COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 617/2013
of 26 June 2013
implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for computers and computer servers
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
After consulting the Consultation Forum referred to in Article 18 of Directive 2009/125/EC,
Whereas:
(1)
Under Directive 2009/125/EC, ecodesign requirements are to be laid down by the Commission for energy-related products that represent significant volumes of sales and trade, have a significant environmental impact and present significant potential for improvement in terms of their environmental impact without entailing excessive costs.
(2)
Article 16(2)(a) of Directive 2009/125/EC provides that the Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 19(3) and the criteria set out in Article 15, and after consulting the Consultation Forum, has to introduce, as appropriate, an implementing measure for office equipment.
(3)
The Commission has carried out a preparatory study which analysed the technical, environmental and economic aspects of computers. The study involved stakeholders and interested parties from the Union and third countries, and the results have been made publicly available.
(4)
The preparatory study showed that the cost-efficient improvement potential in the electricity consumption of computers between 2011 and 2020 was estimated at about 93 TWh, which corresponds to 43 Mt of CO2 emissions, and in 2020 at between 12,5 TWh and 16,3 TWh, which corresponds to 5,0-6,5 Mt of CO2 emissions. Consequently, computers constitute a product group for which ecodesign requirements should be established.
(5)
Since a lot of the energy-savings potential of desktop thin clients, workstations, small-scale servers and computer servers is linked to the efficiency of their internal power supplies and since the technical specifications of internal power supply for these products are similar to those for desktop computers and integrated desktop computers, the provisions on internal power supply efficiency of this Regulation should also apply to the former. However, other environmental performance aspects of desktop thin clients, workstations, mobile workstations, small-scale servers and computer servers could be addressed in a more specific measure implementing Directive 2009/125/EC.
(6)
Displays have distinct characteristics and should therefore be excluded from the scope of this Regulation. However, considering their significant environmental impact and their significant potential for improvement, they could be addressed in another measure implementing Directive 2009/125/EC and/or Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products (2).
(7)
The ecodesign requirements should not have any significant negative impact on the functionality of the product or on consumers, and in particular as regards the affordability of the product, the life cycle costs and the industry’s competitiveness. Furthermore, the requirements should not impose on manufacturers proprietary technology or excessive administrative burden, nor should they negatively affect health, safety and the environment.
(8)
Improvements in the energy efficiency of computers should be achieved by applying existing non-proprietary and cost-effective technologies that can reduce the total combined costs of purchasing and operating them.
(9)
The ecodesign requirements should be introduced gradually in order to provide a sufficient time frame for manufacturers to redesign products that are subject to this Regulation. The timing should be such that negative impacts on the supply of computers are avoided, and costs for manufacturers, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, are taken into account, while ensuring timely achievement of the objectives of this Regulation.
(10)
A review of this Regulation is envisaged no later than three and a half years after its entry into force.
(11)
The energy efficiency of computers should be determined through reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement methods, which take into account the recognised state of the art, including, where available, harmonised standards established in conformity with the applicable European standardisation legislation (3).
(12)
As ecodesign requirements for standby and off mode electric power demand of electrical and electronic household and office equipment are not fully appropriate for the characteristics of computers, the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 of 17 December 2008 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for standby and off mode electric power demand of electrical and electronic household and office equipment (4) should not apply to computers. Consequently, specific requirements for power management, as well as for sleep mode, off mode and lowest power state in computers should be set in this Regulation, and Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 should be amended accordingly.
(13)
Despite the exclusion of computers from the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008, provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 278/2009 of 6 April 2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for no-load condition electric power demand and average active efficiency of external power supplies (5) shall apply to external power supplies that are placed on the market with computers.
(14)
In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC, this Regulation should specify the applicable conformity assessment procedures.
(15)
In order to facilitate compliance checks, manufacturers should be requested to provide information contained in the technical documentation referred to in Annexes IV and V to Directive 2009/125/EC in so far as that information relates to the requirements laid down in this Regulation.
(16)
To ensure fair competition, the achievement of potential intended energy savings and provision of accurate information of products’ energy performance towards consumers, this Regulation should make clear that the tolerances prescribed for the national market surveillance authorities when conducting physical tests to establish whether a specific model of an energy related product is in compliance with this Regulation should not be used by the manufacturers to provide room for declaring a more favourable performance of the model than measurements and calculations declared in the technical documentation of the product can justify.
