98/483/EC: 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)
Date: 1998-07-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European symbol, consumer information, eco-label, environmental protection, household electrical appliance, quality label

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COMMISSION

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 of
23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award
scheme (1), and in particular the second subparagraph of
Article 5(1) thereof,

Whereas the first subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regula-
tion (EEC) No 880/92 provides that the conditions for the
award of the Community eco-label shall be defined by
product groups;

Whereas Article 10(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92
states that the environmental performance of a product
shall be assessed by reference to the specific criteria for
product groups;

Whereas, by Decision 93/431/EEC (2), the Commission
established ecological criteria for
the
Community eco-label to dishwashers, which, according to
Article 3 thereof, expired on 30 June 1996;

the award of

Whereas it is appropriate to adopt a new decision estab-
lishing ecological criteria for this product group, which
will be valid for a further period of three years after the
expiry of the period of validity of the previous criteria, in
order to allow for the participation in the Community
eco-label award scheme of manufacturers and importers
of dishwashers;

cleaning and drying performance to be expressed in a
manner
consistent with Commission Directive 97/
17/EC (3) implementing Council Directive 92/75/EEC (4)
with regard to energy labelling of household dishwashers
and in order to adapt the energy and water consumption
innovation and market
requirements to technological
developments;

Whereas in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EEC)
No 880/92 the Commission has consulted the principal
interest groups within a consultation forum;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up
pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The product group ‘dishwashers' (hereinafter referred to as
‘the product group') shall mean:

(cid:190) electric mains-operated household dishwashers sold to
the general public. Appliances that may also use other
energy sources, such as batteries, or have no internal
heat source are excluded.

Article 2

Whereas it is appropriate to revise the criteria which were
established by Decision 93/431/EEC in order for the test
methods and classification for energy consumption and

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.

(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.

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Article 3

Article 5

The definition of the product group and the specific
ecological criteria for the product group shall be valid for
a period of three years from the first day of the month
following the adoption of the criteria.

Article 4

The code number assigned for administrative purposes to
the product group shall be ‘002'.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 July 1998.

For the Commission

Ritt BJERREGAARD

Member of the Commission

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ANNEX

FRAMEWORK

In order to be awarded an eco-label the dishwasher shall comply with the criteria of this Annex, which
are aimed at promoting:

(cid:190) reduction of enviromental damage or risks related to the use of energy (global warming,

acidification, depletion of non-renewable resources) by reducing energy consumption,

(cid:190) reduction of environmental damage related to the use of natural resources by reducing water

consumption,

(cid:190) reduction of water pollution by contributing to reduced detergent consumption.

Additionally,
environmental awareness of consumers.

the criteria encourage the implementation of best practice and enhance the

Furthermore, marking of plastic components encourages their recycling.

1. Energy saving

KEY CRITERIA

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 Directive 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 of the 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 of the dishwasher in litres per cycle, expressed to the

first decimal,

s = the applicable number of standard place settings of the 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 dispenser allowing the user to
adjust the detergent quantity used according to the type and amount of load and its degree of
soiling (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 (cid:190)C, i.e. 55 (cid:190) or 50 (cid:190)C.

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2. The appliance shall have clear markings identifying the appropriate settings 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.

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 (detergent, salt, etc.) in the

operation of the appliance, including:

(a) Guidelines on the proper installation of the dishwasher and, if hot-fill 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, if applicable.

(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 of the rinse and hold option, if available.

(f) Advice on the availability of detergents that work best at temperatures lower than 65 (cid:190)C and

have the potential to save energy.

(g) Advice on varying the detergent dose according to the type and amount of the load and its
degree of soil (for example: a half load requires less detergent). Reference shall be made to
the markings in the detergent dispenser.

(h) Information about the energy and water consumption of the dishwasher for the different
programmes, allowing the consumer to identify 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 of possible standby energy losses. The instruction manual shall state the time
needed to complete the programmes available.

(j)

Information about the cleaning and drying performance of the dishwasher, with reference to
the energy-label classes.

(k) Advice on appropriate maintenance of the dishwasher, including the regular cleaning of

filters and removal of deposits.

(l)

Information that ignoring the issues mentioned above can lead to higher consumption of
energy, 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 of the 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 identifying 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.

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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.

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 of the 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 incorporation 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.

11. Testing laboratories

TESTING

The testing shall be performed at the expense of the applicant by laboratories that meet the general
requirements stressed in the standards EN 45001 and that have experience with the testing of
dishwashers.

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).

(cid:190) This product qualifies for the European Union eco-label because it is efficient with

energy and water.

(cid:190) Additional information on how to minimise environmental impacts is given in the

instruction manual.

(1) OJ L 344, 6. 12. 1986, p. 24.