One in two ventilation specialists are risking ErP compliance

David Millward, Product Manager at Elta Group

One of the biggest challenges for ventilation specialists is making sure that the products they install are ErP compliant. Regulations can be a minefield, and figuring where responsibility lies is half of the battle.

Who is the system designer?

Much of the culpability when it comes to ErP compliance is with the system designer. This is where things can get confusing, because the system designer is defined as anyone who takes multiple components and puts them together into a single product.

All-too-often, it is assumed that manufacturers of ventilation products are responsible for compliance, but there are some common installations that prevent this from being the case. By combining a roof cowl with a separate plate mounted axial fan, for example, that person is acting as the system designer, and therefore responsible for ErP compliance for that particular roof-top ventilation unit.

One in two unaware

To find out the scale of the problem, we surveyed a range of those involved in the delivery and installation of ventilation equipment, asking who they thought was responsible. Worryingly, 53% of contractors and 45% of distributors said they didn’t believe themselves to be systems designers.

This means that one in two ventilation specialists are unaware they are risking ErP compliance. Not only is this potentially damaging for individual contractors and distributors, but for the industry as a whole. As indoor air quality becomes an increasingly important factor in construction, it is crucial that ventilation is meeting ErP directives, and this lack of awareness over who is responsible must be addressed.

Ensuring compliance

To ensure they are not falling foul of ErP compliance, Elta is urging those tasked with delivering ventilation solutions to opt for ready-made roof fan units. Elta’s Skyflow SSRL EC is the first ErP compliant low silhouette axial roof fan available on the market, and incorporates an integral potentiometer commission device as standard.

It is designed to help distributors and contractors comply with ErP regulations, by removing the issue of combining separate products and delivering high performance in a comprehensive unit, complete with controls that enable the user to adjust fan speed.

The important thing to remember is that ErP compliance effectively ensures delivery of a higher quality of air. By choosing a unit that guarantees results, like the Skyflow SSRL EC, distributors and contractors can be sure of customer satisfaction, while avoiding the legal issues of operating as a system designer.