1998D0483 — EN — 23.05.2001 — 001.001 — 1
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►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 July 1998
establishing ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to dishwashers
(notified under document number C(1998) 2102)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(98/483/EC)
(OJ L 216, 4.8.1998, p. 12)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1Commission Decision 2001/397/EC of7 May 2001 L 139 21 23.5.2001
▼B
COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 July 1998
establishing ecological criteria for the award of the Community
eco-label to dishwashers
(notified under document number C(1998) 2102)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(98/483/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of23 March
1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme (1), and in particular
the second subparagraph ofArticle 5(1) thereof ,
Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EEC)
No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the award of the Commu-nity eco-label shall be defined by product groups;
Whereas Article 10(2) ofRegulation (EEC) No 880/92 states that the
environmental performance of a product shall be assessed by referenceto the specific criteria for product groups;
Whereas, by Decision 93/431/EEC (
2), the Commission established
ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to dish-
washers, which, according to Article 3 thereof, expired on 30 June
1996;
Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision establishing ecologi-
cal criteria for this product group, which will be valid for a furtherperiod ofthree years af ter the expiry ofthe period ofvalidity oftheprevious criteria, in order to allow for the participation in the Commu-nity eco-label award scheme ofmanuf acturers and importers ofdish-
washers;
Whereas it is appropriate to revise the criteria which were established
by Decision 93/431/EEC in order for the test methods and classifica-tion for energy consumption and cleaning and drying performance tobe expressed in a manner consistent with Commission Directive 97/17/EC (
3) mplementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC (4) ith regard to
energy labelling ofhousehold dishwashers and in order to adapt the
energy and water consumption requirements to technological innova-
tion and market developments;
Whereas in accordance with Article 6 ofRegulation (EEC) No 880/92
the Commission has consulted the principal interest groups within aconsultation forum;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance
with the opinion ofthe Committee set up pursuant to Article 7 ofRegulation (EEC) No 880/92,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The product group ‘dishwashers’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the pro-
duct group’) shall mean:
— electric mains-operated household dishwashers sold to the general
public. Appliances that may also use other energy sources, such asbatteries, or have no internal heat source are excluded.1998D0483 — EN — 23.05.2001 — 001.001 — 2
(1) OJ L 99, 11. 4. 1992, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 198, 7. 8. 1993, p. 38.
(3) OJ L 118, 7. 5. 1997, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 297, 13. 10. 1992, p. 16.
▼B
Article 2
The environmental performance and the fitness for use of the product
group shall be assessed by reference to the specific ecological criteria
set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The product group definition and the criteria for the product group
shall be valid from 1 August 1998 until 31 January 2003.
Article 4
The code number assigned for administrative purposes to the product
group shall be ‘002’.
Article 5
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.1998D0483 — EN — 23.05.2001 — 001.001 — 3
▼M1
▼B
▼B
ANNEX
FRAMEWORK
In order to be awarded an eco-label the dishwasher shall comply with the cri-
teria ofthis Annex, which are aimed at promoting:
— reduction ofenviromental damage or risks related to the use ofenergy (glo-
bal warming, acidification, depletion of non-renewable resources) by redu-
cing energy consumption,
— reduction ofenvironmental damage related to the use ofnatural resources
by reducing water consumption,
— reduction ofwater pollution by contributing to reduced detergent consump-
tion.
Additionally, the criteria encourage the implementation ofbest practice and
enhance the environmental awareness ofconsumers.
Furthermore, marking ofplastic components encourages their recycling.
KEY CRITERIA
1.Energy saving
Dishwashers with 10 or more place settings must have an energy efficiency
index lower than 0,76 as defined in Commission Directive 97/17/EC, Annex
IV, using the same test method EN 50242 and programme cycle as chosen
for Directive 97/17/EC.
The appliance will thus qualify for either energy efficiency class A or B as
defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV.
Dishwashers with less than 10 place settings must have an energy efficiency
index lower than 0,88 as defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV, using
the same test method EN 50242 and programme cycle as chosen for Direc-
tive 97/17/EC.
The appliance will thus qualify for either energy efficiency class A, B or C
as defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV.
2.Water saving
The water consumption ofthe dishwasher (expressed as W (measured) ) shall be
lower or equal to the threshold as defined by the equation below:
W(measured)≤0,6 s + 11,2
where:W
(measured) = the measured water consumption ofthe dishwasher in litres per
cycle, expressed to the first decimal,
s = the applicable number ofstandard place settings ofthe dishwasher.
The water consumption shall be measured using the same test method EN
50242 and programme cycle as chosen for Directive 97/17/EC.
