Vaillant aesthetic insulation cover for stationary storage tanks VIH R 120 – 200 B, to increase energy class to A

Product detailed description

Vaillant aesthetic insulation cover for stationary storage tanks VIH R 120 – 200 B, to increase energy class to A

This aesthetic insulation cover from Vaillant is designed for the range of stationary (floor-standing) domestic hot water storage tanks VIH R in the volume range of 120 to 200 litres, variant "B", and its main function is to supplement the tank's original insulation with an additional layer, which allows the tank to achieve a higher energy efficiency class on the energy label – specifically class A instead of the original lower class with which the tank leaves the factory in its basic version. This type of add-on part is particularly interesting for customers who place emphasis on the lowest possible heat losses from the tank during operation, or who need to demonstrate a higher energy class of the installed equipment, for example as part of a subsidy programme, a building energy certificate, or the investor's requirements for the energy performance of the building.

Why stationary storage tanks have different energy classes depending on the version

The energy class of a hot water storage tank on the energy label (according to the ErP regulation) expresses the level of heat losses of the tank into the surroundings during standby mode (i.e. when the tank is charged to the required temperature but no water is currently being drawn) – the lower these losses, the higher the class achieved. The basic version of the VIH R tank has, from the factory, a certain standard thickness and type of insulation corresponding to a common medium energy class; by adding this insulation cover, the thickness and quality of the tank's thermal insulation is increased beyond the basic version, reducing the amount of heat that the tank loses to the surrounding space per unit of time, and the resulting energy class is shifted up to the higher level A.

Construction and material of the cover

The cover is made of a thermally insulating material with a low thermal conductivity coefficient, shaped to fit precisely to the outer casing of the VIH R range tanks in the stated volume range of 120 – 200 litres, variant B. The outer surface of the cover is also aesthetically finished so that, once installed, the tank continues to look like a clean-looking, compact appliance, not like an additionally wrapped part with visible imperfections.

Installation

Installing this additional insulation cover is a relatively simple procedure, which consists of wrapping the outer casing of the tank with the cover according to the manufacturer's installation instructions, without any intervention in the tank's hydraulic or electrical connections. Despite the simplicity of the installation, we recommend entrusting this task to a professional company or at least carrying it out together with the regular servicing of the tank, since during installation care must be taken to ensure that the cover does not cover the tank's rating plate, inspection openings, or access to connections and sensors, which must remain freely accessible for future servicing.

Compatibility

This insulation cover is designed for the range of stationary Vaillant VIH R storage tanks with a volume of 120 to 200 litres in variant "B". Before ordering, it is essential to verify the exact model and variant of your tank, as different volume variants within this range have slightly different external dimensions, which the cover must precisely match in order to achieve the declared increased energy class.

The practical benefit of a higher energy class

The reduction of the tank's heat losses in standby mode results in practice in a modest but long-term saving of energy needed to maintain the tank at the required temperature between individual hot water draw-offs – this effect is more pronounced especially during periods of low or irregular consumption (for example during a holiday, when no water is drawn from the tank, but it is still maintained at the set temperature). In addition to the direct energy saving, increasing the tank's energy class may also be relevant when demonstrating the energy performance of an entire building, for example when applying for a subsidy or preparing an energy certificate.

Maintenance

The cover does not require any special maintenance beyond regularly wiping the surface with a dry cloth. During the regular annual service inspection of the tank, we recommend carefully folding back or removing the cover where access is needed (inspection openings, connections, sensors) according to the instructions, and refitting it correctly after the service is completed so that its tightness and thermal insulation function are maintained over the entire surface of the tank.

Why choose an original Vaillant insulation cover

The original Vaillant cover is designed precisely to match the external dimensions of the given tank range, and its thermal insulation parameters are verified by the manufacturer to actually lead to the declared increase in energy class to A. Using a generic alternative insulation of unknown origin would not guarantee the same, manufacturer-verified and declarable result on the appliance's energy label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wider context – energy class as part of the purchasing decision

The energy label of hot water storage tanks is becoming an increasingly common decision criterion when choosing an appliance, similar to what has long been the case with white goods or lighting. While for small tanks with short intervals between individual draw-offs, heat losses in standby mode are of relatively minor importance, for larger stationary tanks with a volume of several hundred litres, which may be in standby mode without draw-off for longer periods, the quality of insulation has a more noticeable effect on overall energy consumption.

