Search Legislation

Council Directive 92/42/EECShow full title

Council Directive 92/42/EEC of 21 May 1992 on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about UK-EU Regulation

Legislation originating from the EU

When the UK left the EU, legislation.gov.uk published EU legislation that had been published by the EU up to IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.). On legislation.gov.uk, these items of legislation are kept up-to-date with any amendments made by the UK since then.

Close

This item of legislation originated from the EU

Legislation.gov.uk publishes the UK version. EUR-Lex publishes the EU version. The EU Exit Web Archive holds a snapshot of EUR-Lex’s version from IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.).

Status:

EU Directives are published on this site to aid cross referencing from UK legislation. Since IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.) no amendments have been applied to this version.

Council Directive 92/42/EEC

of 21 May 1992

on efficiency requirements for new hot-water boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels

[F1THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,

In cooperation with the European Parliament ,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ,

Whereas Decision 91/565/EEC provides for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community under the SAVE programme;

Whereas it is important to promote measures aimed at the progressive establishement of the internal market in the period up to 31 December 1992 ; whereas the internal market encompasses an area without internal frontiers, in which the free circulation of goods, persons, services and capital is assured;

Whereas the Council resolution of 15 January 1985 on the improvement of energy-saving programmes in the Member States invites Member States to pursue and where necessary increase their efforts to promote the more rational use of energy by the further development of integrated energy-saving policies;

Whereas the Council resolution of 16 September 1986 concerns new Community energy-policy objectives for 1995 and convergence of the policies of the Member States , and in particular the objective of improving the efficiency of final energy demand by at least 20 %;

Whereas Article 130r of the Treaty provides that action by the Community relating to the environment shall have the objective of ensuring a prudent and rational utilization of natural resources;

Whereas it is appropriate to take as a base a high level of protection in proposals for the approximation of the provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States and concerning health, safety, environmental protection and consumer protection;

Whereas the Council resolution of 21 June 1989 declares that the Community should take proper account of potential climatic change linked to the greenhouse effect and the Council's conclusions of 29 October 1990 state that CO 2 emissions in the year 2000 should be stabilized throughout the Community at their 1990 level;

Whereas the importance of the domestic and tertiary sector, which absorbs a major proportion of the final consumption of energy in the Community, is considerable;

Whereas this sector will become even more important through trends towards more central heating and a general increase in thermal comfort;

Whereas better boiler efficiency is in the consumer's interest; whereas energy saving will be reflected in fewer imports of hydrocarbons; whereas reduction in the Community's energy dependence will have a positive impact on its trade balance;

Whereas Council Directive 78/170/EEC of 13 February 1978 on the performance of heat generators for space heating and the production of hot water in new or existing non-industrial buildings and on the insulation of heat and domestic hot-water distribution in new non-industrial builings , has given rise to the establishment of substantially different efficiency levels between one Member State and another;

Whereas the requirement of high efficiency for hot-water boilers will reduce the range of technical properties of equipment placed on the market, thus facilitating series production and making for economies of scale; whereas the absence of a measure laying down energy requirements at a sufficiently high level may result, with the completion of the internal market, in a significant drop in the efficiency levels of heating installations through the spread on the market of low-efficiency boilers;

Whereas local climatic conditions and the energy and occupancy characteristics of buildings differ greatly within the Community; whereas Member States must take this diversity into account when determining the conditions for putting boilers into service in implementation of this Direcitve; whereas these circumstances justify the fact that Member States where back-boilers and boilers designed to be installed in the living space are widely installed at the date of the adoption of this Directive should continue to authorize, within specific limits, the placing on their markets and the putting into service of such boilers; whereas these arrangements should be subject to particular surveillance by the Commission;

Whereas this Directive, which is aimed at eliminating technical barriers with regard to boiler efficiency, must follow the new approach established by the Council resolution of 7 May 1985 which specifically lays down that legislative harmonization is limited to the adoption, by means of directives based on Article 100 of the EEC Treaty, of the essential requirements with which products put on the market must conform and that these essential requirements shall be worded precisely enough in order to create legally binding obligations which can be enforced and to enable the certification bodies to certify products as being in conformity, having regard to those requirements in the absence of standards;

