A–Z of ERP 2026: Ecodesign for Fans (Regulation (EU) 2024/1834)
We know that a 35 page regulation can be a bit much when you just want to know what you need to do, so we've created this simple plain-language glossary of key terms used in EU ecodesign (ErP) rules for fans with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW. For a further overview of the new erp 2026 regulation without reading the official documentation see here: https://www.axair-fans.co.uk/all-technical-information/energy-related-products/
A
Axial fan: A fan where air flows roughly parallel to the rotor shaft (flow angle under 20°).
Air-circulating fan: A fan not connected to any ducting, used to move air within a room or open space, working against zero external pressure.
ATEX: ATmosphere EXplosibles relates to a hazardous area that requires additional protection to ensure the industrial fan does not becone a source of ignition.
B
Best Efficiency Point (BEP): The operating point where a fan runs at its highest energy efficiency, measured at its natural ("inherent") speed.
Backward curved / backward inclined fan: Types of centrifugal fan classified by the angle of their blades relative to the direction of rotation.
C
Centrifugal fan: A fan where air is thrown outward at right angles to the intake (flow angle of 70° or more).
Conformity assessment / CE Declaration: The process a manufacturer follows to demonstrate a fan meets ecodesign requirements before it can be sold in the EU.
Complete fan: A complete fan contains a motor, impeller and stator.
Compliant: A fan that is assessed under the new EU 2024/1834 ERP rules and is within the efficiency grades for it's fan type.
Corrosive : An environment that contains corrosive or toxic fumes. Fans sold into corrosive or toxic fumes are exempt from the ERP 2026 regulations
Custom fan: A fan built to a specific customer's desi/gn or duty point and supplied only to that customer, not sold through general catalogues.
D
Declared values: The technical figures (efficiency, power, flow rate, etc.) that a manufacturer states for a fan model, used to check compliance.
Direct drive: A fan design where the impeller sits directly on the motor shaft, so impeller speed equals motor speed.
Dual use fan: A fan designed for everyday ventilation that can also serve emergency/fire-safety duty.
E
ERP: Energy Related Products.
Ecodesign: EU rules setting minimum energy-efficiency and resource-efficiency standards for products, aimed at reducing environmental impact over a product's life.
Electric input power -
Exempt/Exemptions: Fans that do not need to meet the minimum efficiency benchmarks as their product type, electric input power or application is not considered in the scope of the regulation.
Efficiency grade (N): A number used in the formula that sets the minimum efficiency a fan must achieve for its power rating.
Equivalent model: A different model name/code for a fan that has identical technical characteristics to another model from the same manufacturer.
F
Fan: An air movement machine with a rotating impeller, motor and stator that moves a continuous flow of air or gas.
Fan efficiency (η): How much useful air-moving power a fan produces compared to the electrical power it consumes, adjusted by several correction factors.
Fan flow angle: The angle of airflow through the impeller, used to classify a fan as axial, mixed-flow, or centrifugal.
G
Guarantee: Any manufacturer commitment to refund, repair, or replace a fan that doesn't meet its stated specifications.
Guard compensation (C guard): A correction factor applied to efficiency calculations when a fan has a fitted protective grille that restricts airflow.
H
Harmonised standard: An official EU-recognised technical standard (e.g. EN ISO 5801) used to test and calculate fan performance consistently.
I
Impeller — The rotating "fan wheel" that pushes air or gas through the fan.
Inherent speed — The natural rotational speed of a fan at its rated voltage and frequency (or the declared operating speed if a variable speed drive is fitted).
Inlet/outlet guide vanes — Fixed or adjustable vanes that direct airflow into or out of the impeller to improve performance.
J
Jet fan — A fan (often used in car parks or tunnels) that produces a directional jet of air with open inlets/outlets rather than working against ducted pressure.
K
kW range — This Regulation covers fans with electric input power from 125 W up to 500 kW at their best efficiency point.
L
Legacy -
Low noise fan — An axial fan of 10 kW or more with a maximum noise emission of 32 dB(A) at its best efficiency point.
Life Cycle -
M
Manufacturer -
Mixed flow fan — A fan with airflow at an angle between axial and centrifugal (20°–70°).
Model identifier — The unique code or name that distinguishes one fan model from another under the same brand.
Multiple speed motor — A motor whose speed can be changed by switching between different internal windings.
N
N (minimum efficiency grade) — See Efficiency grade. Determines the efficiency bar a fan of a given power must clear.
O
Outlet guide vanes — See Inlet/outlet guide vanes above — vanes positioned after the impeller to straighten or direct outgoing airflow.
P
Protective guard — A grille fitted at the fan inlet or outlet to stop objects or body parts reaching moving parts.
Proprietary tool — A specialised tool needed for repair that isn't commonly/commercially available.
Power conversion correction (C p) — A factor accounting for efficiency losses in low-voltage DC motor/converter setups.
Q
qv (volume flow rate) — The amount of air or gas, in cubic metres per second (or per hour), that a fan moves.
R
Reversible fan — A fan able to reach at least 80% of its normal flow rate when run in reverse.
Repair information — Technical documentation (wiring diagrams, fault codes, disassembly guides, etc.) manufacturers must give to professional repairers.
S
Scope -
Safety critical fan — A fan certified for use in explosive atmospheres or under construction-product safety rules.
Spare part fan — A fan intended purely to replace an existing fan already built into another product.
Stator — The stationary part of the fan that interacts with the airflow moved by the impeller.
Specific ratio — The ratio of outlet pressure to inlet pressure at the fan's best efficiency point.
Specific speed (σBEP) — A dimensionless number relating flow rate and pressure, used for certain small centrifugal fans.
T
Tip speed — The speed at which the outer tips of the impeller blades travel.
Transmission — Any drive arrangement other than direct drive — e.g. belt, gearbox, or slipping coupling.
Total pressure — Pressure calculated from absolute pressure plus dynamic (velocity-related) pressure.
U
User manual requirements — Instructions manufacturers must supply on installation, maintenance, spare parts, and repair options.
V
Variable Speed Drive (VSD) — An electronic controller that adjusts motor speed by varying the frequency and voltage of its power supply.
Verification tolerance — The allowed margin between a manufacturer's declared performance figures and what regulators measure during compliance checks.
W
Wearing parts (sacrificial elements) — Components deliberately designed to wear out first, protecting more critical parts of the fan.
Source: Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1834 on ecodesign requirements for fans (125 W–500 kW), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2481. This glossary is a simplified summary for general reference — always check the official regulation text for compliance purposes.