3.Prevention of excessive use of detergent
The appliance shall have clear volumetric markings on the detergent dispen-
ser allowing the user to adjust the detergent quantity used according to the
type and amount ofload and its degree ofsoiling (see also criterion 5.1.g).
BEST PRACTICE CRITERIA
4.Appliance design
1. The appliance shall allow the user to select a programme for washing a
standard load using detergents that work best at temperatures lower than
65 ºC, i.e. 55 º or 50 ºC.
2. The appliance shall have clear markings identifying the appropriate set-
tings for the programmes available (e.g. standard, low-temperature, half-
load, lightly or heavily soiled load, etc.).
3. Where applicable, the appliance shall allow the salt dosing to be adjusted
to the local water hardness, and shall have a salt refill indicator.1998D0483 — EN — 23.05.2001 — 001.001 — 4
▼B
5.User instructions
The appliance shall be sold with an instruction manual which provides
advice on the correct environmental use and, in particular:
1. Recommendations for optimal use of energy, water and additives (deter-
gent, salt, etc.) in the operation ofthe appliance, including:
(a) Guidelines on the proper installation ofthe dishwasher and, ifhot-f ill
is available on the machine, advice on the fuel best used for home
water heating.
(b) Advice to adjust the salt dosing to the local water hardness, ifapplic-
able.
(c) Advice to use a full load whenever possible.
(d) Advice to avoid rinsing items before placing them in the dishwasher.
(e) Advice on the best use ofthe rinse and hold option, ifavailable.
(f) Advice on the availability of detergents that work best at tempera-
tures lower than 65 ºC and have the potential to save energy.
(g) Advice on varying the detergent dose according to the type and
amount ofthe load and its degree ofsoil (f or example: a halfload
requires less detergent). Reference shall be made to the markings in
the detergent dispenser.
(h) Information about the energy and water consumption of the dish-
washer for the different programmes, allowing the consumer to iden-
tify an appropriate programme to make the least use of energy and
water.
(i) Advice that the dishwasher should not be left in the ‘on’-position
when it has completed its cycle, because ofpossible standby energy
losses. The instruction manual shall state the time needed to com-
plete the programmes available.
(j) Information about the cleaning and drying performance of the dish-
washer, with reference to the energy-label classes.
(k) Advice on appropriate maintenance ofthe dishwasher, including the
regular cleaning off ilters and removal ofdeposits.
(l) Information that ignoring the issues mentioned above can lead to
higher consumption ofenergy, water and/or detergent and thus can
increase the running costs and lead to poor results.
2. Information about those parts and materials of the dishwasher which are
reusable and/or recyclable.
3. Advice that when disposing ofthe dishwasher the consumer should
enquire about and follow the applicable waste management route.
6.Recycling
Plastic parts weighing more than 50 g must have a permanent marking iden-
tifying the material, in conformity with ISO 1043.
Excluded from this criterion are extruded plastic materials.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
7.Cleaning performance
The dishwasher must have a cleaning performance index of more than
0,88 as defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV, using the same test
method EN 50242 and programme cycle as chosen for Directive 97/17/EC.
The dishwasher will thus qualify for either cleaning performance class A,
B or C as defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV.
8.Drying performance
The dishwasher must have a drying performance index of more than 0,78
as defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV, using the same test method
EN 50242 and programme cycle as chosen for Directive 97/17/EC.
The dishwasher will thus qualify for either drying performance class A, B
or C as defined in Directive 97/17/EC, Annex IV.1998D0483 — EN — 23.05.2001 — 001.001 — 5
▼B
9.Noise emissions
Airborne noise from the appliance, counted as sound power, shall not
exceed 55 dB (A) for free standing models and 51 dB (A) for built-in
models.
The measurement ofthe noise level shall be in accordance with Council
Directive 86/594/EEC (1), using the standards prescribed in standard EN
50242.
10.Noise information
Information about the noise level of the machine shall be provided in a
way clearly visible to the consumer. This shall be done by the incorpora-
tion of this information in the energy label for dishwashers.
The information relating to noise shall be measured in accordance with
Directive 86/594/EEC, using the standards prescribed in standard EN
50242.
TESTING
11.Testing laboratories
The testing shall be performed at the expense of the applicant by labora-
tories that meet the general requirements stressed in the standards EN
45001 and that have experience with the testing ofdishwashers.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
The following text shall be provided in such a way as to be clearly visible to
consumers (next to the label, whenever possible).
—This product qualifies for the European Union eco-label because it is
efficient with energy and water.
—Additional information on how to minimise environmental impacts is
given in the instruction manual.1998D0483 — EN — 23.05.2001 — 001.001 — 6
(1) OJ L 344, 6. 12. 1986, p. 24.