Having regard to Directive 83/189/EEC laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations;

Having regard to Decision 90/683/EEC concerning the modules for the various phases of the conformity assessment procedures which are intended to be used in the technical harmonization directives;

Whereas boilers complying with the efficiency requirements should bear the CE mark and, where appropriate, signs in order to enable them to move freely and to be put into service in accordance with their intended purpose within the Community;

Having regard to Directive 89/106/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to construction products;

Whereas efficiency requirements to encourage the rational use of energy as laid down in Council Directive 90/396/EEC of 29 June 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels should be established for the gas boilers referred to in this Directive,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:]

F1Article 1U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 2U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 3U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 4U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 5U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2Article 6U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 7U.K.

F11.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.The conformity of series-produced boilers shall be certified by:

  • examination of the efficiency of a boiler type in accordance with module B as described in Annex III,

  • a declaration of conformity to the approved type in accordance with module C, D or E as described in Annex IV.

For boilers burning gaseous fuels, the procedures for assessing the conformity of their efficiency shall be those used to assess conformity to the safety requirements laid down in Directive 90/396/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels.

F13.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F15.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 8U.K.

[F31. Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of the bodies which they have appointed to carry out the procedures referred to in Article 7, together with specific tasks which these bodies have been appointed to carry out and the identification numbers assigned to them beforehand by the Commission.

The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities a list of the notified bodies with their identication numbers and the tasks for which they have been notified. The Commission shall ensure that this list is kept up to date.]

2.Member States shall implement the minimum criteria laid down in Annex V for the appointment of such bodies. Bodies which satisfy the criteria laid down in the corresponding harmonized standards shall be deemed to comply with the criteria laid down in that Annex.

3.A Member State which has notified a particular body must withdraw that notification if it finds that the body concerned no longer satisfies the criteria referred to in paragraph 2. It shall immediately inform the other Member States and the Commission accordingly and shall withdraw the notification.

F1Article 9U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 10U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 10aU.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1Article 11U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1ANNEX IU.K. [F1CE CONFORMITY MARKING AND ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC MARKINGS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2ANNEX IIU.K. [F2AWARD OF ENERGY-PERFORMANCE LABELS] ]

[ F2 ]

ANNEX IIIU.K.Module B: EC type-examination

1.This module describes that part of the procedure by which a notified body ascertains and attests that an example, representative of the production envisaged, meets the relevant provisions of the Directive.U.K.

2.The application for EC type-examination is lodged by the manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community with a notified body of his choice.U.K.

The application must include:

  • the name and address of the manufacturer and, if the application is lodged by the authorized representative, the name and address in addition,

  • a written declaration that the same application has not been lodged with any other notified body,

  • the technical documents, as described in section 3.

The applicant must place at the disposal of the notified body an example representative of the production envisaged, hereinafter called ‘type’. The notified body may request further examples if needed for carrying out the test programme.

3.The technical documents must enable the conformity of the appliance with the requirements of the Directive to be assessed. They must, as far as is relevant for such assessment, cover the design, manufacture and operation of the appliance and contain as far as is relevant for assessment:U.K.

  • a general type-description,

  • conceptual design and manufacturing drawings and diagrams of components, sub-assemblies, circuits, etc.,

  • descriptions and explanations necessary for the understanding of the drawings and diagrams and the operation of the product,

  • a list of the standards referred to in Article 5 (2), applied in full or in part, and descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the essential requirements of the Directive where the standards referred to in Article 5 have not been applied,

  • results of design calculations made, examinations carried out, etc.,

  • test reports.

4.The notified body must:U.K.

4.1.

examine the technical documents, verify that the type has been manufactured in conformity with those documents and identify the elements which have been designed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the standards referred to in Article 5 (2) as well as the components which have been designed without applying the relevant provisions of those standards;

4.2.

perform or have performed the appropriate examinations and necessary tests to check whether, where the standards referred to in Article 5 (2) have not been applied, the solutions adopted by the manufacturer meet the essential requirements of the Directive;

4.3.

perform or have performed the appropriate examinations and necessary tests to check whether, where the manufacturer has chosen to apply the relevant standards, these have actually been applied;

4.4.

agree with the applicant the location where the examinations and necessary tests are to be carried out.

