Policy Updates

<p>On a monthly basis, the Eurovent Team compiles a global overview of the latest developments concerning new standardisation activities and technical regulations of relevance for the HVACR industry. Our Notifications allow members to be prepared for developments that can have an impact on them and their products.</p>

<p>The Commission has just issued the update of Policy Officers for the different Ecodesign and Energy Labelling files. Below, you may find the outline their competences and the present status of the individual Lots.</p>

<p>The European Commission for the period 2019-2024 has been elected. Within that context a brief overview of the various institutes involved in the HVACR industry is provided as well as a general update on ongoing files.</p>

<p>On 22 November, the EU Directorate General for Taxation and Customs published a guidance note in case the United Kingdom would leave the EU with no deal. If there would be no deal, the UK will withdraw from the EU on 1 February 2020. If there would be a deal, a new transition period would apply. Both the EU and the UK have been updating their guidance notes.</p>

<p>The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018/1844 requires the Commission to conclude a feasibility study, clarifying the possibilities and timeline to introduce the inspection of stand-alone ventilation systems and an optional building renovation passport before 2020. </p>

<p>November is the time when the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United Nations (UN) publish their reports. The 2019 reports confirm the trend noted in 2018 that the efforts to improve energy efficiency are slowing down. The studies also mention confirmation that the need for cooling continues to increase, as does the use of electricity. The studies provide background to these evolutions.</p>

<p>The Commission informed the stakeholders that discussions on the preparation of the delegated act that will establish the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) scheme under Article 8(10) of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), including the definition and calculation methodology of the SRI, have started. The adoption of a Common Union SRI by the Member States is optional.</p>

<p>On a monthly basis, the Eurovent Team compiles a global overview of the latest developments concerning new standardisation activities and technical regulations of relevance for the HVACR industry. Our Notifications allow members to be prepared for developments that can have an impact on them and their products.</p>

<p>The teams of Eurovent and PRODBIM have prepared an article for members on recent developments in Building Information Modelling (BIM) CEN TC442 standardisation activities and construction product information digitisation. PRODBIM, a subsidiary of Eurovent Services Company, is participating to CEN TC442 & BuildingSMART working groups, and is compiling a summary of the CEN TC 442 as well as ISO TC 59 SC13 works on BIM standardisation.</p>

<p>With the introduction of the ‘Copilot Certificate’ for building performance, Eurovent, REHVA and synavision set a new European standard for the construction industry. The signing of the agreement on 11 October paved the way for the launch of the world's first building and facility certificate. Builders use the certificate to ensure that their buildings undergo effective quality management.</p>

<p>The 2019 edition of the European Environment Agency (EEA) report on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases) confirms the progress achieved in 2018 by the European Union. The 2019 report also looks at the phase-down under the Montreal Protocol that apply from 2019.</p>

<p>As announced in GEN – 1059.00, the revised Electric Motors and Variable Speed Drives Regulation has been published on the announced date of 25 October 2019, as Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1781 of 1 October 2019, laying down Ecodesign requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, amending Regulation (EC) No 641/2009 with regard to Ecodesign requirements for glandless standalone circulators and glandless circulators integrated in products and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 640/2009.</p>