
There are many energy efficiency labels around nowadays. They tell the consumers how much energy items like refrigerators, washing machines and light bulbs use, or - in the best case scenario - how little. The ErP label for "energy related products", with categories ranging from a red D to a green A+++, is the most well known.
However, even though energy labelling has now also been mandatory for heating products since 26 September 2015, those who want to know about a solar thermal system has so far had no luck. Since solar collectors do not consume any energy but solely generate heat, they are not currently labelled.
Well-known manufacturers are now implementing their own label so that consumers can be informed when choosing a product on the market that best meets their requirements for an environmentally friendly and sustainably cost-effective heating supply.
If a person chooses a solar collector, their main objective is to save primary energy and therefore costs. A good collector can cover up to 50 percent of a consumer's hot water and heating needs - and, at the same time, protect the environment. However, this is only possible if the collector actually generates high outputs.
Trust is good - tested and registered solar outputs are even better!
So that consumers can be well informed to make a decision, the heat outputs of the different collectors need to be comparable for potential buyers. Therefore, well-known system and component providers, suppliers and associations on solar heating have joined forces. Their aim is the labelling of their solar thermal collectors with a voluntary collector output label.
The voluntary collector output label for solar thermal systems allows consumers to choose, out of all the options, the collector that supplies the right output for them. The data sheet of a valid Solar Keymark certification is used as the basis. All the classifications on the collector output label have a green background, a symbol to indicate that solar collectors, which are the most environmentally friendly means to generate heat, are always ecological and efficient.
Basic registration information
The basis for registration is the DIN CERTCO Certification Scheme "Collector Output Label". The documents listed below form the basis for checking and registering. The relevant copy is only valid for dated references. For non-dated references the respective current edition of the related document including any changes is valid.
- Certification Scheme "Collector Output Label"
- Valid Solar KEYMARK certificate and Solar KEYMARK data sheet
- the General Terms and Conditions of Business of DIN CERTCO
- DIN CERTCO's corresponding fee schedule
Application
Applicants can be both manufacturer and seller of solar panels with a valid Solar KEYMARK certificate or those who have already applied for certification with Solar KEYMARK.
The applicant must submit the following documents to DIN CERTCO:
- Application for registration for the collector yield label in its original copy and with a legally binding signature
- current valid Solar KEYMARK certificate for the said product
- the completed Solar KEYMARK data sheet (ScenoCalc at least version 2.0)
- the completed Input Excel form (template from DIN CERTCO)
After submitting an application the applicant will receive an order confirmation from DIN CERTCO with a process number and further information on the procedure and, where necessary, the application documents which are still to be submitted.
Conformity assessment
On the basis of the application documents submitted DIN CERTCO shall perform an evaluation in the form of a plausibility check, a data check, a yield check with ScenoCalc and registration of the label class.
The conformity evaluation is only performed on the basis of an absolutely certain and accurate Solar KEYMARK data sheet or an absolutely certain and accurate Excel form provided by the applicant.
The information included in the Excel form shall be checked by DIN CERTCO with the current Solar KEYMARK data sheet and then forms the basis for the registration of the collector yield label with the corresponding label class and the creation of the optional collector yield label.
If errors and/or uncertainties are identified the applicant must resubmit a corrected data sheet or Excel form.
Registration and Publication
After the submitted application documents have been successfully checked and a conformity evaluation carried out DIN CERTCO carries out registration and grants the right of use for the Collector Output Label in connection with a corresponding register number (format of register number: ELxxxx)
Furthermore a collector label (50°C and combi-label 50/75 °C) with the determined collector output for the output classes 50 °C and 75 °C is created and given to the applicant.
DIN CERTCO keeps a record of all solar panels registered with the Collector Output Label incl. their collector output and output classes, updates this record and makes it accessible to the public. All registered collectors can be retrieved on a daily basis via DIN CERTCO's homepage.
Documents
docx | Application for registration with the voluntary Collector Label | 111 KB | Download |
xlsx | Input data for the creation Solergy label V2.0 | 15 KB | Download |
Certification Scheme Collector Output Label | 1 MB | Download | |
Schedule of fees for the registration with the voluntary Collector Output Label | 225 KB | Download | |
General Terms & Conditions | 326 KB | Download | |
Flyer Collector output Label | 452 KB | Download |
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DIN CERTCO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung mbH