5.Where the type meets the relevant provisions of this Directive, the notified body issues an EC type-examination certificate to the applicant. The certificate contains the name and address of the manufacturer, the conclusion of the examination and necessary data for identification of the approved type.U.K.

A list of the relevant parts of the technical documents is annexed to the certificate and a copy kept by the notified body.

If the manufacturer or his authorized representative established in the Community is refused a type certificate, the notified body must provide detailed reasons for such refusal.

Provision must be made for an appeals procedure.

6.The applicant informs the notified body that holds the technical documents concerning the EC type-examination certificate of all modifications to the approved appliance which must receive additional approval where such changes may affect the conformity with the essential requirements or the prescribed conditions for use of the product. This additional approval is given in the form of an addition to the original EC type-examination certificate.U.K.

7.Each notified body must communicate to the other notified bodies the relevant information concerning the EC type-examination certificates and additions issued and withdrawn.U.K.

8.The other notified bodies may receive copies of the EC type-examination certificates and/or their additions. The Annexes to the certificates must be kept at the disposal of the other notified bodies.U.K.

9.The manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community must keep with the technical documents copies of EC type-examination certificates and their additions for a period of at least 10 years after the last date of manufacture of the product concerned.U.K.

Where neither the manufacturer nor his authorized representative is established within the Community, the obligation to keep the technical documents available is the responsibility of the person who places the product on the Community market.

ANNEX IVU.K.

Module C: Conformity to typeU.K.

1.This module describes that part of the procedure whereby the manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community ensures and declares that the appliances concerned are in conformity with the type as described in the EC type-examination certificate and satisfy the requirements of this Directive that apply to them. [F3The manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community shall affix the CE marking to each appliance and draw up a written declaration of conformity.] U.K.

2.The manufacturer must take all measures necessary to ensure that the manufacturing process assures the conformity of the manufactured appliances with the type as described in the EC type-examination certificate and with the efficiency requirements of the Directive.U.K.

3.The manufacturer or his authorized representative must keep a copy of the declaration of conformity for a period of at least 10 years after the last date of manufacture of the product concerned.U.K.

Where neither the manufacturer nor his authorized representative is established within the Community, the obligation to keep the technical documents available is the responsibility of the person who places the product on the Community market.

4.A notified body chosen by the manufacturer must perform or have performed examinations of the product at random intervals. A suitable sample of the finished products, taken on the spot by the notified body, is examined and appropriate tests, defined in the applicable standard or standards referred to in Article 5 (2) or equivalent tests are carried out to check the conformity of the product with the requirements of the corresponding Directive. In the event of one or more samples of the products examined not conforming, the notified body must take the appropriate measures.U.K.

Module D: Production quality assuranceU.K.

1.This module describes the procedure whereby the manufacturer who satisfies the obligations of section 2 ensures and declares that the appliances concerned are in conformity with the type as described in the EC type-examination certificate and satisfy the requirements of this Directive. [F3The manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community shall affix the CE marking to each appliance and draw up a written declaration of conformity. The CE marking is accompanied by the identification number of the notified body responsible for the checks referred to in section 4.] U.K.

2.The manufacturer must operate an approved quality system for production, final appliance inspection and testing as specified in section 3. He is subject to the checks referred to in section 4.U.K.

3.Quality systemU.K.

3.1.The manufacturer lodges an application for assessment of his quality system with a notified body of his choice, for the appliances concerned.U.K.

The application must include:

  • all relevant information for the appliance category envisaged,

  • the documents concerning the quality system,

  • the technical documents pertaining to the approved type and a copy of the EC type-examination certificate.

3.2.The quality system must ensure conformity of appliances with the type as described in the EC type-examination certificate and with the requirements of this Directive that apply to them.U.K.

All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer must be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions. The quality system documents must permit a consistent interpretation of the quality programmes, plans, manuals and quality records.

It must contain in particular an adequate description of:

  • the quality objectives and the organizational structure, responsibilities and powers of the management with regard to appliance quality,

  • the manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance techniques, processes and systematic actions that will be used,

  • the examinations and tests that will be carried out before, during and after manufacture, and the frequency with which they will be carried out,

  • the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports of the personnel concerned, etc.,

  • the means of monitoring the achievement of the required appliance quality and the effective operation of the quality system.

