ANNEX

EU ECOLABEL CRITERIA AND ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Criteria for awarding the EU Ecolabel to sanitary tapware:

The specific assessment and verification requirements are indicated within each criterion.

Where the applicant is required to provide declarations, documentation, analyses, test reports, or other evidence to show compliance with the criteria, these may originate from the applicant or his supplier or both.

Where possible, the testing shall be performed by laboratories that meet the general requirements of European Standard EN ISO 17025 (1) or equivalent.

Where appropriate, test methods other than those indicated for each criterion may be used if the competent body assessing the application accepts their equivalence.

As pre-requisite, the product must meet all respective legal requirements of the country (countries) in which the product is intended to be placed on the market. The applicant shall declare the product’s compliance with this requirement.

Criterion 1.   Water consumption and related energy saving

(a)   Maximum available water flow rate

The maximum available water flow rates of the sanitary tapware, independent of the water pressure, shall not exceed the values presented in Table 1.

Table 1

Maximum available water flow rates for ‘sanitary tapware’

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall declare the product’s compliance with the requirement and specify the maximum water flow rate (in l/min) of the product submitted for the labelling procedure together with results of tests conducted in accordance with testing procedure indicated in respective EN standards for the given kind of product (see Table 2). The testing shall be conducted at a pressure of 1,5, 3,0 and 4,5 bar (± 0,2 bar) for products claimed to be suitable for high pressure installations (typically 1,0 to 5,0 bar) or at pressure of 0,2, 0,3 and 0,5 bar (± 0,02 bar) for products claimed to be suitable for low pressure installations (typically 0,1 to 0,5 bar). A mean value of three measurements shall not exceed the maximum flow rate values indicated in Table 1. For pillar taps and divided spout outlet kitchen taps, the flow rate shall be the summation of the two flows, i.e. the total flow to basin or sink from the hot and cold water tapware. Additionally, for products with an option of economy setting (i.e. flow limiting device), a description of the device applied (i.e. its main technical parameters and installation, setting and use instructions) shall be submitted.

Table 2

EN standards regarding the product group ‘sanitary tapware’

(b)   Lowest maximum available water flow rate

The lowest maximum available water flow rates of the sanitary tapware, independent of the water pressure, shall not be lower than the values given in Table 3:

Table 3

Lowest maximum available water flow rates for ‘sanitary tapware’

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall declare the product’s compliance with the requirement and specify the lowest maximum available water flow rate of the product submitted for the labelling procedure together with the results of tests conducted in accordance with the testing procedure indicated in respective EN standards for the given kind of product (see Table 2). 1,5, 3,0 and 4,5 bar (± 0,2 bar) for products claimed to be suitable for high pressure installations (typically 1,0 to 5,0 bar) or at pressure of 0,2, 0,3 and 0,5 bar (± 0,02 bar) for products claimed to be suitable for low pressure installations (typically 0,1 to 0,5 bar). A mean value of three measurements shall not be lower than the flow rate value given in Table 3. For pillar taps and divided spout outlet kitchen taps, the flow rate shall be the summation of the two flows, i.e. the total flow to basin or sink from the hot and cold water tapware.

(c)   Temperature management

Sanitary tapware shall be equipped with an advanced device or technical solution which allows for the management of temperature and/or hot water by the end-user, for example by limiting the water temperature or the supply of hot water, or by thermostatic adjustment.

The solution shall be specified to provide the user with accurate control over the temperature of the water from the tap or shower, independent of the heating system to which it is connected. Possible solutions may include, for example, a hot water barrier, a cold water supply in middle position and/or a thermostatic mixing valve.

Sanitary tapware designed to be fitted to a water supply that is already temperature controlled and showerheads shall be exempted from this criterion.

Assessment and verification : in the application submitted to the competent body, the applicant shall declare that the product complies with the requirement and provide documentation describing the technology or device applied in the product. Where the water supply is already temperature controlled, the applicant shall explain the specific technical property that makes the sanitary tapware suited for fitting to this form of system.

(d)   Time control

This criterion applies to sanitary tapware which is sold or marketed together with time control devices (i.e. devices which stop water flow after a certain time if they are not used, for example sensors which stop the water flow when a user leaves the sensor range, or after a set time period of use, for example, time limiters, which stop the water flow when the maximum flow time is reached).

For sanitary tapware equipped with time limiters, the pre-set maximum flow period should not exceed 15 seconds for taps and 35 seconds for showers. Nevertheless, the product shall be designed to allow the installer to adjust the flow time in accordance with the intended product’s application.

For sanitary tapware equipped with a sensor, shut off delay time after usage shall not exceed 1 second for taps and 3 seconds for showers. Furthermore, the sanitary tapware equipped with a sensor shall have an in-built ‘security technical feature’ with a pre-set shut-off time of maximum 2 minutes to prevent an accident or continuous water flow from taps or showers when not in use.

