EU ban on vacuum cleaners above 1,600W

[Arthur]

You have ten days before the new law comes into effect. Then in three years time any vacuum cleaner over 900w will be banned too.

 

Source: BBC News

 

Anyone wanting to buy a powerful vacuum cleaner has only 10 days left to be certain of getting one - following new EU rules that come in next month.

 

From 1 September, companies in the EU will be banned from making or importing vacuum cleaners above 1,600 watts.

 

Hoover - based in South Wales - said that most of its cleaners were in that category. It has been replacing its models since July with less powerful versions, but a few are still left on the shelves.

 

Elements of the directive - known as 2009/125/EC - are being challenged by the Dyson group.

 

The consumer organisation Which? says many of the models involved were rated as "best buys" by its researchers.

 

In one recent study, five of the top seven cleaners had motors of more than 1,600 watts.

 

The new European rules are part of the EU's energy efficiency directive, designed to help tackle climate change.

 

Among the models which will soon no longer be available are:

 

• Hoover Spirit TSP2101 (2,100w)
  
• Miele S5281 (2,200w)
  
• Samsung CycloneForce Sensor (2,100w)
  
• Bosch BSG8PRO1 (1,800w)
  

No models made by Dyson are affected, as all the motors on their machines are below 1600w.

 

Court Challenge

The new EU directive on energy efficiency will also require manufacturers to put an energy rating on the box.

 

From 1 September, vacuum cleaners will be given seven different ratings, from A to G.

 

This includes measuring the performance on hard floors, carpets, and how much dust is emitted.

 

But the Dyson group is challenging this aspect of the new rules, and has applied for a judicial review of the EU directive.

 

It argues that the performance criteria do not include testing a vacuum cleaner when there is already dirt inside it - what it calls "dust-loaded".

 

Dyson also says that 126 million cleaner bags and filters from new vacuum cleaners end up in landfill across the EU every year.

 

Yet the new labelling system does not reflect the impact of used bags and filters on the environment.

 

The rules will get even tougher in three years' time.

 

From 1 September 2017, all vacuum cleaners will have to be less than 900w.

[plexer]

Absolutely stupid European rubbish.

 

Ben

[michael2k6]

If you've got pets then, it's going to take twice as long with half the power. So the KwH is the same?

[3s-gtech]

On the plus side, will be less likely to cause a meldown when the cleaners plug one in to a four way strip hosting a laser printer, oil filled radiator and charging a teacher's iPhone with an Ebay knock-off adaptor.

 

Not much less likely mind.

[laserblazer]

I got rid of mine, it was just gathering dust.

 

 

I know, I pinched it of Tim Vine

[synaesthesia]

Awww, this sucks.

 

Not as much as it used to...

[FN-GM]

Why on earth have they put the ban in place?

[elsiegee40]

Why on earth have they put the ban in place?

 

It's part of the EU's energy saving drive... though I think there are far more energy inefficient products than vacuum cleaners! This is the kind of thing that makes the EU a laughing stock.

[Norphy]

Hopefully this will spur manufacturers on to make vacuum cleaners more efficient. I suppose the power rating of a vacuum cleaner motor is kind of like the clock speed of a processor or the megapixel count of a camera. Hell, even the displacement of a car engine. It'll force them to do more with less.

[superatticman]

Except those Members of the EU Parliament will be importing their hoovers from overseas to ensure their houses don't suffer. Not that the political class do their own hoovering anyway.

 

We're absolute mugs in Europe to suffer this lot and the political class in general. Long overdue a revolution of some kind.

[synaesthesia]

To be fair, it's obviously not right when Dyson are complaining about it and it doesn't effect *any* of theirs. However they may be more concerned about the planned drop to 900w.

[rich_tech]

Makes me glad I have one of the soon to be "Outlawed" Henry vacuums on what I read, thankfully its robust and the "Tank" of vacuums.

 

That thing is outstanding, pulls up the carpet if we switch it to maximum suction, can see a boom in repairing these things for years to come when this law comes into effect.

[abillybob]

Wow if they carry on like this eventually carpet won't be an option, it'll be laminate flooring and plastic sofa's all round that includes a free mop and bucket!

 

On a serious note I do agree with this in certain aspects I like the fact they are pushing manufacturers to become more "eco" though what about Kettles, Toasters, Microwaves. It's a bit of a weird move to just say Vacuum Cleaners, maybe the main man in the EU fell out with this guy over a beer and cursed them all for life.

 

[jinnantonnixx]

Good grief! I have two Henrys. Well, one Henry and one Hetty (best not to ask).

They are the best cleaners ever.

I will run them both simultaneously in protest.

Edited August 22, 2014 by jinnantonnixx

[Miscbrah]

THANKS GOODNESS! It's about time something was done to curb the MADNESS of semi-high wattage vacuum cleaners. I mean GAWD Europe's gone from one crisis to another, right? First Nazis, then 1600w hoovers... about time someone saw sense.

 

I'm so glad they're sorting this and wish I could give them even more powers!

[Miscbrah]

Good grief! I have two Henrys. Well, one Henry and one Harriet (best not to ask).

They are the best cleaners ever.

I will run them both simultaneously in protest.

 

Unclean† infidel!

 

*burns @ stake*

 

 

 

 

† Though his carpet likely isn't unclean.

[eyetea]

Happy I got my CycloneForce then! If all else fails I'm sure

is under the limits...

[john]

Such a joke as if we don't have bigger issues to deal with in EU than decent vacs

[Dos_Box]

I have read on another forum that the EU claims that the cost of running a 1600w vacuum cleaner is £27 per year. Then someone there worked out it indeed is, if you run it for 100 mins PER WEEK!

[abillybob]

I have read on another forum that the EU claims that the cost of running a 1600w vacuum cleaner is £27 per year. Then someone there worked out it indeed is, if you run it for 100 mins PER WEEK!

 

That's probably about average on how much we run ours in our house. It's a three story house and does take a good hour to vacuum it weekly, then it's being constantly vacuumed downstairs because of our dog.

 

Though I'm sure that's not the case for many other people who live in small flats and 2 story homes.

[southhamster]

If you have children and/or pets, 100 minutes a week seems way too low!

[davethetekkie]

What a load of absolute dross. The drop to 1600w perhaps I can see but down to 900w? That's ridiculous!

[Alkaline]

Like the toilet flush, it will just cause more energy to be used because you have to use it more than once or for longer to get the same results as a normal setup.

[nicholab]

I mean in Europe they have a lot of hard floors so may be not a problem. Also I know that my Henry is 1200 watts and it as good as some of the more powerful cleaners.

[sparkeh]

Guess I'll have to keep my Vax pet vacuum going for as long as possible. It bends time & space when it's at full power.

 

"Out of my cold dead hands!"