3.3.The notified body must assess the quality system to determine whether it satisfies the requirements referred to in section 3.2. It must presume conformity with those requirements in respect of quality systems that implement the relevant harmonized standard. The auditing team must have at least one member with experience of assessing the relevant product technology. The assessment procedure includes an inspection visit to the manufacturer's premises.U.K.

The decision is notified to the manufacturer. The notification must contain the conclusions of the examination and the duly substantiated assessment decision.

3.4.The manufacturer must undertake to fulfil the obligations arising out of the quality system as approved and maintain it at an adequate and efficient level.U.K.

The manufacturer or his authorized representative must keep the notified body that has approved the quality system informed of any proposed change in the quality system.

The notified body must assess the changes proposed and decide whether the altered quality system will still satisfy the requirements referred to in 3.2 or whether reassessment is required.

It must notify the manufacturer of its decision. The notification must contain the conclusions of the examination and the substantiated assessment decision.

4.Monitoring under the responsibility of the notified bodyU.K.

4.1.The purpose of monitoring is to make sure that the manufacturer duly fulfils the obligations arising out of the approved quality system.U.K.
4.2.The manufacturer must allow the notified body access for inspection purposes to the manufacturing, inspection, testing and storage premises and provide it with all necessary information, in particular:U.K.
  • the quality system documents,

  • the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports of the personnel concerned, etc..

4.3.The notified body must periodically carry out audits to make sure that the manufacturer maintains and applies the quality system and provides an audit report to the manufacturer.U.K.
4.4.Additionally the notified body may pay unannounced visits to the manufacturer. During such visits the notified body may carry out tests or have them carried out to verify that the quality system is functioning correctly; if necessary, the notified body must provide the manufacturer with a visit report and, if a test has taken place, with a test report.U.K.

5.The manufacturer must, for a period of at least 10 years after the last date of manufacture of the product, keep at the disposal of the national authorities:U.K.

  • the document referred to in the second indent of 3.1,

  • the updating referred to in the second paragraph of 3.4,

  • the decisions and reports from the notified body which are referred to in the final paragraph of 3.4, and in 4.3 and 4.4.

6.Each notified body must give the other notified bodies the relevant information concerning the quality system approvals issued and withdrawn.U.K.

Module E: Product quality assuranceU.K.

1.This module describes the procedure whereby the manufacturer who satisfies the obligations of section 2 ensures and declares that the boilers and appliances are in conformity with the type as described in the EC type-examination certificate. [F3The manufacturer or his authorized representative established within the Community shall affix the CE marking to each boiler and appliance and draw up a written declaration of conformity. The CE marking must be accompanied by the identification number of the notified body responsible for the checks referred to in section 4.] U.K.

2.The manufacturer must operate an approved quality system for final boiler and appliance inspection and testing as specified in section 3. He must be subject to the checks referred to in section 4.U.K.

3.Quality systemU.K.

3.1.The manufacturer lodges an application with a notified body of this choice for the assessment of the quality system for his boilers and appliances.U.K.

The application must include:

  • all relevant information for the boiler or appliance category envisaged,

  • the quality system's documentation,

  • the technical documents pertaining to the approved type and a copy of the EC type-examination certificate.

3.2.Under the quality system, each boiler or appliance is examined and appropriate tests as defined in the relevant standard(s) referred to in Article 5 or equivalent tests are carried out in order to verify its conformity with the relevant requirements of the Directive. All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer must be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policies, procedures and instructions. This quality system documentation must enable the quality programmes, plans, manuals and records to be interpreted in a uniform manner.U.K.

It must in particular contain an adequate description of:

  • the quality objectives and the organizational structure, responsibilities and powers of the management with regard to product quality,

  • the examination and tests that will be carried out after manufacture,

  • the means of monitoring the effective operation of the quality system,

  • quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports of the personnel concerned, etc.

3.3.The notified body must assess the quality system to determine whether it satisfies the requirements referred to in 3.2. It must presume conformity with these requirements in respect of quality systems that implement the relevant harmonized standard.U.K.

