Hot water is worth its weight in gold. Two metals have disappeared from EU regulations

EU regulations on the quality of drinking water have raised alarm in the household appliances industry. The latest regulations do not include two key metals for enameling hot water tanks: hafnium and zirconium. It is these elements that have ensured the flexibility and durability of the coating for over a century, thanks to which the tanks do not crack and the water maintains its temperature. Manufacturers warn that without them, “the glaze crumbles and the water is not hot.”

Forbidden elements

According to the Applia organization, which brings together manufacturers of household appliances, the lack of approval for hafnium and zirconium may result in over 90% of boilers and hot water tanks will not meet the requirements and will disappear from the offer throughout the EU. The result would be not only serious losses for producers, but also rising costs for households. There are alternatives – such as steel or copper – but their use is four to five times more expensive, which, as Applia CEO Paolo Falcioni points out, would be passed on to customers at a time when household budgets are already tight.

Large players also raise reservations, including: the French Groupe Atlantic and the Italian Ariston. Company representatives emphasize that the consequences would be “huge”, and the sector is already struggling with high energy prices, American customs duties and competition from China. The lack of clarity in regulations may additionally discourage investors considering locating production in Europe.

EC position

The European Commission responds that it is up to the Member States to apply for approval of hafnium for use in contact with drinking water. So far, no government has submitted such a request. Another option is for companies to independently apply for a toxicological assessment, but the procedure is expensive and lengthy. The industry points out that this state of affairs puts European producers in a worse competitive position compared to non-EU entities that do not have to face similar restrictions.

If the list of permitted substances is not supplemented by the time the new rules come into force, the effects will be felt by both factories and consumers. In the worst-case scenario, the market for enameled tanks will shrink dramatically and the prices of devices made of more expensive materials will soar. The industry is therefore calling for urgent clarification of the regulations before the problem turns into a European hot water crisis.