The European Commission has agreed to raise the minimum required efficiency level for gas heating boilers sold across member states from 86 percent to 92 percent, withdrawing less efficient units from store shelves.
The updated ecodesign rules apply exclusively to new heating appliances entering the market, meaning property owners will not be forced to replace existing boilers already installed in their homes.
According to Polish news outlet KB.pl, an initial draft proposed by European Union regulators included measures that would have severely restricted sales of boilers operating on natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. That preliminary version prompted an immediate and widespread protest from heating appliance manufacturers and distributors.
Following extensive consultations between member states and heating sector representatives, the European Commission chose a less radical solution that focuses on raising performance standards rather than imposing outright sales bans.
New efficiency rules for gas heating
Under the final decision, space heaters and combination heaters sold in member countries must reach a minimum energy efficiency rating of 92 percent, up from the previous 86 percent threshold. Modern condensing boilers already on the market meet the higher standard, ensuring compliant options remain available to buyers.
Regulators also dropped a plan to alter the testing methodology for heating appliances. Heating industry representatives had warned that the proposed test changes could artificially worsen performance scores for high-efficiency gas equipment. Retaining the existing test framework allows manufacturers to concentrate on boosting overall fuel efficiency.
The decision updates regulations governing space heaters and combination heaters that have applied across the bloc since 2013. Ecodesign frameworks set mandatory minimum energy performance standards across member states to lower energy consumption and reduce environmental impact.
Unified rating system from A to G
The European Union will also launch a single energy labeling system covering all heating technologies. Appliances will be categorized on a standard letter scale ranging from A to G, offering consumers a simplified framework to compare different heating options objectively.
During negotiations, officials abandoned a proposal for a single assessment methodology that would have favored electric heat pumps over gas systems. Under the final compromise, all heating devices will use the same A-to-G rating scale, but the calculation method will account for the technical specificities of each technology.
Condensing gas boilers achieve high performance by capturing latent heat from exhaust gases that conventional boilers waste up the chimney. By phasing out models that fail to meet the 92 percent threshold, European regulations will accelerate the market transition toward high-efficiency condensing technology.
Consumer impact and market outlook
For households currently using gas heating, the new rules will bring no mandatory replacements or retrofits. Property owners will not be compelled to remove older boilers, even if those units fall below the new 92 percent efficiency standard.
The regulatory changes will impact heating equipment manufacturers and distributors, who must bring their product lines into compliance. Devices falling short of the 92 percent efficiency mark will be removed from sale, though producing and selling high-efficiency gas boilers remains permitted.
In related coverage, news agency UNIAN previously highlighted the importance of routine maintenance for home heating equipment, detailing boiler cleaning procedures and expected costs for 2026 as households maintain existing appliances.
