The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021

CHAPTER 4 HOUSEHOLD WASHING MACHINES AND WASHER-DRYERS

Application and interpretation

21.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this Chapter applies to electric mains-operated household washing machines and household washer-dryers, including—

(a) built-in washing machines and washer-dryers; and

(b) machines that can also be powered by batteries.

(2) Nothing in this Chapter applies to—

(a) washing machines and washer-dryers in the scope of Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008;

(b) battery-operated washing machines and washer-dryers that can be connected to the mains through an AC/DC converter purchased separately.

(3) In this Chapter and Schedules 9 to 12—

“mains” or “electric mains” means the electricity supply from the electricity grid of 230 (± 10 per cent) volts of alternating current at 50 Hz;

“automatic washing machine” means a washing machine where the load is fully treated by the washing machine without the need for user intervention at any point during the programme;

“household washing machine” means an automatic washing machine which—

(a)

cleans and rinses household laundry by using water, chemical, mechanical and thermal means;

(b)

has a spin extraction function; and

(c)

is declared by the manufacturer in the declaration of conformity to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 or the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017;

“household washer-dryer” means a household washing machine which, in addition to the functions of an automatic washing machine, in the same drum includes a means for drying textiles by heating and tumbling, and which is declared by the manufacturer in the declaration of conformity to comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 or the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017;

“built-in washing machine” means a household washing machine that is designed, tested and marketed exclusively—

(a)

to be installed in cabinetry or encased (top, bottom, and sides) by panels;

(b)

to be securely fastened to the sides, top or floor of the cabinetry or panels; and

(c)

to be equipped with an integral factory-finished face or to be fitted with a custom front panel;

“built-in washer-dryer” means a household washer-dryer that is designed, tested and marketed exclusively—

(a)

to be installed in cabinetry or encased (top, bottom, and sides) by panels;

(b)

to be securely fastened to the sides, top or floor of the cabinetry or panels; and

(c)

to be equipped with an integral factory-finished face or to be fitted with a custom front panel.

Ecodesign requirements

22.—(1) A household washing machine or household washer-dryer must conform to the ecodesign requirements set out in Schedules 9 and 12 when it is placed on the market or put into service.

(2) Manufacturers, authorised representatives and importers or of household washing machines and household washer-dryers must comply with paragraphs 18 and 19 of Schedule 9 (resource efficiency and information requirements).

Conformity assessment

23.—(1) For the purposes of the conformity assessment procedure referred to in Schedule 1A to the 2010 Regulations, a manufacturer assessing whether a product conforms with these Regulations must use either—

(a) the internal design control procedure set out in Part 1 of that Schedule; or

(b) the management system procedure set out in Part 2 of that Schedule.

(2) The technical documentation file required for the conformity assessment of a product must contain—

(a) a copy of the declared values of the parameters referred to in paragraphs 13 to 17 of Schedule 9;

(b) the information specified in paragraph 20 of Schedule 9; and

(c) the details and results of any measurements or calculations carried out in accordance with regulation 25 or Schedule 10.

Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes

24.  The market surveillance authority must use the verification procedure set out in Schedule 11 when verifying the compliance of a product with the requirements of these Regulations.

Measurements and calculations

25.—(1) The measurements and calculations required by this Chapter, or necessary for demonstrating or measuring conformity with this Chapter, must be made in accordance with designated standards, where available.

(2) Where designated standards are not available, the measurements and calculations referred to in paragraph (1) must be made in accordance with methods which—

(a) can be demonstrated to be reliable, accurate, and reproducible by the person deploying them; and

(b) take into account the generally recognised state of the art.

Circumvention and software updates

26.—(1) The manufacturer, importer or authorised representative must not place on the market products designed to be able to detect they are being tested (for example by recognising the test conditions or test cycle) and to react specifically by automatically altering their performance during the test with the aim of reaching a more favourable level for any of the parameters in the technical documentation or included in any documentation provided.

(2) The energy consumption of the product and any of the other declared parameters must not deteriorate after a software or firmware update when measured with the same test standard originally used for the declaration of conformity, except with explicit consent of the end-user prior to the update.

(3) The performance of a product must not change as a result of rejecting a software update.

(4) A software update must not have the effect of changing the product’s performance in a way that makes it non-compliant with the ecodesign requirements applicable for the declaration of conformity.