Assessment and verification : the product or system shall be tested at the pressure range stipulated (3,0 bar (± 0,2 bar) for high pressure valves or 0,5 bar (± 0,02 bar) for low pressure valves) to verify that the time control shuts off within a 10 % tolerance of that specified by the applicant. The applicant shall declare that the product complies with the requirement and specify the type of solution used within its technical parameters (a pre-set water flow time for time limiters, the shut-off delay time after usage for sensors), and provide the results of a test conducted in accordance with the standard EN 15091 for electronic opening and closing sanitary tapware or EN 816 for automatic shut-off valves to the competent body as part of the application.

Criterion 2.   Materials in contact with drinking water

Chemical and hygienic characteristics of materials in contact with drinking water

Materials used in products coming into contact with drinking water, or impurities associated with them, shall not release into water intended for human consumption any compounds in concentrations higher than necessary for the purpose of their use and shall not either directly or indirectly reduce the protection of human health (4). They shall not cause any deterioration in the quality of water intended for human consumption with regard to appearance, odour or taste. Within the recommended limits for correct operation (i.e. conditions of use as laid down in the respective EN standards indicated in Table 2), the materials shall not undergo any change which would impair the performance of the product. Materials without adequate resistance to corrosion shall be adequately protected so that they do not present a health risk.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall declare that the product complies with the requirement and submit relevant documentation or test results, as indicated below:

Metallic materials in contact with drinking water used in sanitary tapware shall be listed in the positive list ‘Acceptance of Metallic Materials for Products in Contact with Drinking Water’ as given in the Appendix. The applicant shall submit a declaration of compliance with this requirement. If the metallic materials are not included in this positive list, results of test conducted in accordance with the approach for ‘Adding Materials to the Composition List within a Category of Materials’, as described in the Appendix, and using the EN 15664-1 standard, shall be submitted. Alternatively, if obligatory national regulations are in place in the Member State where the product will be placed on the market, a certificate of approval of these metallic materials and/or product issued by national authorities or responsible laboratories shall be submitted.

Organic materials in contact with drinking water shall be tested in accordance with the respective requirements of the Member State where the product will be placed on the market. A certificate or, if appropriate, test results issued by national authorities or responsible laboratories shall be submitted.

Additionally, if required by the national regulations or the Member State where the product is placed on the market, test results for enhancement of microbial growth and assessment of odour and flavour assessment of water shall be submitted.

Criterion 3.   Excluded or limited substances and mixtures

(a)   Hazardous substances and mixtures

According to the Article 6(6) of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 on the EU Ecolabel, the product or any article (5) of it shall not contain substances meeting criteria for classification with the hazard statements or risk phrases specified below in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) or Council Directive 67/548/EEC (7) nor shall it contain substances referred to in Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8). The risk phrases below generally refer to substances. However, if information on substances cannot be obtained, the classification rules for mixtures apply.

List of hazard statements

Substances or mixtures which change their properties through processing (e.g. become no longer bioavailable, or undergo chemical modification in a way that removes the previously identified hazard) are exempted) from the above requirement.

Concentration limits for substances or mixtures which may be or have been assigned the hazard statements or risk phrase listed above, meeting the criteria for classification in the hazard classes or categories, and for substances meeting the criteria of Article 57 (a), (b) or (c) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, shall not exceed the generic or specific concentration limits determined in accordance with the Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Where specific concentration limits are determined they shall prevail over the generic ones.

Concentration limits for substances meeting criteria of Article 57 (d), (e) or (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 shall not exceed 0,1 % weight by weight.

The final product must not be labelled according to the hazard statements above.

The following substances/components are specifically derogated from this requirement:

Assessment and verification: for each article or any homogenous part of the applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion, together with related documentation, such as declarations of compliance signed by their suppliers, on the non-classification of the substances or materials with any of the hazard classes associated to the hazard statements referred to in the above list in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, as far as this can be determined, as a minimum, from the information meeting the requirements listed in Annex VII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. This declaration shall be supported by summarized information on the relevant characteristics associated to the hazard statements referred to in the above list, to the level of detail specified in section 10, 11 and 12 of Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Requirements for the Compilation of Safety Data Sheets).

Information on intrinsic properties of substances may be generated by means other than tests, for instance through the use of alternative methods such as in vitro methods, by quantitative structure activity models or by the use of grouping or read-across in accordance with Annex XI of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. The sharing of relevant data is strongly encouraged.

The information provided shall relate to the forms or physical states of the substance or mixtures as used in the final product.

For substances listed in Annexes IV and V of REACH, exempted from registration obligations under Article 2(7)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 REACH, a declaration to this effect will suffice to comply with the requirements set out above.