(17)
Benchmarks for currently available products with high energy efficiency should be identified. This will help to ensure the wide availability and easy accessibility of information, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, which will further facilitate the integration of best design technologies and the development of more efficient products for reducing energy consumption.
(18)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 19(1) of Directive 2009/125/EC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Subject matter and scope
1. This Regulation establishes ecodesign requirements for the placing on the market of computers and computer servers.
2. This Regulation shall apply to the following products that can be powered directly from the mains alternating current (AC) including via an external or internal power supply:
(a)
desktop computers;
(b)
integrated desktop computers;
(c)
notebook computers (including tablet computers, slate computers and mobile thin clients);
(d)
desktop thin clients;
(e)
workstations;
(f)
mobile workstations;
(g)
small-scale servers;
(h)
computer servers.
3. This Regulation shall not apply to the following product groups:
(a)
blade system and components;
(b)
server appliances;
(c)
multi-node servers;
(d)
computer servers with more than four processor sockets;
(e)
game consoles;
(f)
docking stations.
Article 2
Definitions
The following definitions shall apply:
(1)
‘Computer’ means a device which performs logical operations and processes data, is capable of using input devices and outputting information to a display, and normally includes a central processing unit (CPU) to perform operations. If no CPU is present, then the device must function as a client gateway to a computer server which acts as a computational processing unit;
(2)
‘Computer server’ means a computing product that provides services and manages networked resources for client devices, such as desktop computers, notebook computers, desktop thin clients, internet protocol (IP) telephones, or other computer servers. A computer server is typically placed on the market for use in data centres and office/corporate environments. A computer server is primarily accessed via network connections, and not through direct user input devices, such as a keyboard or a mouse;
A computer server has the following characteristics:
(a)
is designed to support computer server operating systems (OS) and/or hypervisors, and targeted to run user-installed enterprise applications;
(b)
supports error-correcting code (ECC) and/or buffered memory (including both buffered dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) and buffered on board (BOB) configurations);
(c)
is placed on the market with one or more AC-DC power supply(ies);
(d)
all processors have access to shared system memory and are independently visible to a single OS or hypervisor;
(3)
‘External power supply’ means a device which has the following characteristics:
(a)
is designed to convert alternating current (AC) power input from the mains power source input into lower voltage direct current (DC) or AC output;
(b)
is able to convert to only one DC or AC output voltage at a time;
(c)
is intended to be used with a separate device that constitutes the primary load;
(d)
is contained in a physical enclosure separate from the device that constitutes the primary load;
(e)
is connected to the device that constitutes the primary load via a removable or hard-wired male/female electrical connection, cable, cord or other wiring; and
(f)
has nameplate output power not exceeding 250 Watts;
(4)
‘Internal power supply’ means a component designed to convert AC voltage from the mains to DC voltage(s) for the purpose of powering the computer or computer server and has the following characteristics:
(a)
is contained within the computer or computer server casing but is separate from the main computer or computer server board;
(b)
the power supply connects to the mains through a single cable with no intermediate circuitry between the power supply and the mains power; and
(c)
all power connections from the power supply to the computer or computer server components, with the exception of a DC connection to a display in an integrated desktop computer, are internal to the computer casing.
Internal DC-to-DC converters used to convert a single DC voltage from an external power supply into multiple voltages for use by a computer or computer server are not considered internal power supplies;
(5)
‘Desktop computer’ means a computer where the main unit is intended to be located in a permanent location and is not designed for portability and which is designed for use with an external display and external peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse.
The following categories of desktop computers are defined for the purposes of this Regulation:
(a)
‘Category A’ desktop computer means a desktop computer that does not meet the definition of Category B, Category C or Category D desktop computer;
(b)
‘Category B’ desktop computer means a desktop computer with:
(i)
two physical cores within the CPU; and
(ii)
a minimum of two gigabytes (GB) of system memory;
(c)
‘Category C’ desktop computer means a desktop computer with:
(i)
three or more physical cores within the CPU; and
(ii)
a configuration of a minimum of one of the following two characteristics:
-
a minimum of two gigabytes (GB) of system memory, and/or
-
a discrete graphics card (dGfx);
(d)
‘Category D’ desktop computer means a desktop computer with:
(i)
a minimum four physical cores in the CPU; and
(ii)
a configuration of a minimum of one of the following two characteristics:
-
a minimum of four gigabytes (GB) of system memory, and/or
-
a discrete graphics card (dGfx) meeting the G3 (with FB Data Width > 128-bit), G4, G5, G6 or G7 classification;
(6)
‘Integrated desktop computer’ means a computer in which the computer and the display function as a single unit, which receives its AC power through a single cable. Integrated desktop computers come in one of two possible forms: (1) a product where the display and the computer are physically combined into a single unit; or (2) a product where the display is separated from the computer but it is connected to the main chassis by a direct current (DC) power cord. An integrated desktop computer is intended to be located in a permanent location and is not designed for portability. Integrated desktop computers are not primarily designed for the display and reception of audiovisual signals.
