Archive for category: All around RRF

We are happy to announce our new partnership with a youth basketball team from Olpe. As a company, it is important to us to support the sport and the local community.

Our donation enabled the team to be equipped with new, professional jerseys, which strengthens team spirit and ensure a uniform appearance. The team was very happy to receive the equipment.

We are proud to contribute to the promotion of youth basketball and wish the team all the best for the rest of the season.

From 24 to 25 October, the autumn conference of the EFA took place in Würzburg under the motto ‘Future’. The RRF took part on behalf of our managing directors Christian and Dennis Droll. Christian Droll gave a presentation on the topic of EN 16510 at the conference.

The Chairman of the EFA Board, Uwe Striegler, opened the conference. Convinced of a common future for biomass, he handed over to Mrs Claudia Schön from the TFZ in Straubing. She gave a presentation on the measurement of real emissions from eleven local space heaters.

This was followed by Christian Droll’s presentation on the challenges for the industry posed by the new EN 16510 standard, which included an update on the current status of the new standard and the transition period with the existing standards, experiences and feedback on the new test procedure and the test reports from the test laboratories. Finally, he gave a forecast on the new Construction Products Regulation and the associated AV systems, in particular the new System 3+. We will go into more detail on these topics in the next News.

Josef Bock, long-standing branch manager of the SHK branch in Schweinfurt, reported on his work for the next generation of artisanal stove construction. Finally, Dr Dominik Wildanger from the Hessian State Office for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology gave his speech. His presentation focussed on the findings of modern measurement methods. The following day was scheduled for the general meeting and discussions. The EFA’s political advisor, Dr Johannes Gerstner, criticised in his presentation that the still pending legislation for stoves – the 1st BImSchV – should have been passed long ago. Finally, the association gave an update on the organisation of the association on behalf of Deputy Chair Ursula Gröbner.

The next two important industry dates for the coming period are 28 November 2024, when the amendment to the 1st BImSchV will be discussed in Leipzig, and the next symposium and general meeting, which will take place on 15 and 16 May 2025, probably in Erfurt.

From March 21 to 22, 2024, the European Fireplace Association (EFA) hosted a conference in Bonn. The RRF was represented by our Managing Director Christian Droll, who acted as a board member of the EFA. The conference was also hosted by RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e.V., the central body for quality marks in Germany, which also manages the Blue Angel.

On the first day, the speaker Niklas Neureuther from RAL gave a presentation on the Blue Angel and quality marks. Other topics on the first day included the “#ofenzukunft” initiative, which provides targeted and comprehensive information about stoves and tiled stoves and addresses politicians, as well as a presentation by Sabrina Walter from the “Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection” (BMUV), who gave an overview of current issues relating to immission control, funding requirements and the European legal framework. The ZIV, represented by board member Markus Burger, provided information on the topic of “Decommissioning single-room fireplaces” and the background to the counting of fireplaces and tiled stoves by the chimney sweep trade. Finally, Dirk Böhringer, external technical advisor to the EFA, gave a presentation on the testing and proof of use of particle separators. The focus of the tests by the DIBt, which he presented, was primarily operational safety and fire safety.

On the second day, the association’s direction for the future was presented. To enable the association to keep on strengthening, monitoring and supporting its European work in Brussels, cooperation with associations is to be expanded and costs reduced through digitalization in view of the stable membership fees. Furthermore, the three specialist groups – manufacturers, exhaust systems and suppliers – are to be strengthened and do more substantive work. According to the Chairman of the EFA Board, Uwe Striegler, this is necessary as the strong growth has resulted in 42 members from all sectors. Mr. Striegler sees the future of the EFA as secured and well positioned for the coming years thanks to the continuous further development.

The upcoming conference will take place from October 24 to 25 in Würzburg. A workshop on current issues is planned for the time in between. The date will be announced in good time.