Lecture on the new Construction Products Regulation – thanks to the Chimney Technology Association and the Poll company!

Our managing director Dennis Droll had the opportunity to give a presentation on the changes to the Construction Products Regulation at the chimney Technology Association. The main focus was on the innovations in the AV systems 2+ and 3 as well as the new System 3+.

Dennis and Christian Droll would like to give a big thank you to the Poll company for the invitation to Dörpen and the great organisation. The exchanges with experts from the industry have shown again how important it is to discuss new regulations and to develop solutions together.

Do you have any questions or experiences regarding the current changes? Please do not hesitate to contact us!

The new Construction Products Regulation EN 16510 and historical data, certification of flue gas systems… these are just a few of the topics for which we will be available to answer questions at the WoF

This year we will once again be taking part in the international trade fair ‘WORLD OF FIREPLACES’ in Leipzig, Germany. Visit us at our stand G62 from 28.04.2025 to 30.04.2025, where we will be presenting the current requirements of DIN EN 16510, for example, and giving you valuable tips on all aspects of fireplaces.

Our team is happy to assist you as your contact person.

Have we captured your attention? Then please make an appointment for a personal conversation by e-mail to info@rrf-online.eu or by telephone on +49 208 60 70 41 0.

You can also contact us for tickets. We look forward to meeting you

“We need to move closer together”

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.

Memorial for our former employee Volker Droll

Good people are like stars – they shine long after they have gone out

We received the sad news

of the sudden passing of our former colleague, uncle and brother,

Volker Droll

Volker Droll worked for our company for ten years from 2006 to 2016.

We mourn the loss of a dear and unique colleague whom we will remember fondly.

Oberhausen, June 2024

Rhein-Ruhr Feuerstätten Prüfstelle GmbH

Shareholders and management

Employees and staff

EFA update on the Blue Angel and quality mark

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.

Trade fair appearance at Progetto Fuoco 2024

From February 28 to March 1, 2024, our CEOs Christian Droll and Dennis Droll and the head of testing laboratory Sven Müller, were at the Progetto Fuoco in Verona. There they took part in numerous meetings and came into direct contact with you.

This trade fair was also a complete success for us, as we were able to make new contacts and hold future-oriented discussions with you.

Among the top topics were the new EN 16510 series of standards and the certification of chimneys and flue gas systems, for which we are also accredited in addition to testing fireplaces.

If you are visiting or exhibiting at a trade fair and you’re interested in making an appointment with us, please feel free to contact us at info@rrf-online.eu or 0208 607041-0.

In front Dennis Droll and Sven Müller on their way to the fair

Progetto Fuoco 2024 

From February 28 to March 1, 2024, we will be visiting the Progetto Fuoco in Verona. We gladly visit you at your stand or arrange an appointment with you. 

To arrange an appointment, please contact us by telephone on +49(0)208 60 70 41 – 11 or via e-mail at l.schmidt@rrf-online.eu

RRF team building “training” to become stove builders for Ethiopian clay stoves

On 24.11.2023, Marius Dislich and Christoph Ruopp were our guests with their project “Die Ofenmacher e. V.”.

The day began with a pleasant meeting in the warmth, where the two of them told us about their local projects, the people and their experiences with other cultures. After they explained the theory of a clay stove to us and divided us into two groups, we got down to business.

First, everyone was allowed to try out for themselves how to mix sand and clay so that it becomes a stable and dense mass when dry. Once we had found the optimum mixing ratio, the sand, clay and water were kneaded on the floor with our feet to classical African music. Meanwhile, a delicious African stew was prepared on an already made clay oven that Marius and Christoph had brought along. Strengthened by the stew, they got to work on the clay. The aim was to build a complete clay oven in two teams.

The clay oven used in Ethiopia has a second hearth for the met’ad, which is the main cooking area from the Ethiopian user’s point of view. The exhaust air from the met’ad combustion chamber also heats another pot, and the heat from the exhaust gases from the cooking pot combustion chamber is also used by this pot.

Even though everyone in the team could still feel the hard work in their bones the next day, they all had a lot of fun with the project. There was even a small competition for the most beautiful stove. The result of both stoves is impressive and we can now call ourselves “stove builders” of an Ethiopian clay stove.

As much fun as we had that day, the cause of “Die Ofenmacher e. V.” is serious and important. Around 3 billion people worldwide still cook over an open fire. This is the fifth most common cause of death. In addition to life-threatening burns, open fires produce very high levels of particulate matter and emissions. “Die Ofenmacher e. V.” trains local stove builders and teaches local people how to make a stove from locally available materials that can also be easily assembled and maintained. This stove alone significantly reduces health risks, emissions and wood consumption.

Last year, we supported “Die Ofenmacher e. V.” with a financial donation. In order to show how pollutant emissions can be drastically reduced worldwide with simple means and how high the reduction actually is, we donated a test of a typical clay stove to “Die Ofenmacher e. V.” as a Christmas campaign. “Die Ofenmacher e. V.” can use the test results as a basis for discussions for example with politicians and supporters and continue to realize their goals. We would like to thank Marius and Christoph for the exciting insights and a unique and unusual team-building exercise and, of course, everyone in the RRF team who supported the project wholeheartedly

Another addition to our team in Oberhausen

At the beginning of the year, we were able to welcome a new employee at the firm in Oberhausen. The 25-year-old Dogukan Piri will strengthen our laboratory as a technician. After his traineeship as an industrial mechanic in Essen, he then completed a six-month postgraduate training. Mr Piri will currently not only be schooled in 13240 and 13229 but also in the future 16510 series of standards. We are pleased to include him in our team as a support and we look forward to a good time together in our company.

Environmental Sustainability Information (ESI)

With the publication of standards series EN 16510-2-x:2022 in the Official Journal of the European Union and thus their harmonisation, an environmental sustainability information for fireplaces becomes mandatory as part of the Declaration of Performance. The European Green Deal sets requirements for the construction sector. This Green Deal results in a standardization mandate on “sustainable use of resources” for the European Committee for Standardization. A simplified approach has been developed that allows the creation of type-specific sustainability information based on generic information for main components of the appliances and various lifecycle phases.

The ESI considers the following lifecycle phases:

• Manufacturing phase

• Usage phase

• Disposal phase

• Reuse and recycling potential

The HKI Industry Association, in cooperation with service provider Kiwa, has developed a calculation tool for creating environmental sustainability information for domestic stoves for solid fuels according to the EN 16510-x:2022 standards series. The tool is a simple way to meet the requirement.

According to Annex ZA of the standards series, we, as RRF, are responsible for controlling the existence and completeness of the ESI in the context of creating a test report for a construction product.

For further information regarding the ESI, please feel free to contact us.