Certifications add value to heat pumps

How product certifications can add value to heat pumps and make them saleable in all markets.

Heat pumps must be certified and compliant with regulations to be more saleable in all markets. In this article, we will explore how the EUROVENT, HP Keymark and SG Ready certifications and the classic energy label, in compliance with the ErP Directive, can give value to heat pumps and make them saleable in all markets.

Heat pumps use the renewable energy of air or water or in the subsoil to heat, cool and produce hot water for domestic use, guaranteeing great efficiency and significant financial savings. But what are the certifications that allow us to compare the various models and identify the one that best suits our needs?

anche le pompe di calore devono essere abbinate ad apposite etichette in cui il consumatore possa reperire tutte le informazioni relative alla loro efficienza energetica

ErP Directive and energy label

As everyone is well aware, major household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and air conditioners are fitted with an energy label. Since 2015, in accordance with the Ecolabel Regulation contained in the ErP (Energy-related Products) Directive, heat pumps must also be accompanied by specific labels on which consumers can find all the information relating to their energy efficiency.

As regards heat pumps, as well as condensing boilers and micro-cogenerators, the legislation has established a classification scale from A++ to G, as well as indicating the device’s power output in kW and its operating noise level. Furthermore, solutions used for both heating and domestic hot water production must indicate their energy class separately.

As it is uniformly regulated across Europe, labelling is a very useful tool for assessing the overall performance of heat pumps and, more generally, the entire heating system, whether for a new installation or a retrofit.

The HP Keymark certification for heat pumps

In the case of heat pumps, which as we all know represent the main "green alternative" to condensing boilers and which are absolutely among the most efficient solutions for providing heating, cooling and domestic hot water, the best-known certification is HP Keymark. The certification is the result of a voluntary process promoted by the EHPA (European Heat Pump Association) which aims to respond in the best possible way to the ever-increasing regulatory needs of heat pump manufacturers.

But what are the advantages offered by this certification that Clivet has obtained for many of its lines of heat pumps, ranging from the models of the SPHERA EVO 2.0 line, available in the Tower, Box and Invisible versions, to the EDGE EVO 2.0, ELFOEnergy EDGE EVO, ELFOEnergy Sheen EVO and ELFOEnergy STORM EVO? HP Keymark allows heat pump manufacturers to have a highly recognised third party certification mark at European level, demonstrate that they meet the product efficiency requirements of the Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Regulations, promote the circulation of their products in the main European markets, and also participate in EHPA working groups.

SG Ready certifies the ability of heat pumps to communicate with the public electricity grid

Local certifications: the example of SG Ready

There are marks and certifications reserved for heat pumps which are not valid throughout Europe, but are used only in certain countries. This is the case, for example, of the SG Ready mark introduced by the German BWP association, which is valid in Germany and Austria and which certifies the ability of heat pumps to communicate with the public electricity grid through a special interface called Smart Grid Ready. The Clivet heat pumps that have this certification in Germany are the Sphera EVO and Sphera EVO 2.0, AQUA Plus – SWAN-2 and EDGE Evo 2.0 models.

all the heat pumps Clivet naturally have CE marking

CE marking: conformity of products to the community directives

In addition to all the certifications indicated above, all the heat pumps designed and marketed by Clivet naturally have CE marking, which is mandatory for all products distributed in the European Union and in the European Economic Area, but is also recognised as a synonym of reliability throughout the world. This marking ensures that the product meets precise safety requirements and that the manufacturer or whoever decides to place it on the market in his name or as an importer assumes responsibility for this guarantee.