How do you
know if your product is EMC compliant?
Unlike some
of the other CE standards, the only way to be sure your
product is EMC compliant is to carry out a series of
tests. You will need to hire the services of a specialist
EMC test house who will advise you which tests are
relevant to your product. The tests are carried out on
the complete system or machine, not on individual
components.It is a
common miscomprehension that if all the components of
your machine are CE marked (and therefore have already
been EMC tested), your finished product is compliant.
Unfortunately, this may not be the case. The only way you
will know is by carrying out EMC tests on the complete
system.
During the tests, your
product is subjected to various conditions to see if its
operation is affected.
Conducted and
Radiated Immunity
Radio waves are injected (conducted)
into your product and transmitted through the air (radiated).
Magnetic Immunity
A magnetic field similar
to that generated by a power line is applied.
Electrostatic
Discharge (EDS)
Your product is zapped
with static electricity.
Voltage Dips and
Interruptions (VDI)
The effect of the mains
supply dropping out is investigated.
Surge
Your product is subject to
a simulated lightning strike through the mains supply.
Emissions
Sensitive equipment is
used to determine whether your product is radiating (through
the air) or conducting (through cables) radio frequency
interference to the outside world.
On the successful
completion of all applicable tests a Certificate Test
Report is compiled, documenting the results as the
evidence of compliance. The EMC test report would also
include the ‘Declaration Of Conformity’ (DOC)
which is signed by the manufacturer and constitutes (in
conjunction with the report) the legal document of
compliance. Policing authorities in the EU can request
this documentation at customs in the case of imports, or
as part of their policing activities.
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