The following categories of integrated desktop computers are defined for the purposes of this Regulation:
(a)
‘Category A’ integrated desktop computer means an integrated desktop computer that does not meet the definition of Category B, Category C or Category D integrated desktop computer;
(b)
‘Category B’ integrated desktop computer means an integrated desktop computer with:
(i)
two physical cores in the CPU; and
(ii)
a minimum of two gigabytes (GB) of system memory;
(c)
‘Category C’ integrated desktop computer means an integrated desktop computer with:
(i)
three or more physical cores in the CPU; and
(ii)
a configuration of a minimum of one of the following two characteristics:
-
a minimum of two gigabytes (GB) of system memory, and/or
-
a discrete graphics card (dGfx);
(d)
‘Category D’ integrated desktop computer means an integrated desktop computer with:
(i)
a minimum of four physical cores in the CPU; and
(ii)
a configuration of a minimum of one of the following two characteristics:
-
a minimum of four gigabytes (GB) of system memory, and/or
-
a discrete graphics card (dGfx) meeting the G3 (with FB Data Width > 128-bit), G4, G5, G6 or G7 classification;
(7)
‘Notebook computer’ means a computer designed specifically for portability and to be operated for extended periods of time either with or without a direct connection to an AC power source. Notebook computers utilise an integrated display, with a viewable diagonal screen size of at least 22,86 cm (9 inches), and are capable of operation on an integrated battery or other portable power source.
Notebook computers also include the following subtypes:
(a)
‘Tablet computer’ means a product which is a type of notebook computer that includes both an attached touch-sensitive display and an attached physical keyboard;
(b)
‘Slate computer’ means a type of notebook computer that includes an integrated touch-sensitive display but does not have a permanently attached physical keyboard;
(c)
‘Mobile thin client’ means a type of notebook computer that relies on a connection to remote computing resources (e.g. computer server, remote workstation) to obtain primary functionality and has no rotational storage media integral to the product.
The following categories of notebook computers are defined for the purposes of this Regulation:
(a)
‘Category A’ notebook computer means a notebook computer that does not meet the definition of Category B or Category C notebook computer;
(b)
‘Category B’ notebook computer means a notebook computer with at least one discrete graphics card (dGfx);
(c)
‘Category C’ notebook computer means a notebook computer with at least the following characteristics:
(a)
a minimum two physical cores in the CPU;
(b)
a minimum two gigabytes (GB) of system memory; and
(c)
a discrete graphics card (dGfx) meeting the G3 (with FB Data Width > 128-bit), G4, G5, G6 or G7 classification;
Products that would otherwise meet the definition of notebook computer but have idle state power demand of less than 6 W are not considered to be notebook computers for the purposes of this Regulation;
(8)
‘Desktop thin client’ means a computer that relies on a connection to remote computing resources (e.g. computer server, remote workstation) to obtain primary functionality and has no rotational storage media integral to the product. The main unit of a desktop thin client must be intended for use in a permanent location (e.g. on a desk) and not for portability. Desktop thin clients can output information to either an external or, where included with the product, an internal display;
(9)
‘Workstation’ means a high-performance, single-user computer primarily used for graphics, Computer Aided Design, software development, financial and scientific applications among other compute intensive tasks, and which has the following characteristics:
(a)
has a mean time between failures (MTBF) of at least 15 000 hours;
(b)
has error-correcting code (ECC) and/or buffered memory;
(c)
meets three of the following five characteristics:
(1)
has supplemental power support for high-end graphics (i.e. peripheral component interconnect (PCI)-E 6-pin 12 V supplemental power feed);
(2)
its system is wired for greater than x4 PCI-E on the motherboard in addition to the graphics slot(s) and/or PCI-X support;
(3)
does not support uniform memory access (UMA) graphics;
(4)
includes five or more PCI, PCI-E or PCI-X slots;
(5)
is capable of multi-processor support for two or more CPU (must support physically separate CPU packages/sockets, i.e. not met with support for a single multi core CPU);
(10)
‘Mobile workstation’ means a high-performance, single-user computer primarily used for graphics, Computer Aided Design, software development, financial and scientific applications among other compute intensive tasks, excluding game play, and which is designed specifically for portability and to be operated for extended periods of time either with or without a direct connection to an AC power source. Mobile workstations utilise an integrated display and are capable of operation on an integrated battery or other portable power source. Most mobile workstations use an external power supply and most have an integrated keyboard and pointing device.
