ENERGY RELATED PRODUCTS - ERP 2026 - EU 2024/1834
ErP 2026: the new fan efficiency rules, explained simply.
From 24 July 2026, an update to the EU 2024/1834 Ecodesign Directive regulation changes the minimum efficiency, labelling and spare-parts rules for fans between 125W and 500kW. Here's exactly what it means for your industrial purchasing and how you work with us at Axair
Does this apply to your fan?
The following questions help determine whether the regulation applies to your fans. If you land on "exempt" or "out of scope," none of the rest of this page applies to that product and you can carry on as normal.
Check whether your fan is in scope
Scope is set by electric input power at the fan's Best Efficiency Point (BEP), the point where it runs most efficiently. Everything else (efficiency %, labelling, spare parts) only kicks in once a fan clears this first gate.
Some specific fan types and applications are exempt outright, from motor-cooling impellers, fans for hazardous areas, through to handling of toxic or corrosive gases and air circulating fans, see the full list below. Ask your technical contact if you're unsure whether a specific application is exempt.
- 1Is the fan's electric input power at its best efficient point between 125W and 500kW? If not then it's exempt.
- 2Does it fall outside the exemptions listed below? If it does, it's exempt.
- 3Was the first unit of this model be placed on the market on or after 24 July 2026?
The Exemptions List
The directive excludes the below pecific fan types and applications so they fall outside scope entirely.
By Product Type
- Impellers mounted solely to cool the motor they're attached to.
- Fans in laundry/washer-dryers rated 3 kW or less.
- Kitchen hood fans rated below 280 W
- Fans with a best efficiency point at 8,000 rpm or more.
- Jet fans rated below 750W
Hazardous or Regulated Gas Handling
- Toxic, highly corrosive or flammable gases or vapours.
- Explosive atmospheres (ATEX).
- Biohazardous substances (risk groups 2, 3 and 4).
- Carcinogens or mutagens
- Gases with a compressibility factor other than 1.00 at the designated pressure/temperature range.
Extreme Operating Conditions
- Gas temperatures above 100°C or below −40°C.
- Ambient motor temperatures above 60°C or below −30°C.
- Supply voltage above 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC.
- Abrasive material transport, solid particle concentration above 10 mg/m³, particle size 0.1 mm or more, Mohs hardness 2 or more, and average blade angle 50–90° (all four conditions apply together)
Critical Infrastructure & Mobile Equipment
- Emergency fire-safety duty (300°C+, capable of 1 hour or more short-time operation).
- Nuclear installations
- Military establishments and civil defence bunkers.
- Cordless or battery-powered equipment
- Handheld equipment, weight supported by hand during use.
- Hand-guided mobile equipment, moved while operating.
- Air circulating fans.
The key dates
Three dates matter when it comes to ERP 2026.
Minimum efficiency, product-information and spare parts requirements apply to fans placed on the market from this date.
Performance curves at partial load (minimum three speed points) become mandatory on datasheets. This is also when the legacy 327/2011 rules stop applying to fans integrated into other products.
Final cut-off for supplying non-compliant "spare part fans" to replace fans that were legitimately placed on the market before July 2026.
What's actually changing
Three practical shifts sit underneath the legal language.
Higher efficiency bar
Every fan's minimum efficiency now depends on its type (axial, centrifugal sub-type, mixed-flow, jet, cross-flow) and its own input power, measured as a ratio of usable air power out versus electrical power in, not input power alone.
More on the datasheet
More measured data points including fan type, efficiency, measurement category, N-grade, inherent speed and more, must appear on the datasheet, in the technical file, and on a public webpage for at least 20 years after the last unit is sold.
Longer spares commitment
Motors, impellers, bearings, VSDs and other part categories must stay available to professional repairers for at least 10 years after the last unit is sold.
How to read a compliance badge
Fans will be labelled with a relevant compliance badge going forward to ensure clear and coherent visibility of ERP status.
Meets the 2024/1834 minimum efficiency grade for its fan type and power. Suitable for new installations placed on the market on or after 24 July 2026.
Falls outside scope entirely, see the full exemptions list above, spanning product type, hazardous, gas handling, extreme or corrosive conditions, and mobile or critical-infrastructure use.
Does not meet 2024/1834. Can only be supplied to replace an existing fan already integrated into a product placed on the market before 24 July 2026, where no compliant fan will fit.
FAQs
Do I need to replace fans already installed?
No. The regulation only applies to fans newly placed on the market, it does not require existing, already-installed fans to be swapped out.
What if my fan is custom-built for one project?
Custom fans follow a different disclosure route. Performance information is provided on the datasheet alongside our quote offer to the customer directly rather than on a public website, and they're exempt from the 2027 partial-load curve requirement.
Who's legally responsible for compliance? Axair, The Fan Manufacturer or the OEM component supplier?
Whoever manufactured the complete finished fan unit as it is when it is placed on the market is responsible. If you made amends to the fan unit such as replacing the stator or impeller from what it was oroginally CE marked against, then you are the fan manufacturer and therefore responsible for its compliance. This is long-standing EU product law, not new to this regulation, but because compliance is now judged on the complete assembled fan rather than individual parts, altering or reassembling components changes who holds that responsibility more often than it used to. Speak to your account manager or technical team if you'd like further clarification on who is the manufacturer in your case.
Does this apply outside the EU?
This is an EU regulation, and its application outside the EU depends on local rules, which can change over time. Please contact our technical team to confirm the current requirements for your market.
Need Something to Email to Your Team?
Download our quick and easy two-page PDF summary of everything on this page, key dates, process of determining if your fan is in scope, what each compliance status means, and what to ask your technical contact.
Axair Group Disclaimer: This page provides a general overview and guidance on the Ecodesign Directive Regulation (EU) 2024/1834. It is not to be treated as legal advice. Regulatory requirements may change as the directive evolves, and customers should refer to the applicable legislation or seek professional advice where necessary.
For the full legal requirements, see Regulation (EU) 2024/1834.