In today's world, product durability and adaptability play a critical role in sustainability. DIN EN 45554:2020, a European standard prepared by Technical Committee CEN/CLC/JTC 10, provides general methods for assessing the reparability, reusability and upgradability of energy-related products (ErPs). This guide outlines the processes for evaluating these indices.
Understanding of DIN EN 45554:2020
DIN EN 45554:2020 is part of a series of standards (45550-45559) that addresses various aspects of material efficiency for the ecodesign of energy-related products. These standards aim to extend the life of products, improve the reusability of components, and increase the use of recycled materials. This specific document provides a framework for evaluating a product's ability to be repaired, reused, and upgraded.
scope and structure
The standard outlines generic criteria and methods for evaluating the potential for repairing, reusing, or upgrading product parts. Key intercepts include:
1. Identify parts to be evaluated: Prioritize parts based on their probability of failure, reuse potential, or need for upgrades.
2. Product-related criteria: Evaluation of factors directly related to the design and functionality of the product.
3. Support-related criteria: Evaluation of external support from manufacturers, such as availability of spare parts and repair information.
steps for calculating the indices
1.
Assessing repairability, reusability, and upgradability begins with identifying priority parts that are most likely to need repair or upgrade. This includes consulting various sources such as manufacturer data, repair organizations, and consumer feedback.
2. Definition of criteria and categories
Each part is evaluated based on specific criteria in three main categories:
• Repairability: factors such as disassembly depth, type of fasteners, tools needed and skill level.
• Reusability: Similar to repairability, with an additional focus on the ability to transfer or delete personal data.
• Upgradability: Includes aspects such as compatibility with improved parts and ease of software or firmware updates.
3.
Each criterion is evaluated based on a predefined system. For example:
• Disassembly depth: number of steps required to reach a part, with fewer steps indicating higher repairability.
• Tools: Classified by complexity, from simple tools (such as screwdrivers) to proprietary tools.
• Skill level: Ranges from tasks that a layman can perform to those that require specific manufacturer expertise.
4.
The scores for each criterion are aggregated to form an overall index of repairability, reusability, and upgradability. This aggregation takes into account the importance of each criterion and normalizes the scores to provide a comprehensive evaluation.
Example of a rating system
Fasteners and connections:
• Class A: Reusable
• Class B: Removable, but not reusable
• Class C: Neither removable nor reusable
Tools:
• Class A: Basic Tools
• Class B: Product-specific tools
• Class C: Other commercially available tools
• Class D: Proprietary tools
• Class E: No existing tools
• Class A: Layman
• Class B: Generalist
• Class C: Expert
• Class D: Expert authorized by the manufacturer
Documentation and reporting
The assessment results must be comprehensively documented, detailing the scope, input data, methods used and final assessments. This ensures transparency and allows for the verification and comparison of different product reviews.
For more detailed information, visit the DIN website.
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