EU Regulation 2024/1103 Guide to Lot 20 for Efficient & Sustainable Heating

A brief history

On 31 October 2009, Directive 2009/125/EC, known as the Ecodesign Directive, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is a key instrument designed to improve the energy efficiency of products and reduce their environmental impact. The directive sets minimum design requirements for household appliances, electronic devices, and heating systems, with the aim of using fewer resources, reducing emissions, and promoting a more sustainable market—without compromising performance and quality.

To implement these principles, the EU divided products into different lots, each relating to a group of equipment with significant energy consumption. Among the most relevant are refrigeration, lighting, electric motors, ventilation systems, and local space heaters.

Lot 20 covers all local space heating systems, including electric ones. The European Commission initially defined the technical requirements with EU Regulation 2015/1188, aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. As technologies and environmental needs evolved, this regulation was updated and replaced by EU Regulation 2024/1103, which extends Lot 20 rules to include separate control devices and introduces stricter criteria for manufacturers. The new rules entered into force on 1 July 2025, marking an important step towards a more sustainable and efficient heating market.

Main requirements of EU Regulation 2024/1103

EU Regulation 2024/1103 sets out rules to make local space heating appliances, such as products for electric home heating or electric bathroom heating, more efficient and sustainable. Key points include:

• Energy efficiency: appliances must be equipped with features that enable efficient use, ensuring lower energy consumption and reduced emissions.
• Low-power modes: even when appliances are in standby or inactive mode, energy consumption must be minimal, avoiding invisible energy waste.
• Mandatory information: manufacturers must provide efficiency values and technical parameters in the documentation, facilitating checks, compliance, and informed consumer choice and comparison.
• Resources and sustainability: the regulation encourages designs that promote repairability, spare parts availability, ease of maintenance, and material recycling.

⚡ Energy efficiency targets

The regulation aims to improve appliance efficiency, helping to save energy without sacrificing comfort. Each energy-saving feature—such as weekly programming or open-window detection—receives a score. These scores are combined in a formula that calculates a parameter known as Seasonal Space Heating Energy Efficiency, for which mandatory minimum values are set. The higher the score, the greater the ability to use the appliance efficiently and cost-effectively throughout the heating season.

🔽 Low-power modes

Even when an appliance is in standby, inactive, or networked standby mode, it continues to consume energy. EU Regulation 2024/1103 sets precise limits for consumption in these modes, helping to reduce “invisible” energy use. In practice, when the appliance is not actively heating, it may only use minimal amounts of energy within defined maximum limits. For example, in standby mode with information display (such as current date or time), consumption must not exceed 1.00 W.

🏷️ Mandatory product information

Manufacturers must provide mandatory information in instruction manuals, including data on consumption, energy performance, and parameters useful for correct and efficient use. This enables consumers to easily compare products and choose those that are more efficient and sustainable. This information must be made publicly available on the freely accessible website of the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative.

🔧 Resource efficiency specifications

The regulation establishes obligations related to repairability and sustainability: essential spare parts must be available for at least 10 years, and technical documentation must be accessible for maintenance, repair, and dismantling. This reduces waste and pollution, extends product lifespan, and promotes material recycling. This information must be made publicly available on the freely accessible website of the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative.

In summary

EU Regulation 2024/1103 does not only aim to improve the energy efficiency of local space heating appliances, but also introduces:

• Limits on consumption in low-use modes
• Information and documentation obligations
• Design criteria that support sustainability and recyclability

Together, these measures promote higher-performing, less energy-intensive, and more sustainable products, benefiting both consumers and the European market.