The auditing team must have at least one member with experience of assessing the relevant product technology. The assessment procedure must include an inspection visit to the manufacturer's premises.

The manufacturer must be notified of the decision. The notification must contain the conclusions of the examination and the substantiated assessment decision.

3.4.The manufacturer must undertake to fulfil the obligations arising out of the quality system as approved and maintain it at an adequate and efficient level.U.K.

The manufacturer or his authorized representative must keep the notified body which has approved the quality system informed of any proposed change in the quality system.

The notified body must assess the changes proposed and decide whether the altered quality system will still satisfy the requirements referred to in 3.2 or whether a reassessment is required.

It must notify the manufacturer of its decision. The notification must contain the conclusions of the examination and the substantiated assessment decision.

4.Monitoring under the responsibility of the notified bodyU.K.

4.1.The purpose of monitoring is to make sure that the manufacturer duly fulfils the obligations arising out of the approved quality system.U.K.
4.2.The manufacturer must allow the notified body access for inspection purposes to the inspection, testing and storage premises and provide it with all necessary information, in particular:U.K.
  • the quality system documentation,

  • the technical documents,

  • the quality records, such as inspection reports and test data, calibration data, qualification reports of the personnel concerned, etc.

4.3.The notified body must periodically carry out audits to ensure that the manufacturer maintains and applies the quality system and must provide an audit report to the manufacturer.U.K.
4.4.Additionally, the notified body may pay unannounced visits to the manufacturer. During such visits the notified body may carry out tests or have them carried out to verify that the quality system is functioning correctly; if necessary, the notified body must provide the manufacturer with a visit report and, if a test has been carried out, with a test report.U.K.

5.The manufacturer must, for a period of at least 10 years after the last date of manufacture of the boiler or appliance, keep at the disposal of the national authorities:U.K.

  • the documents referred to in the third indent of 3.1,

  • the changes referred to in the second paragraph of 3.4,

  • the decisions and reports from the notified body which are referred to in the final paragraph of 3.4, and in 4.3 and 4.4.

6.Each notified body must forward to the other notified bodies the relevant information concerning the quality system approvals issued and withdrawn.U.K.

ANNEX VU.K.Minimum criteria to be taken into account by Member States for the notification of bodies

1.The body, its director and the staff responsible for carrying out the verification tests may not be the designer, manufacturer, supplier or installer of appliances which they inspect, nor the authorized representative of any of those parties. They may not become either involved directly or as authorized representatives in the design, construction, marketing or maintenance of such boilers and appliances. This does not preclude the possibility of exchanges of technical information between the manufacturer and the body.U.K.

2.The body and its staff must carry out the verification tests with the highest degree of professional integrity and technical competence and must be free from all pressures and inducements, particularly financial, which might influence their judgment of the results of the inspection, especially from persons or groups of persons with an interest in the result of verifications.U.K.

3.The body must have at its disposal the necessary staff and possess the necessary facilities to enable it to perform properly the administrative and technical tasks connected with verification; it must also have access to the equipment required for special verification.U.K.

4.The staff responsible for inspection must have:U.K.

  • sound technical and professional training,

  • satisfactory knowledge of the requirements of the tests they carry out and adequate experience of such tests,

  • the ability to draw up the certificates, records and reports required to authenticate the performance of the tests.

5.The impartiality of inspection staff must be guaranteed. Their remuneration must not depend on the number of tests carried out or on the results of such tests.U.K.

6.The body must take out liability insurance unless its liability is assumed by the State in accordance with national law, or the Member State itself is directly responsible for the tests.U.K.

7.The staff of the body must be bound to observe professional secrecy (except vis-à-vis the competent administrative authorities of the State in which its activities are carried out) under this Directive or any provision of national law giving effect to it.U.K.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As adopted by EU): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was first adopted in the EU. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as adopted version that was used for the EU Official Journal
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different versions taken from EUR-Lex before exit day and during the implementation period as well as any subsequent versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation.

The dates for the EU versions are taken from the document dates on EUR-Lex and may not always coincide with when the changes came into force for the document.

For any versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation the date will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. For further information see our guide to revised legislation on Understanding Legislation.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as adopted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources