Europe’s ongoing energy transition has raised residents’ awareness of energy conservation. As an essential winter appliance, space heaters maintain steady demand across the European market. Regular China-Europe Railway Express services also deliver an efficient and stable logistics channel for heating small home appliance exports.
Nevertheless, market access requirements are tightening simultaneously. All space heaters exported to the EU must complete ERP energy efficiency certification; otherwise, shipments may be detained by customs, product listings removed from e-commerce platforms, or hefty fines imposed.
Of particular note: the EU released the new ecodesign regulation for local space heaters, (EU) 2024/1103, in April 2024. It entered into force mandatorily on 1 July 2025, fully replacing the old regulati
on (EU) 2015/1188. The updated regulation enforces stricter thresholds for seasonal space heating efficiency, standby power consumption and other parameters.
01 What is ERP Certification?
ERP certification is a compliance requirement under the EU Energy-related Products Directive. It aims to reduce the environmental impact of energy-consuming products by setting minimum energy efficiency standards and ecodesign specifications.
For space heaters, ERP certification is essentially a mandatory filing process of product information in the official EU EPREL database, rather than traditional certificate issuance. Manufacturers or their authorised representatives must upload product energy efficiency data, technical specifications, test reports and other documentation to the EPREL system to obtain a unique registration number. This number must be clearly marked on product labels, user manuals and promotional materials before the product can be legally sold across the 27 EU Member States.
02 Core Energy Efficiency Requirements
ERP certification for space heaters focuses on the following technical parameters:
Seasonal space heating efficiency (ηₛ)
Under the new regulation (EU) 2024/1103, the minimum seasonal space heating efficiency (ηₛ) requirements are:
Mobile electric heaters: ≥ 44.7%
Fixed electric heaters (power >250W): ≥ 47.5%
Fixed electric heaters (power ≤250W): ≥ 43.1%
Standby and off-mode power consumption
Noise limit
Typically limited to a maximum of 65 decibels measured at a distance of 1 metre.
Product information label
New A-G energy labels must be affixed, indicating energy efficiency class, hourly power consumption, noise level and other information.
Technical documentation requirements
Technical documentation shall include declared values for parameters listed in point 6 of Annex II of the regulation, plus detailed calculation results prepared in accordance with Annex III.
03 Certification Process
The ERP certification workflow for space heaters consists of four key stages:
Product TestingEngage an accredited third-party laboratory to conduct tests in accordance with the EN 60335 series safety standards and relevant ERP energy efficiency standards, to obtain core data for energy efficiency, standby power consumption, noise and more.
Technical Document PreparationCompile product datasheets, circuit diagrams, BOM, test reports, user manuals and other files to create a complete technical construction file. Technical documentation must be retained for at least 10 years after the product is discontinued.
EPREL System RegistrationLog into the official EU EPREL database, create a manufacturer account, upload test reports and technical files, and submit product information. Non-EU manufacturers must appoint an EU Authorised Representative. Once reviewed and approved, a unique registration number will be generated.
Label Application & Ongoing Compliance MaintenancePrint the registration number and energy label onto the product body, outer packaging and user manuals. Continuously monitor regulatory updates to sustain long-term product compliance.
04 Required Document Checklist
The documents generally required for ERP certification:
Product technical specification sheet
Circuit and structural drawings
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Energy efficiency test report
Product nameplate information
Details of EU Authorised Representative
Physical product photos
05 Reference Timeline & Cost
Certification timeline: Normally 7–15 working days, subject to product complexity, document completeness and laboratory scheduling. With complete documents and smooth testing, the full process can be finished in as fast as 7 working days. Expedited services are available via selected providers for shorter lead times.
Cost overview: Fees mainly consist of product testing charges and registration service fees, determined by product power rating, functional complexity and the scope of test items. It is recommended to submit product specifications for an accurate quotation.
06 What We Can Offer
As a professional third-party testing and certification body, we deliver the following services for space heater ERP energy efficiency certification:
Accredited Qualifications: CNAS/CMA/IAS recognised laboratory, with reports accepted by EU regulatory authorities
Full-Scope Testing: Complete full tests for energy efficiency, standby power consumption, noise etc., complying with EN 60335 series and ERP standards
End-to-End Managed Service: From pre-testing, rectification recommendations and formal testing, through technical file compilation, EU Authorised Representative coordination, EPREL registration and label generation, all handled in one-stop
Multi-Country Energy Efficiency Support: Concurrent services for US DOE certification, California CEC certification and UK energy efficiency certification
New Regulation Support: In-depth knowledge of (EU) 2024/1103 requirements, enabling pre-assessment to verify whether products meet the newly enforced energy efficiency thresholds
