Appliances burning gaseous fuels (until 2018)

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2009/142/EC — appliances burning gaseous fuels

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It establishes the rules for the placing on the market and putting into service of appliances burning gaseous fuels and their fittings.
It provides access to the European Union (EU) market for products covered in so far as the gas safety of these products is concerned.
It deals with the energy efficiency of these products where no other specific EU legislation applies.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The directive applies to gas appliances and fittings where:
- ‘appliances’ are appliances burning gaseous fuels used for cooking, heating, hot water production, refrigeration, lighting or washing and having, where applicable, a normal water temperature not exceeding 105 C, as well as forced draught burners (gas burners fitted with combustion air fans) and heating bodies to be equipped with such burners;
- ‘fittings’ are safety devices, controlling devices or regulating devices and sub-assemblies — other than forced draught burners and heating bodies to be equipped with such burners — which are separately marketed for trade use and designed to be incorporated into an appliance burning gaseous fuel; or are assembled to constitute such an appliance.
Appliances specifically designed for use in industrial processes carried out on industrial premises are excluded from the scope of this directive.

Conditions to be met when placing the appliances on the market

Appliances covered by the directive must be designed and built in such a way as to operate safely and present no danger to persons, domestic animals or property when normally used.
All appliances must be accompanied by:
- technical instructions for the installer, containing all the instructions for installation, adjustment and servicing required to ensure that those operations are correctly performed and that the appliance may be used safely including, e.g. details of the type of gas and supply pressure used, the flow of fresh air required, as well as the conditions for the dispersal of combustion products;
- instructions for use and servicing intended for the user containing all the information required for safe use and drawing the user’s attention to any restrictions on use;
- warnings indicating the type of gas, the gas supply pressure and any restrictions on use, in particular the restriction whereby the appliance must be installed only in areas where there is sufficient ventilation.

Type examination

The manufacturer must lodge an application for type-examination with a single notified body* including:
- the manufacturer’s name and address;
- a written declaration that the application has not been lodged with any other notified body;
- design documentation, as described in Annex IV to this directive.
Where the type satisfies the criteria laid down by this directive, the notified body must issue an EC type-examination certificate to the applicant.

EC declaration of conformity*

At the choice of the manufacturer, the mandatory production phase surveillance by a notified body must be based on four alternative conformity assessment modules referred to in Annex II to the directive.
After a successful conformity assessment of his product, the manufacturer must draw up an EC declaration of conformity declaring that the product concerned conforms to the requirements of this directive.
The gas appliance or its data plate must bear the CE marking and the following inscriptions:
- the manufacturer’s name or identification symbol;
- the trade name of the appliance;
- the type of electrical supply used, if applicable;
- the appliance category;
- the last two digits of the year in which the ‘CE’ marking was affixed.

Repeal

Directive 2009/142/EC is repealed and replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/426 with effect from 21 April 2018.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 5 January 2010 and repeals and codifies Directive 90/396/EC, along with its amendments which EU countries had to incorporate into national law by 30 June 1991.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

‘Gas appliances directive’ on the European Commission's website.

* KEY TERMS

Notified body: provides conformity assessment under the conditions laid down by directives. This is a service to manufacturers in the public interest.

EC declaration of conformity to type: a manufacturer declares that the appliances conform with the type as described in the EC type-examination certificate and satisfy the essential requirements of this directive.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2009/142/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels (codified version) (OJ L 330, 16.12.2009, pp. 10-27)