What should you pay attention to when buying a solid fuel boiler?
When choosing a boiler, pay attention to the information accompanying the device. If a class is given, check it according to: which standard – the current or previous one. It is worth paying attention to whether the information is complete, i.e. it concerns both efficiency and emissions, and, most importantly, whether the certificate was issued by a body accredited by PCA. It happens that some manufacturers commission tests to be carried out by laboratories that do not have such accreditation, and then the certificate is invalid.
Class 3 according to the previous standard established in 2002. used to be the highest class, but now it is the lowest class. This category includes the majority of currently produced boilers with automatic feeders and a few feed boilers, the majority of which are bottom-firing boilers. For technical reasons
hopper boilers
upper combustion engines are unable to meet emission requirements.
Class 4, introduced by the 2012 standard, is an intermediate class. With a small outlay of resources and thanks to minor adjustments in the design of the heat exchanger, automatic coal-fired boilers meet the emission and energy requirements for devices of this class.
Class 5, also introduced by the amended PN EN 303-5 standard, is the best class with the most stringent requirements regarding emissions and efficiency, and only the best devices in Europe can meet them. A class 5 boiler guarantees the lowest emission of CO, dust and organic carbon into the atmosphere as well as high efficiency, which translates into, among others, for lower fuel consumption. Moreover, devices of this class are often covered by a subsidy program for the purchase price of the boiler. This class is dominated by devices adapted to burn biomass: boilers with pellet burners and wood gasification boilers
The boiler class is assigned on the basis of testing the device in terms of meeting the requirements of the PN EN 303-5:2012 standard. Such a test can only be performed by a unit with current accreditation from the Polish Center for Accreditation (PCA). Confirmation of compliance with the standard is a certificate issued by a body accredited by PCA.
The PN-EN 303-5:2012 standard, amended in 2012, covers, among others: thermal efficiency and pollutant emission limits for solid fuel heating boilers with manual and automatic loading up to a thermal power of 500 kW. It has three classes: 3 (the weakest), 4 and 5 (the best). In order for a boiler to be classified into a given class, the conditions regarding both thermal efficiency and pollutant emission limits assigned to a given class must be met.
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If you want to install a new heat source, it is worth paying attention to DEFRO devices, a Polish manufacturer with many years of experience in the heating industry. Our specialists will help you choose the right boiler and its power, and distributors and installers will take care of the assembly and commissioning, and all you need to do is enjoy the warmth and comfort. The distribution network of our products is divided into regions for which managers and salespeople are responsible.