EMC Standards Explained
Text here to explain the standards and how they are grouped, what they are used for etc.
EN Standards
EN 55011
Standard |
EN 55011 (Now superseded by EN 55032) |
Scope |
Industrial, scientific and medical equipment (ISM) Household and similar equipment that uses RF energy Group 1 – any devices not covered by Group 2. Group 2 – Intentionally generates RF energy Class A – Used in non domestic environments Class B – May be used in domestic environment |
Test Type |
Frequency |
Test Method |
Conducted Emissions | 150KHz-30MHz | LISN |
Radiated Emissions | 30MHz-1GHz | OATS OR Test Cell |
Note that EMC compliance in the EU requires measurement of mains harmonics according to IEC61000-3-2 and Flicker according to IEC61000-3-3.
See AC2000A harmonics and flicker analyser.
EN 55014
Standard |
EN 55014-1 |
Scope |
Household appliances and hand held tools |
Test Type |
Frequency Range |
Test Method |
Conducted Emissions (Power cables) |
150KHz to 30MHz | LISN |
Radiated Emissions | 30MHz to 1GHz | OATS or Test Cell or Chamber |
Note that EMC compliance in the EU requires measurement of mains harmonics according to IEC61000-3-2 and Flicker according to IEC61000-3-3.
See AC2000A harmonics and flicker analyser.
EN 55015
Standard |
EN55015 |
Scope |
Luminaires |
Test type |
Frequency range |
Test method |
Conducted Emissions | 9KHz – 30MHz | LISN |
Radiated Emissions | 30MHz – 300MHz | CDN or OATS |
Magnetic field | 9KHz – 30MHz | Large loop antenna |
Note that EMC compliance for luminaires requires measurement of mains harmonics according to IEC61000-3-2.
See AC2000A harmonics and flicker analyser.
EN 55022
Standard |
EN 55022 (now superseded by EN 55032) |
Scope |
Information Technology equipment (ITE) |
Test type |
Frequency range |
Test method |
Conducted Emissions | 150KHz to 30MHz | LISN |
Radiated Emissions | 30MHz to 1 or 2 or 6GHz
(Depending on highest clock frequency in EUT) |
OATS or Test Cell |
Note that EMC compliance in the EU requires measurement of mains harmonics according to IEC61000-3-2 and Flicker according to IEC61000-3-3.
See AC2000A harmonics and flicker analyser.
EN55025
EN 55032
Standard |
EN55032 |
Scope |
MULTI_MEDIA EQUIPMENT (MME) Includes ITE |
Test Type |
Frequency range |
Test Method |
Conducted Emissions (Power cabels) |
150KHz to 30MHz | LISN |
Conducted Emissions (all other ports) |
150KHz to 30MHz | AAN |
Radiated Emissions | 30MHz to 1 or 2 or 6GHz (Depending on highest clock frequency in EUT) |
OATS or Test Cell or Chamber |
Note that EMC compliance in the EU requires measurement of mains harmonics according to IEC61000-3-2 and Flicker according to IEC61000-3-3.
See AC2000A harmonics and flicker analyser.
IEC Standards
IEC61000-3-2 (Harmonics)
Standard |
IEC/EN61000-3-2 and IEC/EN61000-3-3 |
Scope |
The scope includes products such as lighting equipment, portable tools, all electronic equipment, consumer products and appliances and industrial equipment. This standard does not cover equipment which has a nominal supply voltage less than 220V ac and no limits have been specified for professional equipment above 1kW. |
Test type |
Frequency range |
Test method |
Harmonics | 50Hz-2KHZ (40th harmonic) | AC2000A and AC1000 |
Flicker | N/A | AC2000A |
IEC61000-3-3 (Flicker)
Standard |
IEC/EN61000-3-3 and IEC/EN61000-3-2 |
Scope |
The scope covers any equipment that has a mains power rating of 16A or less, and which may significantly vary the power consumption at a rate between 1Hz and 20Hz. Such variation in load can cause the mains voltage to fluctuate, which in turn can cause fluctuations in lighting intensity (Flicker). This standard does not cover equipment which has a nominal supply voltage less than 220V ac and no limits have been specified for professional equipment above 1kW. |
Test type |
Frequency range |
Test method |
Harmonics and flicker | Mains: 50 – 60Hz Flicker: 1Hz – 20Hz |
AC2000A |
IEC61000-4-2
Standard |
IEC61000-4-2 |
Scope |
All Electrical/Electronic Equipment |
Test Type |
Test Level |
Test Method |
Simulates Electrostatic discharges typically caused by friction between non-conductive surfaces | Refer to product specific standard | Use ESD simulator to create both air discharge and contact events. |
Note: Refer to ESD (Onyx16/30) Product
IEC61000-4-3
Radiated RF Immunity
IEC61000-4-3 immunity testing requires that the EUT (equipment under test) operates satisfactorily when subject to a strong radiated electromagnetic field. (Such as might be created by cell phones and other intentional radiators, and RF noise that might be caused, inadvertently or otherwise, by industrial processes).
This requires a frequency scan at a certain fixed level of field strength (specified by the standard). The ‘scan’ will comprise a series of ‘steps’ in frequency. Each step is specified as a percentage of current frequency value. This percentage is variable from 0.2% to 5%.
