What to look out for when buying heating equipment

Buying heating equipment isn’t something that people do on an annual basis, so when the time comes around, it’s important to make sure safety and efficiency are prioritised. 

Finding a radiator that slots into your home, looks and fits within your budget is only the first step. 

You should also take steps to ensure you’re getting a reliable and safe product

Thankfully, there are a few labels and certifications that signify that a radiator has gone through certain quality control procedures. 

The experts at Trade Radiators have compiled these labels to look out for, to give you a safer shopping experience.

Key Certifications and Standards to Consider

To ensure safety and quality keep an eye out for these certifications and markings that a radiator will have on product listings online, and you should ask a shop worker if you’re looking to buy in person.:

BS EN 442 Standard

A key certification for radiators is the BS EN 442 standard, which is recognised across Europe. This standard governs the testing, rating, and labelling of radiators, establishing benchmarks for performance and safety. 

The standard stipulates that radiators in the UK must use Δ50 as the metric for measuring heat output, ensuring consistency and clarity in performance data across brands and models.

CE Marking

Before Brexit, CE marking was mandatory for radiators and other heating products sold in the UK. This marking, which stands for “Conformité Européenne” (European Conformity), signifies compliance with essential European health, safety, and environmental requirements. 

For heating equipment, this could include conformity to the Machinery Directive and the Low Voltage Directive, both of which cover operational safety standards.

 If you’re looking at a product with a CE mark, it implies that the equipment has met stringent requirements laid out by the European Union.

Like a lot of other EU regulations, most products sold in the UK still meet these standards and carry the label, despite the UK no longer being a part of the Union.

UKCA Marking

Since Brexit, the UK has adopted its own conformity assessment mark known as the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark. This replaces the CE mark for products sold within Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and indicates compliance with UK-specific regulations. 

Much like the CE mark, the UKCA certification ensures that the equipment meets local health, safety, and environmental protection standards.

Additional Certifications for Quality and Performance

Beyond the core standards, several other certifications and quality markers can further indicate a radiator’s reliability and efficiency. Here are some worth noting:

Energy Star Rating: While more common in appliances like heaters and air conditioners, the Energy Star rating indicates a product’s energy efficiency. Products with this rating can help keep utility bills at bays. 

ErP (Energy-related Products) Directive Compliance: The ErP directive focuses on improving energy efficiency and lowering environmental impact across energy-related products, 

including heating systems. Radiators and heaters compliant with the ErP directive meet EU requirements on energy efficiency, which can lead to long-term energy savings.

Always check the labels!

When purchasing heating equipment, make sure to check for these essential certifications, as guarantee a level of safety, quality, and efficiency. 

With informed decisions, you can stay warm this winter, without a faulty radiator burning a hole in your pocket.