

Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes

Member State authorities shall apply the verification procedure laid down in Annex IV to this Regulation when performing the market surveillance checks referred to in Article 3(2) of Directive 2009/125/EC.

Article 7

Indicative benchmarks

The indicative benchmarks for the best-performing fans available on the market at the time of adopting this Regulation are set out in Annex V.

Article 8

Review

The Commission shall review this Regulation in the light of technological progress and shall present the results of that assessment, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal, to the Consultation Forum by 27 July 2030 at the latest. The review shall, in particular, address:

— whether it is appropriate to revise the metrics with an extended and technology-neutral product approach, including part load performance;

— whether it is appropriate to revise the efficiency limits in line with the new metrics and technological progress;

— the relevance of regulating fans below 125 W electric power, air circulating fans and large comfort fans;

— the relevance of regulating jet fans below 750 W;

— resource efficiency, repairability, reuse and recycling, recycled content and durability;

— the relevance of the exemptions laid down in Article 1;

— the potential of 3D printing of elements;

— whether it is appropriate to revise the requirements on the storage of product information due to the possible introduction of a digital product passport;

— the relevance of requiring an energy label.

Article 9

Repeal and transitional provisions

Article 10

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 24 July 2026. However, Article 9(2) shall apply from 24 July 2024.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX I

DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ANNEXES

(1) ‘measurement category’ means a test, measurement or usage arrangement that defines the inlet and outlet conditions of the fan being tested;

(2) ‘measurement category A’ means an arrangement where the fan is measured with free inlet and outlet conditions, and a partition between inlet and outlet zone;

(3) ‘measurement category B’ means an arrangement where the fan is measured with free inlet and with a duct fitted to its outlet, and a partition between inlet and outlet zone;

(4) ‘measurement category C’ means an arrangement where the fan is measured with a duct fitted to its inlet and free outlet conditions, and a partition between inlet and outlet zone;

(5) ‘measurement category D’ means an arrangement where the fan is measured with a duct fitted to its inlet and outlet, and a partition between inlet and outlet zone;

(6) ‘measurement category E’ means an arrangement where the fan is measured with free inlet and outlet conditions, and without a partition between inlet and outlet zone;

(7) ‘efficiency category’ means the fan gas output energy form used to determine the fan energy efficiency, with a distinction for all fans except jet fans between ‘static’ or ‘total’ efficiency depending on whether the fan gas power has been determined with respectively the fan static pressure or fan pressure;

(8) ‘fan efficiency’ (η) means the ratio of the fan gas power output P u and the electric input power P e, both expressed in W and determined at BEP, multiplied with correction factors for power conversion C p, part load compensation C c and guard compensation C guard, with a distinction between ‘static’ or ‘total’ efficiency depending on whether the fan gas power P u has been determined with respectively the fan static pressure or fan pressure, in accordance with point 6.1 of Annex III;

(9) ‘fan gas power’ (P u), in W, means the product of the volume flow rate q v, in m³/s, and the applicable pressure difference between fan inlet and outlet Δp (fan pressure or fan static pressure), in Pa, both determined at BEP, with a distinction between ‘static’ or ‘total’ fan gas power depending on whether the fan gas power has been determined with, respectively, the fan static pressure or fan pressure;

(10) ‘electric input power’ (P e), in W, means the electric input power at BEP or Tm, measured at main terminals of motor or, when present, of variable speed drive;

(11) ‘power conversion correction’ (C p), means a correction factor for power conversion losses, as determined according to point 6 of Annex III;

(12) ‘part load compensation’ (C

(13) ‘guard compensation’ (C guard) means a correction factor, as determined according to point 6 of Annex III, that may be applied when calculating fan efficiency where the fan is equipped with permanently fitted protective guards that cannot be removed without making the fan inoperable;

(14) ‘volume flow rate’ (q v), in m³/s, means the gas volume displaced per unit of time by the fan and is derived from the mass flow rate, typically with standard air with a density ρ at default 1 200 kg/m³;

(15) ‘total pressure’ (ptot), in Pa, means the pressure calculated from the absolute pressure and the dynamic pressure;

(16) ‘absolute pressure’ (p), in Pa, means the pressure measured with respect to absolute zero pressure;

(17) ‘dynamic pressure’ (pd), in Pa, means the pressure calculated from the velocity and the density;

(18) ‘fan static pressure’ (p fs), in Pa, means the difference between the static pressure at the fan outlet and the stagnation pressure at the fan inlet or, when the compressibility phenomenon is not a factor, the difference between the static pressure at the fan outlet and the total pressure at the fan inlet. It is the omnidirectional force per unit surface area exerted at the fan outlet and is typically assessed by measuring the stagnation pressure in a (cylindrical) hole of appropriate geometry and dimensions, in duct wall or appropriate measurement instrument perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow;