Stoves and boilers: CE marking and placing on the market

To be marketed legitimately and safely, stoves and boilers must obtain CE marking that guarantees consumers the conformity of the product with all the provisions of the European Community, in terms of health protection, safety and environmental protection. The CE marking of stoves and boilers is therefore a mandatory procedure, that invests in the first place the figure of the manufacturer of the product, but which also involves at several levels the figures of importer and distributor.

Boilers: Types and characteristics

For heating a house and sanitary water, The boiler is certainly a basic element. The range of products is very wide and there are types with different characteristics.

The most common boilers on the market can be divided into two macro-groups in relation to the Operation of the combustion chamber, i.e. the place where the combustion air is mixed with the gas coming from the burner; process that will give rise to the flame.

In devices to watertight combustion chamber you use the forced draft, characterized by a series of tubes that, on the one hand, sucks combustion air from an external environment, expelling – in the other direction – the fumes produced. The Open chamber boilers, instead, use the natural draft, sucking air from the environment where the boiler is installed; and expelling the fumes thanks to a vertical duct. As a result, watertight combustion chamber boilers can also be used in small and poorly ventilated rooms, while open chamber devices are predominantly installed in larger and ventilated places, equipped with chimney.

Among the main types of boilers there are those with gas – a methane or Lpg – which are undoubtedly the most widespread on the market, reconciling ease of use and cost-effectiveness. Key components of a natural gas boiler are the gas burners sucked in carpet; a flame modulation system and an electronic control system connected to the previous one to define its use. The LPG boilers have a very similar operation to gas ones, but they are distinguished by the need for more space. You will need, indeed, of a LPG storage tank and therefore an adequate area where to place it, as well as an LPG gas supplier.

Among the latest generation boilers it is good to mention the condensing boiler; a particular type of watertight boiler that allows savings of up to 30%. Much more environmentally friendly, also uses the energy contained in the exhaust fumes, bringing the calorific value of the fuel to a yield that is close to 100%.

Types of stoves and special features

Even in the case of stoves the range of products is really very wide; There are various types, defined in relation to the Heat production system. In general, All stoves have a surface exposed to contact with the air of the environment in which they exert heating, that this happens by irradiation or convention.

The wood and pellet stoves are characterized by a good degree of economic convenience related to use. Especially, The pellet stove uses a fuel made from virgin wood, from processing waste or from the whole trunk, Easily connects to the mains and allows very easy maintenance.

Among the liquid fuel stoves (kerosene, petroleum, oil) It is good to mention the Bioethanol stoves, which are benefiting from a great diffusion thanks to their ecological matrix. With the use of bioethanol – produced from waste biomass – no fumes are produced, substantially reducing the impact on the environment. Among the electric heaters, finally, We find solutions such as the stove quartz, the stove Halogen and the stove at carbon, much more suitable for point heating of small rooms.

CE marking of stoves and boilers: What obligations?

For the’obtaining CE marking for stoves and boilers the standards necessary for compliance with the directives of the European Community will be identified, verifying them through the application of harmonised standards. This process will lead to the preparation and drafting of the Technical File, containing all the documents necessary to certify the conformity of the stove or boiler with the applicable directives.

Once the objective of positioning the CE Marking has been achieved (visibly, leggibile e indelebile), you can draw up the EU Declaration of Conformity indicating the legitimacy of the product to all the requirements of the European Community.

The figure involved in the first place in the process of achievement of CE marking is undoubtedly that of the manufacturer of the product. It will be him, indeed, to have the EU Declaration of Conformity drawn up, the Technical File and to preserve all documents relating to the product for 10 years. They are obligations of the manufacturer, Furthermore, the affixing of the CE mark and the development of corrective actions to ensure constant compliance of the product with EU directives.

The tasks of the importer are related to the verification function. It will be him, indeed, to verify that the product imported by him is equipped with all the necessary documentation and that this – under his responsibility – does not undergo changes that could make it non-compliant. In a similar way, The distributor must also ensure that the conformity of the products lasts over time, reporting to the competent authorities any event that jeopardises its legitimacy.