Sourcing direct-fired diesel heaters from China

Duty on direct-fired diesel warm-air heaters

Heading 7322 covers non-electrically heated iron or steel air heaters incorporating a motor-driven fan or blower, and their parts, alongside central heating radiators. This guide covers complete direct-fired diesel warm-air heaters matching that description. The table shows heater configurations sharing the supplied tariff line. For related equipment within the wider heading, see indirect-fired diesel space heaters.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, commodity code 7322 90 00 90 carries 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control for this line.

Give your customs broker the casing material, combustion arrangement, fan details and complete model description before confirming the commodity code. An electrically powered fan does not make the heat source electrical. Confirm separately shipped burners, motors and controllers individually.

Specify the burner, airflow and intended site

Specify diesel as the intended fuel, useful heat output, airflow, fuel consumption, electrical supply, tank construction and thermostat arrangement. A direct-fired heater sends combustion products into the heated air stream. Ask for drawings showing the burner, fan, fuel lines, guards and service access, and request operating test results with the fuel and test conditions identified.

For heaters within machinery safety rules, the responsible person must ensure the relevant conformity assessment is carried out and the relevant conformity marking is affixed. Ask testing and certification to establish which rules cover the complete model. Request model-specific assessment documents, test reports and operating instructions rather than accepting paperwork for a similar-looking heater.

Ask the testing provider to identify the applicable ecodesign category and assess the supporting efficiency documentation. For products within ecodesign scope, a declaration of conformity must be supported by technical documentation. Confirm with the relevant market surveillance authority which compliance responsibilities apply to the importer first placing the regulated product on the market.

Official guidance identifies oil heaters as a source of carbon monoxide indoors. HSE states that workplace hazardous-substances rules require protection against carbon monoxide risks. Agree the intended site, ventilation arrangements and operating restrictions with a competent adviser before selecting the heater; do not treat a catalogue claim about room size as a site assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 15 direct-fired diesel warm-air heaters under 7322 90 00 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £1,120 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,120. Duty at 2% is £142.40. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,262.40, so it is £1,452.48. Import taxes total £1,594.88; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £142.40 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and documents: match the model, burner, nozzle, fan and controller to the approved specification and assessment documents. Check that operating instructions describe the supplied controls, fuel and intended use.

Fuel system: inspect tank seams, hoses, filter, cap and connections for leakage or damage. Check fuel-line routing and service access against the approved drawings.

Combustion and shutdown: have a competent test team check ignition, flame-loss shutdown, overheat protection and restart behaviour against the agreed test plan. Record combustion measurements and investigate smoke, unstable burning or fuel leakage.

Arrival and packing: check for crushed casings, bent guards, fan rubbing, loose wiring and damaged wheels or handles. Photograph damage and compare accessories with the packing list. Agree the inspection scope before shipment.

What goes wrong

A quoted output may describe burner input without showing useful heat output or test conditions. A substituted nozzle, pump or controller can change combustion behaviour while the casing remains identical. Freeze the component list, retain an approved sample and require the factory to flag substitutions before production.

Fuel seepage, poor ignition, fan vibration and manuals copied from another model can emerge during acceptance checks. A heater supplied for an unsuitable enclosed space also creates a combustion-safety problem. Resolve operating restrictions, documentation gaps and failed tests before accepting the batch.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.