BPMA calls for urgent action on non-compliant circulator pumps

The British Pump Manufacturers Association is deeply concerned by the recent announcement from the Office for Product Safety and Standards regarding the prevalence of non-compliant circulator pumps in the UK market. The revelation that recent market inspections identified 85% of imports of these products as non-compliant underscores the urgent need for action to safeguard consumers and uphold industry standards.

The OPSS states its primary purpose is "to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence". In the product regulator's 2022-2023 delivery report, it stated that inspections it had carried out had "revealed non-compliance in over 85% of the circulators" it reviewed.

The findings of the inspections conducted by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) are alarming and raise serious questions about the efficacy of current regulatory measures governing circulator pumps.

Non-compliant products not only offer significant reductions in energy efficiency values, but also undermine the integrity of the pump industry and erode trust in regulatory processes.

Consumers who have unknowingly had non-compliant circulator pumps installed can face unexpectedly high bills from unplanned electricity and water usage, as the pumps fail to meet their expected performance standards.

The plumbers installing these non-compliant pumps and the wholesalers who supply them are not to blame. Many of the non-compliant pumps are 'CE-marked' to suggest compliance with European Union standards, but the manufacturers of the dodgy pumps, the majority of which are based in China, use a similar font to the CE mark but use it to reference the pumps being a 'China Export'.

More action is needed as the leading voice of the pump industry in the UK, the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) emphasises the importance of robust enforcement mechanisms to address the influx of non-compliant products into the market. It is imperative that regulatory bodies collaborate closely with industry stakeholders to implement effective strategies for detecting and preventing the circulation of non-compliant pumps. The association welcomes the OPSS's removal [delisting] of some thirty products identified as not satisfying the required compliance measures. But it is calling on the body to redouble its efforts and work to stop the import of non-compliant pumps completely.

Wayne Rose, CEO of the BPMA, commented, "The proliferation of non-compliant circulator pumps
is a significant concern for both manufacturers and consumers. We urge the government and regulatory
authorities to continue to take decisive action to tackle this issue and ensure that only energy-efficient
and compliant products are available in the market."

In response to these developments, the BPMA reaffirms its commitment to promoting excellence and compliance within the pump industry. The association stands ready to collaborate with the OPSS and other relevant bodies to develop and implement measures that enhance product safety and integrity. The BPMA urges consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing circulator pumps and advises them to seek products bearing recognised certifications and compliance markings.