This additional insulation cover is therefore a meaningful investment especially for tanks that will be in operation for a long time (ten years or more), where even a small percentage reduction in heat losses over this period represents a real cumulative saving in energy costs. When ordering, we always recommend verifying the exact model of your tank so that we can confirm that this particular cover is suitable for your case and will actually lead to the declared increase in energy class.

How the tank's energy class is calculated and what all affects it

The energy class of a water heater according to the European ecodesign and energy labelling regulation is determined based on several parameters, which include primarily the daily consumption of auxiliary electrical energy, static heat losses over 24 hours at a certain temperature difference between the water in the tank and the surroundings, and the volume of the tank. The quality and thickness of the tank's thermal insulation has a direct and significant influence on this value – this is precisely why manufacturers offer the option of additional insulation reinforcement as a way to achieve a better rating on the energy label for an already existing type of tank (without changing its heat exchanger construction or volume). This insulation cover is exactly such a solution, allowing the VIH R tank in the volume range of 120 – 200 litres, variant B, to be shifted from its basic class to the higher class A without the need to replace the entire appliance.

When it makes sense to consider a further degree of insulation instead of this cover

In addition to this cover for increasing the class to A, our accessories catalogue also offers a fleece supplementary insulation designed for an even higher class A+, which is applied to tanks of the same range, but in a different volume range and using a different application technology (a slip-on fleece layer instead of a shaped cover). Customers who are considering the maximum possible reduction of their tank's heat losses are advised to compare both of these variants and choose the one that matches the exact model and volume of their specific tank – in case of any uncertainty, we will be happy to advise which of these two additional products is compatible and suitable for your tank.

Impact on the resulting operating cost over the years

Although the reduction in heat losses thanks to additional insulation represents a relatively modest absolute value of saved energy per day for a single tank, over the entire planned lifespan of a stationary tank (typically ten years or more), this saving accumulates. For tanks used in operations with almost continuous temperature maintenance (for example in larger households, operations with year-round utilisation, or in combination with renewable heat sources, where the tank serves as a continuous buffer), this cumulative effect can be noticeable in absolute figures on the energy bill over the years of operation.

Frequently Asked Questions – additional

Supplementary insulation and guarantee of the tank's origin

When ordering this cover, it is advisable to have the exact type designation of your VIH R tank at hand, which can be found on its rating plate or in the documentation supplied at purchase. Given that the VIH R tank range includes several volume variants as well as design generations (denoted, for example, by a letter at the end of the type code), verifying the exact match between your tank and this particular cover is key to achieving the declared result – i.e. an actual increase in energy class to A, not just a partial or incomplete covering of the tank's surface with an incorrectly sized part.

If you are not sure of the exact type designation of your tank, we recommend sending us a photo of the rating plate, or contacting directly the company that originally installed your tank – based on this information, we will be happy to confirm that you are ordering the correct variant of the insulation cover exactly for your specific case.

Summary

The aesthetic insulation cover for increasing the energy class of stationary VIH R 120 – 200 B storage tanks to class A is an inexpensive and easily installed accessory that brings a real, albeit gradually manifesting, reduction in the tank's heat losses during its long-term operation. It is suitable both for new installations, where the decision for a higher energy class is already made when ordering the tank, and for additional retrofitting onto an already existing, operating tank as part of regular servicing. For any questions regarding compatibility with your specific tank model, our team is available for consultation even before ordering, free of charge and without any obligation to buy immediately. Our goal is for you to obtain, for your home or facility, exactly the part that matches your specific tank and actually brings the declared benefit in the form of lower heat losses and a higher energy class, without unnecessary compromise or later disappointment from an unsatisfactory result. We are convinced that even such a seemingly small accessory can, over the many years of a tank's operation, bring a meaningful and measurable benefit, and that is why we give it the same attention in our advice as we do to larger and more visible components of the heating system.