(b)   Substances listed in accordance with article 59(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006

No derogation from the exclusion in Article 6(6) of the Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 shall be given concerning substances identified as substances of very high concern and included in the list foreseen in Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, present in mixtures, in an article or in any homogeneous part of a complex article in concentrations > 0,1 %. Specific concentration limits determined in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 shall apply in cases where the concentration is lower than 0,1 %.

Assessment and verification: The list of substances identified as substances of very high concern and included in the candidate list in accordance with Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 can be found on the ECHA website (13).

Reference to the list shall be made on the date of application. The applicant shall provide a declaration of compliance with this criterion, together with related documentation, such as declarations of compliance signed by the material suppliers and copies of relevant Safety Data Sheets for substances or mixtures in accordance with Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 for substances or mixtures. Concentration limits shall be specified in the Safety Data Sheets in accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 for substances and mixtures.

Criterion 4.   Product quality and longevity

(a)   General requirements

The product shall comply with the general requirements of the respective EN standards listed in Table 2 or with the corresponding mandatory national legal regulations. The requirement regarding water flow rates is excluded from this criterion.

Where applicable, cleaning of the product elements, which may be necessary under normal use conditions, shall be possible with use of simple tools or agents.

(b)   Exposed surface condition and quality of Ni-Cr coating

A sanitary product which has a metallic Ni-Cr coating (regardless of the nature of the substrate material) shall comply with the standard EN 248.

(c)   Reparability and availability of spare parts

The product shall be designed in such a way that its exchangeable components can be replaced easily by the end-user or a professional service engineer, as appropriate. Information about which elements can be replaced shall be clearly indicated in the information sheet attached to the product. The applicant shall also provide clear instructions to enable the end-user or trained experts, as appropriate, to undertake basic repairs.

The applicant shall further ensure that spare parts are available for at least seven years from the end of production.

(d)   Warranty

The applicant shall give a warranty for repair or replacement of minimum four years.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall declare that the product complies with these requirements and provide samples of the product information sheet and warranty terms to the competent body as part of the application.

With regard to points (a) and (b) the applicant shall additionally provide the competent body with the results of tests conducted in accordance with the standards listed in Table 2 as regards point (a) and the standard EN 248 as regards point (b) as part of the application.

Criterion 5.   Packaging

Packaging shall meet the following requirements:

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall declare that the product complies with the requirement and provide the competent body with a sample(s) of the packaging as part of the application.

Criterion 6.   User information

The product shall be accompanied by relevant user information which provides advice on the product’s proper and environmentally friendly use as well as its maintenance. It shall bear the following information in print (on the packaging and/or on documentation accompanying the product) and/or in electronic format:

For sanitary tapware (except showerheads) which is not equipped with time control devices, the following text shall be visibly reproduced on the packaging of the product:

For sanitary tapware which is equipped with time control devices, the following text shall be visibly reproduced on the packaging of the product:

For ‘restricted flow showerheads’ information should be placed on the product sheet regarding the need of checking the compatibility when used with electric shower, e.g. ‘please check that this restricted flow showerhead is compatible with your existing shower system in case you plan to use it with an electric shower’.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall declare that the product complies with the requirement and provide the competent body with a sample or samples of the user information and/or a link to a manufacturer’s website containing this information as part of the application.

Criterion 7.   Information appearing on the EU Ecolabel

The optional label with text box shall contain the following text:

The guidelines for the use of the optional label with the text box can be found in the ‘Guidelines for the use of the EU Ecolabel logo’ on the website:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/promo/pdf/logo%20guidelines.pdf

Assessment and verification : the applicant shall provide a sample of the label, together with a declaration of compliance with this criterion.

(1)  ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

(2)  The flow limiting device must allow for setting the default water flow rate (water-saving setting) at the value of max of 6/min. The maximum available water flow rate shall not exceed 8 l/min.

(3)  Showerheads and showers with more than one spray pattern shall fulfil the requirement for the setting with the highest water flow.

(*1)  Products marketed to be suitable for low pressure installations, functioning typically at 0,1 to 0,5 bar.

(4)  Article 10 of Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32).

(5)  In Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) Article: means an object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition;

(6)   OJ L 353, 31.12.2008, p. 1.

(7)   OJ 196, 16.8.1967, p. 1.

(8)   OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1.

(9)  Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.

(10)  Directive 67/548/EEC with adjustment to REACH according to Directive 2006/121/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (11) and Directive 1999/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (12) as amended.

(11)   OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 850.

(12)   OJ L 200, 30.7.1999, p. 1.

(*2)  Where national requirements of the Member State where the product will be placed on the market or respective testing procedure for the release of nickel from coating are in place, a proof that these national requirements are met can be submitted instead to prove the compliance with this requirement.

(*3)  EN 16058 Influence of metallic materials on water intended for human consumption — Dynamic rig test for assessment of surface coatings with nickel layers — Long-term test method.

(*4)  Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment

(13)  http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/authorisation_process/candidate_list_table_en.asp