prEN 18488

'Durability of gas-fired heating products'

Scope

This document defines a method for documenting and demonstrating the durability of gas boilers in order to provide an appliance
durability declaration.

Energy-related products (ErPs) are often not fully recyclable. The energy and material savings from recycling usually do not
compensate for the resources used during production. Therefore, disposing of an ErP results in losses of energy and materials.
Increasing product durability can reduce the use of raw materials and energy for production and disposal, leading to lower
environmental impacts.
When evaluating durability, a balance must be considered between using products for a longer time and the potential environmental
benefits of newer, more energy-efficient products. Consumer behaviour and technological progress also influence this balance.
Although these topics provide important background, they are not addressed in this document.
This document defines a general method to document and demonstrate the durability of gas boilers. It also provides a template that
manufacturers or other parties placing products on the market can use to declare product durability. Reliability refers to the probability
of failure over time, while durability describes the expected total lifetime of the product.
Transport and storage are treated separately, as it is assumed that the product reaches the customer without significantly affecting its
durability. Manufacturers must define how durability is determined using available data, document this approach, and translate
durability targets into test requirements for key components. A clear link between assumptions, data, and results must be ensured.

Related legislation

Legislation related to this standard