The ecodesign requirements

The term “eco” must not be used in any other programme name. The terms ‘normal’, ‘daily’, ‘regular’ and ‘standard’ are not allowed in programme names. 

No other cotton programme is allowed to have a higher declared capacity than the ‘eco’ programme. 

No programme is allowed to be accessible easier than the eco programme: If there is an automatic programme selection, the ‘eco’ programme must be the default programme, i.e. the one easiest to set (that appears when switched on). If there is no automatic programme selection, it has to be selected in one step, i.e. no further selections or specifications to be done. 

Requirements for on-mode 

• Non-air-vented dryers 
  The weighted average of the energy consumption per drying cycle (24% weight at full load = declared capacity; 76% weight at half load) must not exceed. 
   

• Air-vented dryers 
  The weighted average of the energy consumption per drying cycle (24% weight at full load = declared capacity; 76% weight at half load) must not exceed 
   

I.e. for each hour of weighted program duration, the allowed energy consumption is 8,3% lower than for non-air-vented dryers. 

The weighted programme duration is calculated as 24%*programme duration at full load + 76%* programme duration at half load. 

The energy consumption of a cycle should be measured according to EN 61121. However, as a supplier, you are free to choose another standard. 

Requirements for low power modes 

• The tumble dryer must have either an off- or a standby mode or both. 
• The maximum off-mode power is 0,5W and from 09 May 2027, it will be 0,3W. 
• The maximum standby-mode power is 0,5W, respectively 1W, if it includes information or status display, or 2W, if it includes networked standby. 
• ‘Networked standby’ means that the tumble dryer is able to resume an operation mode when triggered by an external signal via a network connection. In the default setting the network connection shall be ‘deactivated’ and it must be possible to turn the connection on and off. 
• The tumble dryer must switch to standby or off-mode after 15 minutes without operation or interaction (incl. wrinkle guard function). 
• If a delay start mode is implemented (with or without standby), the power consumption in this mode must not exceed 4W and the duration must not be more than 24 hours. 

Condensation efficiency requirements 

The condensation efficiency expresses, how much of the removed water from the load is collected in a container and not evaporated to the air. A low condensation efficiency might lead to humidity problems in the room, where the appliance is located. 

A minimum of 80% of the removed water has to be collected in the tumble dryer, thus, a maximum of 20% may be evaporated to the surrounding air. 

The weighted condensation efficiency is calculated as 24%* condensation efficiency at full load +76%* condensation efficiency at half load. 

Noise requirements 

There is no requirement for maximum noise emissions, however, the following benchmarks are stated for different dryer types with a 7 kg rated capacity: 

• Condenser dryers with heat element: 63 dB(A). 
• Condenser dryers with heat pump: 66 dB(A).
• Air-vented dryers: 69 dB(A). 

Noise should be measured according to EN 60704-2-6:2012 (will be superseded by new standard EN 60704-2-6:2013/prAB:202X). However, as a supplier, you are free to choose a standard. Please see also here.

Required spare parts and related information  

These 24 types of spare parts (as listed in (EU) 2023/2533, Annex II.5, 1. a and c.) shall be available:

• Spare parts to be available to professional repairers: 
  • Gaskets and seals. 
  • Switches and knobs. 
  • Condensate pump. 
  • Motors and motor brushes. 
  • Transmissions between motor and drum. 
  • Fan and fan wheels. 
  • Drums and bearings. 
  • Water piping and related equipment including hoses, valves and filters. 
  • Cables and plugs. 
  • Printed circuit boards. 
  • Electronic displays. 
  • Thermostats and temperature sensors. 
  • Software and firmware, including reset software. 
  • Shock absorbers and springs. 
  • Heaters and heating elements. 
  • Electric fuses (separately or bundled together). 
  • Tension pulley. 
  • Support roller. 
  • Pressure switches. 
     
• Spare parts to be available to professional suppliers and end-users: 
  • Doors, door seals, door handles, door lock assemblies and hinges. 
  • Lint filters. 
  • Air filters. 
  • Plastic peripherals. 
  • Condensate tank. 
     
