Ecodesign requirements — welding equipment

KEY POINTS

• It lists the welding processes to which the regulation applies and those to which it does not.
• The ecodesign requirements are set out in Annex II, and include:
  • minimum efficiency levels for the power source used;
  • maximum ‘idle state’ (similar to standby) power consumption;
  • non-energy-related requirements to make it easier to repair, disassemble, prolong the useful lifetime of and reuse welding equipment and components, including
    • making spare parts available to professional repairers for a minimum period of 10 years
    • making specified repair and maintenance information freely available to professional repairers via the website of the manufacturer of the welding equipment, the importer or authorised representative.
• The regulation sets out the conformity assessment procedure, and in Annex III the measurement methods and calculations to be followed based, where available, on harmonised standards adopted by the European standardisation organisations.
• National authorities must apply the verification procedures laid down in Annex IV when carrying out market surveillance checks.
• Manufacturers, importers or their authorised representatives must not offer for sale products which can detect when they are being tested and change their performance accordingly.
• Annex V sets out indicative benchmarks for the best-performing products and techniques available on the market in terms of power source efficiency and maximum idle state power consumption.
• The European Commission must review the regulation in the light of technological progress and present its results, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal no later than 14 November 2024.