A mobile workstation has the following characteristics:
(a)
has a mean time between failures (MTBF) of at least 13 000 hours;
(b)
has at least one discrete graphics card (dGfx) meeting the G3 (with FB Data Width > 128-bit), G4, G5, G6 or G7 classification;
(c)
supports the inclusion of three or more internal storage devices;
(d)
supports at least 32 GB of system memory;
(11)
‘Small-scale server’ means a type of computer that typically uses desktop computer components in a desktop form factor but is designed primarily to be a storage host for other computers and to perform functions such as providing network infrastructure services and hosting data/media, and which has the following characteristics:
(a)
is designed in a pedestal, tower, or other form factor similar to those of desktop computers such that all data processing, storage, and network interfacing is contained within one box;
(b)
is designed to be operational 24 hours per day and 7 days per week;
(c)
is primarily designed to operate in a simultaneous multi-user environment serving several users through networked client units;
(d)
where placed on the market with an operating system, the operating system is designed for home server or low-end server applications;
(e)
is not placed on the market with a discrete graphics card (dGfx) meeting any classification other than G1;
(12)
‘Blade system and components’ means a system composed of an enclosure (‘blade chassis’) into which different types of blade storage and servers are inserted. The enclosure provides shared resources on which the servers and storage are dependent. Blade systems are designed as a scalable solution to combine multiple computer servers or storage units in a single enclosure, and are designed for technicians to be able to easily add or replace (hot-swap) blades (e.g. blade servers) in the field;
(13)
‘Server appliance’ means a computer server bundled with a pre-installed operating system and application software that is used to perform a dedicated function or set of tightly coupled functions. A server appliance delivers services through one or more networks, and is typically managed through a web or command line interface. Server appliance hardware and software configurations are customised by a vendor to perform a specific task, including network or storage, and are not intended to execute user-supplied software;
(14)
‘Multi-node server’ means a system composed of an enclosure where two or more independent computer servers (or nodes) are inserted, which share one or more power supplies. The combined power for all nodes is distributed through the shared power supply(ies). A multi-node server is designed and built as a single enclosure and is not designed to be hot-swappable;
(15)
‘Dual-node server’ means a common multi-node server configuration consisting of two server nodes;
(16)
‘Computer server with more than four processor sockets’ means a computer server containing more than four interfaces designed for the installation of a processor;
(17)
‘Game console’ means a mains-powered standalone device which is designed to provide video game playing as its primary function. A game console is typically designed to provide output to an external display as the main game-play display. Game consoles typically include a CPU, system memory and a graphics processing unit(s) (GPU), and may contain hard drives or other internal storage options, and optical drives. Game consoles typically utilise handheld controllers or other interactive controllers as their primary input device rather than an external keyboard or mouse. Game consoles do not typically include conventional personal computing operating systems but instead utilise console-specific operating systems. Handheld gaming devices, with an integrated display as the primary game-play display, and which primarily operate on an integrated battery or other portable power source rather than via a direct connection to an AC power source, are considered to be a type of game console;
(18)
‘Docking station’ means a discrete product designed to be connected to a computer in order to perform functions such as expanding connectivity or consolidating connections to peripheral devices. Docking stations may also facilitate charging of internal batteries in the connected computer;
(19)
‘Central Processing Unit (CPU)’ means a component in a computer that controls the interpretation and execution of instructions. CPUs may contain one or more physical processors known as ‘execution cores’. An execution core means a processor that is physically present. Additional ‘virtual’ or ‘logical’ processors derived from one or more than one execution core are not physical cores. More than one execution core may be contained in a processor package occupying a single CPU physical socket. The total number of execution cores in the CPU is the sum of the execution cores provided by the devices connected to all the CPU physical sockets;
(20)
‘Discrete Graphics Card’ (dGfx) means a discrete internal component containing one or more graphics processing units (GPUs) with a local memory controller interface and local graphics-specific memory and falling into one of the following categories:
(a)
G1 (FB_BW ≤ 16);
(b)
G2 (16 < FB_BW ≤ 32);
(c)
G3 (32 <FB_BW ≤ 64);
(d)
G4 (64 <FB_BW ≤ 96);
(e)
G5 (96 <FB_BW ≤ 128);