• Specific Requirements for spare parts 
  The following requirements apply: 
  • If the model was placed on the market before the 1^st of July 2023, spare parts of for professionals must be available from 01 July 2025, otherwise 2 years after placing on the market. This only applies to models that are (still) placed on the market from the 1^st of July 2025 (no matter when the first unit was placed on the market).
  • Spare also available for end-users must be available already from the placing on the market.  
  • All spare parts (as well as software and firmware updates – they have to be free of charge) have to be available at least until 10 years after the last unit of the model has been placed on the market.  
  • During the same period of time as in the points above, free access via the supplier’s website (i.e. no payment or registration/login for the website access) must be available to 
    • The spare parts list. 
    • Information on how to order them. 
    • Indicative prices without VAT (including fasteners and tools, if applicable). 
    • The instructions for replacing the parts (amendment expected: this shall only be valid for spare parts available to consumers). 
    • Information how to register as a professional repairer. 
  • If you stop making available the information after this date, others are allowed to do so without prejudice to intellectual property rights. 

All spare parts must be replaceable without special tools. 

Requirements for companies that want to act as a professional repairer  

Professional repairers may request repair information from suppliers. The following requirements apply. If someone wants to register as a professional repairer, you as a supplier may only ask for entry in an official national registration system as a professional repairer or else :

• The proof of technical competence. 
• Compliance with applicable national regulations for repairers of electrical equipment. 
• His/her commercial liability insurance.  

Suppliers must accept or refuse a request for repair information within five working days (Monday to Friday except for holidays in the member state of the supplier) and give access to the information on the working day after acceptance.  

Suppliers may take proportionate fees for granting access to the repair information incl. sending updates. (In case of dispute about what is proportionate; this would have to be clarified on EU level). The information may be provided from an equivalent product model. 

The repair information must include the following elements: 

• The unequivocal identification of the tumble dryer model. 
• A disassembly map or exploded view. 
• The technical manual of instructions for repair. 
• A list of necessary repair and test equipment. 
• The component and diagnosis information (such as minimum and maximum theoretical values for measurements). 
• A wiring and connection diagrams. 
• Diagnostic fault and error codes (including manufacturer-specific codes, where applicable). 
• Instructions for installation of relevant software and firmware including reset software.
• Information on how to access data records of reported failure incidents stored on the household tumble dryer (where applicable).
• Electronic board diagrams. 
• For heat pump dryers: A clear indication of the type of refrigerant on the tumble dryer. 

General information mandatory as a service for users: 

• Include the following term: “The eco programme is suitable to dry wet cotton laundry and is used to assess the compliance with the EU ecodesign legislation.” 
• Include the following term: “The eco programme is the most efficient programme in terms of energy consumption for drying wet cotton laundry.” 
• Include the following term: “Loading the tumble dryer up to the maximum capacity indicated by the manufacturer for the respective programmes will contribute to energy savings.” 
• If the product model offers a network connection e.g. remote control, information has to be provided on how to activate and deactivate the connection. Moreover, the additional power consumption, when the network connection is activated, has to be indicated. 
• A link to the EPREL database has to be provided that leads either directly to the entry of the model or to the homepage of the EPREL database. In the latter case, information has to be provided on how to find the model identifier on the product. 
   

Information on specific values 

The following information on values has to be provided: (you are free to choose the format - the table below is just an example of the format).

The values for the eco programme have to be equal to those on the label and PIS/on the technical documentation. 

All values except for the eco programme are indicative, which means that they will not be part of a market surveillance test. 

Only the eco programme is mandatory. Other programmes have to be indicated if available for the specific model. 

The table format as shown above is not compulsory, also a different structure and format may be used. 

Instructions for maintenance operations 

The following information has to be provided for maintenance operations:  

Information supporting installation  

• Correct installation including level positioning. 
• Connection to mains.  
• For condenser dryers: connection to water outlet and/or info on how to empty the water tank. 
• For gas-fired dryers: connection to gas. 
• If relevant: installation of ventilation hose. 
   

Information supporting cleaning of product  

• Cleaning of filters: 
  • How and how often cleaning shall be done (number of cycles or time). 
  • Info on consequences of insufficient cleaning of filters. 
  • Information that the lint shall be thrown in the garbage bin and not washed through the drain to avoid spreading microplastics in the water system. 
• How to clean the dryer and how often it should be done (after how many cycles or time); 
• Door opening between drying cycles, if appropriate. 
• Foreign object removal. 
   

Information on error codes 

• Explanation of their meaning. 
• The action required. 
• For each error, whether it requires professional assistance. 
   

Information on repair services 

• How to access professional repair services (internet webpages, addresses, contact details).