EMC directive
We live in a world full of electronic devices. All these devices must be able to operate properly without exercising too much influence on each other and their environment. Nor must users’ health and safety be compromised. A device’s ability to function properly among other devices is called its ‘electromagnetic compatibility’, or EMC. In this blog you can read more about EMC and the directive governing it. It includes answers to the following questions:
- What EMC-directives exist?
- Which products must comply with the EMC directive?
- How do I demonstrate that my equipment complies with the EMC Directive?
What EMC directives exist?
Europe has the 2014/30/EU directive for EMC. This directive is intended to regulate the electromagnetic emission and immunity of devices and fixed installations. This prevents them from causing interference to other devices, or being affected by interference themselves. Electromagnetic emission denotes the amount of electromagnetic interference caused by a device. Another word for this is electromagnetic interference (EMI). There are two types of emissions:
1. conduction through cables
2. radiation through the air
Conversely, the degree of immunity demonstrates whether a product is immune to outside electromagnetic radiation. Does your device comply with the EMC directive? Then you meet one part of the CE marking requirements. If you meet all parts of the CE marking requirements? Then as a manufacturer, you may affix the CE mark to your product. This permits access to markets in the European Economic Area, the EEA.
Which products must comply with the EMC directive?
Manufacturers marketing electronic equipment within Europe must comply with the EMC directive. Directive 2014/30/EU applies to electronic equipment and installations. At DEKRA, we test the EMC directive for the following product groups, among others:
- household appliances
- consumer electronics
- measuring and laboratory equipment
- audio and video equipment
- lighting
- industrial electronics
Not all equipment is required to meet the 2014/30/EU EMC directive. Other (EMC) directives apply in such cases. For example, equipment from these categories:
- electric vehicles
- radio equipment
- aviation products and components
- equipment which does not itself produce any electromagnetic emissions, does not contribute to them, or is not susceptible to them
How do you demonstrate that your equipment complies with the EMC directive?
You can carry out (or commission) an internal production control or an EU type examination to prove that your equipment complies with the European EMC directive. This may for example apply if you do not have the test equipment in-house, or because you want to show that your product has been tested independently. DEKRA offers EMC facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, the US, China, and Taiwan. Our test reports allow you to demonstrate that your product complies with the EMC directive. We conduct the tests in our own laboratories or at your premises. Our experts will explain how to prepare for the tests. They will then book the testing facilities to perform the tests, and will keep you updated on the progress and results.