The existing European standards for solar thermal

Some years ago, solar thermal (ST) companies that wanted to sell products in different European countries were often forced to get multiple national or even regional certifications for their products. Until the year 2000, there was no European standard for ST products. Now, there are EN standards for ST collectors for ST factory made systems. There are also pre-standards on custom-built systems. Find out more about solar thermal standards in Europe.

Are the European standards being revised?

Yes, they are. ESTIF makes public a lot of information on the process.

To have influence and be always updated, join ESTIF today or - if you are a member already - ask the ESTIF Secretariat directly.

Are further standards for solar thermal products in discussion?

Yes, they are. ESTIF is involved in a European NEGST project that includes pre-normative work on possible future European standards for solar thermal components. Members of ESTIF can directly  contribute to this work. To have influence and be always updated, join ESTIF today or - if you are a member already - ask the ESTIF Secretariat directly.

For a one-stop testing and certification EU-wide

However, the existence of EN standards did not automatically solve the main problem for the ST industry. National and even regional authorities providing support schemes for ST were used to set their own quality requirements to consider ST product as eligible. Where a support scheme exists, products that are not considered as eligible are virtually out of the market, since the consumers will always opt for an eligible product. This situation forced companies to repeat test and certification several times, if they wished to sell in different countries. Because testing and certification of ST products is relatively costly in terms of time and money, this was a serious barrier to trade within the European Union.

Three problems had to be solved

• Harmonising the testing procedures of different test labs throughout the EU.
• Creating a EU-wide certificate, that shows compliance with the European norms
• Convincing national authorities to link their support schemes to the European norms and to accept the EU-wide certificate

ESTIF led consortium to solve the problems (2001-2003)

The first two problems were coped with by a project led by ESTIF, involving 11 test institutes and supported by the European Commission.

The testing procedures were widely harmonised, resulting in almost full mutual recognition of test results among European test institutes.

A EU-wide certificate was established: the Solar Keymark.

The third step is an ongoing process (see below). In September 2003, ESTIF published a position statement, which invited manufacturers as well as (national) authorities to explore the benefits of the new quality mark.

What is the CEN Keymark

The Keymark is a non-product-specific voluntary third-party European certification mark, demonstrating to the consumer or user of a product that it is in conformity with the relevant European Standard(s). The Keymark is a scheme developed by CEN (European Committee for Standardization).

What is the Solar Keymark

The Solar Keymark is the quality label for Solar Thermal products in Europe. It certifies compliance with the relevant EN standards for solar thermal products: EN 12975 (solar collectors) and EN 12976 (factory made system). It has been established in 2003 and is since then getting more and more recognition.

Advantages of the Solar Keymark for the users

The Solar Keymark certifies reliable quality and performance information based on European standards.

The user can be ensured that the products sold are equal to those tested, as the latter is taken randomly from the production line by inspectors coming from accredited test institutes. Furthermore, the Keymark requires the existence of a quality management system comparable to ISO 9000.

Advantages of the Solar Keymark for manufacturers

The Solar Keymark opens the doors to a growing number of European markets.

It gives a marketing hedge and contributes to the reduction of barriers to trade among EU countries. All manufacturers share the vision of a one-stop testing and certification accepted all over Europe. Only a wide use of the Solar Keymark can pave the way for this vision to become true.

Advantages of the Solar Keymark for national authorities

Why should one set up their own requirements and certification procedures if a widely recognised European certificate is available? By accepting the Solar Keymark, national and regional authorities can rely on high quality and clear performance information, based on European standards.

They make sure that the consumers in their country have cheaper access to a growing number of European-traded products.

Advantages of the Solar Keymark for European integration

An open European market without barriers to trade allow every European consumer to choose the most suitable product for his needs, thereby increasing competition and reducing costs due to unnecessary repetition of certification.

Do national authorities recognise the Solar Keymark?

Since 2003, ESTIF is running a campaign to persuade national authorities all over Europe to recognise the Solar Keymark as a sufficient condition to get access to the national market. National certificates may exist, but products with the Keymark should be accepted without any further certification requirement.

In many countries, our campaign has already been successful. From other countries, we are getting positive signals. A detailed report on requirements in 17 European countries was produced in April 2004.

For more updated information, join ESTIF today, or - if you are a member already - ask the ESTIF Secretariat directly..

How many products have already got a Solar Keymark?

Any new non-compulsory quality mark needs some time to become widely used. The Solar Keymark is doing good progress. Less than two years after its launch, 14 collectors and 1 complete system have obtained the Solar Keymark. To guide the users, ESTIF keeps online a continuously updated list of Keymarked products. 

The Solar Keymark certification process

The Solar Keymark can be issued by certification bodies empowered by CEN. The number of empowered certification bodies increased from one in 2003 to three in February 2005, including ESTIF member SP (Sweden).

The tests according to Solar Keymark must be performed by accredited test labs. Currently, 14 test labs from 10 European countries are accredited, including the following members of ESTIF: Arsenal (Austria), Fraunhofer ISE (Germany), ITW/TZS (Germany), IZES (Germany) and SP (Sweden).

The certification bodies can have agreements with test institutes from several countries to perform the test according to the Keymark rules. At least one of the certification bodies above leaves to the manufacturer the choice of the test institute that will perform the tests.

More public information on the certification process. For additional detailed information, join ESTIF today, or - if you are a member already - ask the ESTIF Secretariat directly.