The new regulations govern both large-scale units and those typically used in single family houses. Space heaters in central heating systems and water heaters with a rated output up to 400 kilowatts (kW) and hot water storage tanks with a volume up to 2000 litres that are put on the market must now meet certain minimum requirements of energy efficiency. Save for a few exceptions, the condensing boilers only will be admissible. Heat pumps, block heating stations, and hot water heaters must meet minimum energy efficiency standards. Additional requirements concerning noise emissions apply to heat pumps.

The regulations also rule that space heaters and hot water heaters with a rate output of up to 70 kW and water storage tanks with a volume up to 500 litres – in other words typical units in single family houses – are labelled with the energy efficiency class information that is familiar on household appliances. When combined with solar heaters or other types of heaters, these combination heater systems will have to bear additional labelling in future.

The EU Commission is strengthening consumers' rights: systems with high energy losses will no longer be on the market, whereas those which meet minimum standards must be labelled with uniform information (also online), including energy efficiency class and the energy consumption of heating units and combination heaters.

There were some 680,000 units on the heating appliances market in Germany in 2014, of which 590,000 were gas and oil-fired boilers, and of which another three-quarters already incorporate condensing appliance technology. Space and hot water heating account for about 35% of final energy consumption in Germany.

Older models of gas and oil-fired boilers in Germany must also be labelled with final energy consumption information starting 1 January 2016, in keeping with the Federal Government's National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency. The Bundestag is still debating a decision on the labelling of existing equipment.

The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and the Energy Labelling Directive 2010/30/EU are part of the EU Commission's "integrated product policy" which aims to reduce the environmental impact of products. The Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and the Federal Environment Agency collaborated in the legislative procedure.