At each step, the frequency is held, the level adjusted to the required field strength (V/m) as measured by a field sensor, a prescribed modulation mode is initiated and then the conditions held for a ‘dwell’ time. The EUT should be monitored to detect faulty operation during the test. Typical values for field strength are 3 V/m for domestic and 10 V/m for industrial products.
Other higher stress levels are often specified for certain types of products eg medical and automotive. These fields are so intense that this test must be carried out in a screened chamber or test cell. Test cells such as the GTEM or Laplacell are highly efficient but restricted to small products. Screened chambers can be large, but can be relatively expensive and require powerful amplifiers to create the required stress levels.
The Laplace range includes complete solutions for such tests. We can supply systems based on either a test cell, or for use inside a test chamber (Anechoic Chamber).
When using a test cell (LaplaCell) the antenna and field probe are integrated into the cell, so these items are not separately required. If installing a system in an anechoic chamber, then the antenna and field probe is required.
Note: that the LaplaCells not only provide an economical and efficient alternative to the test chamber, it also provides a calibrated environment for radiated emissions measurements.
These are the standard systems that Laplace offers:
LC300 Immunity Testing
IEC61000-4-4
Standard |
IEC61000-4-4 |
Scope |
Mains powered equipment |
Test Type |
Test Level |
Test Method |
simulates switching transients caused when equipment is switched on or off | Refer to product specific standard | Transient injection via coupling networks or capacitive coupling clamps |
Note: Refer to Burst/EFTG
IEC61000-4-5
Standard |
IEC61000-4-5 |
Scope |
Mains powered equipment |
Test Type |
Test Level |
Test Method |
Simulates voltage surges as produced by lighting strikes on mains distribution systems | Refer to product specific standard | Injection via coupling network |
Note: Refer to Surge and Hybrid
IEC61000-4-6
IEC61000-4-8/9
IEC61000-4-8
IEC61000-4-11
Standard |
IEC61000-4-11 |
Scope |
Mains powered equipment |
Test Type |
Test Level |
Test Method |
Simulates the common voltage drops and short term interruptions in the mains supply | Refer to product specific standard | Replication of the typical brown outs and interruptions. |
Note: Refer to Multi-CE5 integrated test system
IEC61000-6-1
Standard |
IEC61000-6-1 and IEC61000-6-2 |
Scope |
Generic immunity standards that apply to any item not specifically covered by other product specific standards. IEC61000-6-1 used for industrial environments IEC61000-6-2 used for residential environments |
Standard |
Test |
Simulates |
IEC61000-4-2 | ESD | Electrostatic discharge |
IEC61000-4-3 | Radiated RF | Proximity to transmitters |
IEC61000-4-4 | EFT & Burst | Switching transients on power distribution systems |
IEC61000-4-5 | Surge | Lightening strikes |
IEC61000-4-6 | Conducted RF | Coupling of ambient RF onto cables |
IEC61000-4-8 | Magnetic field (50Hz frequency) |
Proximity to power supplies, motors, transformers, traction systems, etc. |
IEC61000-4-9 | Magnetic field (Pulsed) |
MRI scanners, traction systems |
IEC61000-4-11 | Dips & Interrupts | Common phenomena on mains supply networks. |
IEC61000-6-2
Standard |
IEC61000-6-1 and IEC61000-6-2 |
Scope |
Generic immunity standards that apply to any item not specifically covered by other product specific standards. IEC61000-6-1 used for industrial environments IEC61000-6-2 used for residential environments |
Standard |
Test |
Simulates |
IEC61000-4-2 | ESD | Electrostatic discharge |
IEC61000-4-3 | Radiated RF | Proximity to transmitters |
IEC61000-4-4 | EFT & Burst | Switching transients on power distribution systems |
IEC61000-4-5 | Surge | Lightening strikes |
IEC61000-4-6 | Conducted RF | Coupling of ambient RF onto cables |
IEC61000-4-8 | Magnetic field (50Hz frequency) |
Proximity to power supplies, motors, transformers, traction systems, etc. |
IEC61000-4-9 | Magnetic field (Pulsed) |
MRI scanners, traction systems |
IEC61000-4-11 | Dips & Interrupts | Common phenomena on mains supply networks. |
IEC61000-6-3
Standard |
IEC61000-6-3 and IEC61000-6-4 |
Scope |
Generic emissions standards that apply to any item not specifically covered by other product specific standards. IEC61000-6-3 for products used in industrial environments IEC61000-6-4 for products used in residential environments |
Standard |
Test |
Method |
EN 55032 | Conducted RF | LISN |
EN 55032 | Radiated RF | OATS or Chamber or Test Cell |
IEC61000-3-2 | Mains Harmonics | Harmonic analyser |
IEC61000-3-3 | Flicker | Flicker analyser |
IEC61000-3-3 | Inrush current | Power analyser |
IEC61000-6-4
Standard |
IEC61000-6-3 and IEC61000-6-4 |
Scope |
Generic emissions standards that apply to any item not specifically covered by other product specific standards. IEC61000-6-3 for products used in industrial environments IEC61000-6-4 for products used in residential environments |
Standard |
Test |
Method |
EN 55032 | Conducted RF | LISN |
EN 55032 | Radiated RF | OATS or Chamber or Test Cell |
IEC61000-3-2 | Mains Harmonics | Harmonic analyser |
IEC61000-3-3 | Flicker | Flicker analyser |
IEC61000-3-3 | Inrush current | Power analyser |