Mon, 28 November, 2022
Further ecodesign requirements for welding equipment will come into force from 1 January 2023.
The new requirements, designed to reduce energy and carbon emissions, were introduced by legislation made by the UK Government in 2021.
Since July 2021, a range of resource efficiency requirements have applied to welding equipment placed on the GB market (or since January 2021 in Northern Ireland, under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol). For the first time, minimum energy efficiency requirements will apply to welding equipment placed on the market in GB (and Northern Ireland) from 1 January 2023.
Responsibility for UK Market Surveillance of the Welding Equipment Regulations sits with The Office for Product Safety and Standards.
From 1 January 2023 specific welding equipment ‘placed on the market’ will need to meet a range of ecodesign measures.
As a result, manufacturers, importers, or authorised representatives must ensure that welding equipment meets a range of measures including a minimum power source efficiency, maximum power consumption while in an idle state, resource efficiency requirements and product information.
You can see the legislation for the British market at the link below -
The effect of this regulation is expected to result in energy savings of 100 GWh, corresponding to total savings of about 0.01 Mt C02 equivalent in the UK by 2050.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards is currently engaging with stakeholders and manufacturers to help understand their requirements to allow for compliance with the ecodesign regulations as set out in the ‘Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021.’
Further information and guidance can be found on the webpage Ecodesign of Energy-Consuming Products Regulations.
If you have a specific enquiry about compliance, please complete the online enquiry form, choose the relevant legislation, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Alternatively, you can contact a helpdesk on 0121 345 1201 or write to:
Office for Product Safety and Standards
4th Floor Cannon House
18 The Priory Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6BS