(f)
G6 (FB_BW > 128 (with FB Data Width < 192-bit));
(g)
G7 (FB_BW > 128 (with FB Data Width ≥ 192-bit));
‘Frame buffer bandwidth’ (FB _BW) means the amount of data that is processed per second by all GPUs on a dGfx, which is calculated using the following formula:
Where:
(a)
frame buffer bandwidth is expressed in GigaBytes/second (GB/s);
(b)
data rate is the effective memory data frequency in MHz;
(c)
data width is the memory frame buffer (FB) data width, expressed in bits (b);
(d)
‘8’ converts the calculation into Bytes;
(e)
dividing by 1 000 converts Megabytes into Gigabytes;
(21)
‘Internal storage’ means a component internal to the computer which provides non-volatile storage of data;
(22)
‘Product type’ means desktop computer, integrated desktop computer, notebook computer, desktop thin client, workstation, mobile workstation, small-scale server, computer server, blade system and components, multi-node server, server appliance, game console, docking station, internal power supply or external power supply;
(23)
‘Display sleep mode’ means the power mode the display product enters after receiving a signal from a connected device or an internal stimulus (such as a timer or occupancy sensor). The display product may also enter this mode by virtue of a signal produced by user input. The product must wake on receiving a signal from a connected device, a network, a remote control, and/or an internal stimulus. While the product is in this mode, it is not producing a visible picture, with the possible exception of user-oriented or protective functions such as product information or status displays, or sensor-based functions.
For the purposes of the Annexes, additional definitions are laid down in Annex I.
Article 3
Ecodesign requirements
The ecodesign requirements for computers and computer servers are set out in Annex II.
Compliance of computers and computer servers with the applicable ecodesign requirements shall be measured in accordance with the methods set out in Annex III.
Article 4
Amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008
Point 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 is replaced by the following:
‘2.
Information technology equipment intended primarily for use in the domestic environment, but excluding desktop computers, integrated desktop computers and notebook computers as defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 617/2013 (6).
Article 5
Application of Regulation (EC) No 278/2009
Article 2(1)(g) of Regulation (EC) No 278/2009 is replaced by the following:
‘(g)
it is intended for use with electrical and electronic household and office equipment as referred to in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 or with computers as defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 617/2013 (7).
Article 6
Conformity assessment
The conformity assessment procedure referred to in Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC shall be the internal design control system set out in Annex IV to that Directive or the management system for assessing conformity set out in Annex V to that Directive.
Article 7
Market surveillance and verification procedure
Market surveillance shall be carried out in accordance with the rules specified in Directive 2009/125/EC.
Checking of computers and computer servers for compliance with the applicable ecodesign requirements shall be carried out in accordance with the verification procedure set out in point 2 of Annex III to this Regulation.
Article 8
Indicative benchmarks
The indicative benchmarks for best-performing products and technology available on the market at the time of entry into force of this Regulation are identified in Annex IV.
Article 9
Revision
The Commission shall review this Regulation and present the results of this review to the Ecodesign Consultation Forum no later than three and a half years after its entry into force in the light of technological progress.
In the light of rapid technological development, this review shall consider developments in the Energy Star programme, and opportunities to tighten ecodesign requirements, to significantly reduce or to eliminate the energy allowances, in particular for discrete graphics cards (dGfx), to update definitions/scope, and the potential to address energy consumption of integrated displays.
Furthermore, the review shall specifically consider different life-cycle phases, the feasibility of establishing and applying the Ecodesign requirements on other significant environmental aspects such as noise, material use efficiency, including requirements on durability, dismantlability, recyclability, standardised interfaces for rechargers, as well as information requirements on the content of certain Critical Raw Materials and minimum number of loading cycles and battery replacement issues.
Article 10
Entry into force and application
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Points 3 and 6.1 of Annex II shall apply as from the entry into force of the Regulation.
Points 1.1, 1.3, 2, 4, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 6.2.5, 6.2.6, 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 of Annex II shall apply as from 1 July 2014.
Points 1.2 and 1.4 of Annex II shall apply as from 1 January 2016.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 26 June 2013.