Vacuum Cleaners

Ecodesign and energy label requirements for domestic vacuum cleaners were published in 2013.

The first tier of ecodesign requirements entered into force on 1st September 2014. A second tier of requirement will enter into force in 2017. A first revision concerning the requirements on the durability of the hoses and the operational motor lifetime is foreseen in 2016. A second, broader revision is due to take place in 2018.

Also, from 1st September 2014 onwards, an energy label became mandatory for all appliances put on the EU market ranging from A to G. From 2017 the label rating should be from A+++ to D. These ratings take into account the vacuum cleaners' total power and how efficiently that power is used to pick up dust.

Floor polishers, robot vacuums, mattress cleaners, hand-held, and battery operated vacuum cleaners are excluded from these regulations.

The European Commission has just published guidelines to facilitate the implementation of the adopted Regulations.

Related European legislation:

• CR 666/2013 - Ecodesign Regulation for vacuum cleaners
• CDR 665/2013 - Energy label Regulation for vacuum cleaners
• CRG 09/2014 - Guidelines to Regulations n° 665/666/2013 on vacuum cleaners

For more information concerning energy labels for vacuum cleaners, click here.