As of January 1, 1996, all electrical or electronics products shipped into the European Union that could either cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) or could be susceptible to EMI, must be tested to ensure adherence to the EMC Directive. (If a manufacturer believes that a product does not cause EMI and is not affected by EMI, the onus is on the manufacturer to substantiate his claims.) In order to comply with the EMC Directive, the following products listed must conform to applicable Product or Product Family Standards. If no Product or Product Family Standards exist, the product must comply with the Generic Immunity and Emissions standards. These generic standards are divided into two areas:
| Environment |
Generic Emissions |
Generic Immunity |
| Residential, commercial, and light industrial |
EN 50081-1 |
EN 50082-1 |
| Industrial |
EN 50081-2 |
EN 50082-2 |
Residential, Commercial and Light-Industrial Environments
EN 50081-1, the generic emission standard for residential, commercial and light industrial states that: “The environments encompassed by this standard are residential, commercial and light-industrial locations, both indoor and outdoor. The following list, although not comprehensive, gives an indication of locations, which are included: – residential properties, e.g. houses, apartments – retail outlets, e.g. shops, supermarkets – business premises, e.g. offices, banks – areas of public entertainment, e.g. cinemas, public bars, dance halls – outdoor locations, e.g. petrol stations, car parks, amusement and sports centers – light-industrial locations, e.g. workshops, laboratories, service centers Locations which are characterized by being supplied directly at low voltage from the public mains network are considered to be residential, commercial or light industrial.”
Industrial Environment
EN 50081-2, the generic emission standard for the industrial environment states that: “Apparatus covered by this standard is not intended for connection to the public mains network but is intended to be connected to a power network supplied from a high or medium-voltage transformer dedicated for the supply of an installation feeding manufacturing or similar plant.” Industrial locations are characterized by the existence of one or more of the following conditions: – industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) apparatus – heavy inductive or capacitive loads are frequently switched – currents and associated magnetic fields are high These are the major contributors to the industrial electromagnetic environment and as such distinguish the industrial from other environments. ISM equipment is defined in EN 55011, Annex A as: “… suitable for use in all establishments other than domestic and those connected to a low voltage power supply network which supplies buildings used for domestic purposes.” Some examples from Appendix A of EN 55011 for ISM equipment include: signal generators, measuring receivers, spectrum analyzers, chemical analysis machines and switched mode power supplies. Examples of general equipment include: industrial induction heating equipment, industrial microwave heating equipment, medical apparatus (specifically short-wave therapy equipment and microwave therapy equipment), spark erosion equipment, and spot welders. Some overlap exists in the definitions of the two categories and it is up to the manufacturer to use the best judgment in selecting the appropriate category. The manufacturer always has the final responsibility in assuring compliance with the directive.
Standard Selector Guide
| |
Emissions |
Immunity |
| Product Category |
AC Power harmonic currents |
Voltage Flicker |
RF Emissions |
ESD, EFT, Surge, and RF Immunity |
| Audio equipment |
EN 60555-2 will become EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 60555-3 will become EN 610003-3 |
EN 55013 |
EN 50082-1 |
| Household appliances and portable tools, e.g. vacuum cleaners, washing machines, heating and cooking appliances, dimmers |
EN 60555-2 will become EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 60555-3 will become EN 610003-3 |
EN 55014 |
EN 55104 |
| Industrial electronic power and control equipment |
EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 61000-3-3 |
EN 50081-2 |
EN 50082-2 |
| Industrial non-electronic equipment e.g. commutator motors |
EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 61000-3-3 |
EN 50081-2 |
EN 50082-2 |
| Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) equipment designed to generate radio frequency energy |
EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 61000-3-3 |
EN 55011 |
EN 50082-1 or EN 50082-2 |
| Information Technology Equipment (ITE) |
EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 61000-3-3 |
EN 55022 |
EN 50082-1 or EN 50082-2 |
| Lifts |
---- |
---- |
prEN 12015 |
prEN 12016 |
| Lighting equipment |
EN 60555-2 will become EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 61000-3-3 for disco lighting etc. |
EN 55015 |
EN 50082-1 will be EN 61547 in the future |
| Medical Equipment |
---- |
---- |
EN 60601-1-2 |
EN 60601-1-2 |
| Power Mains signaling equipment |
EN 61000-3-2 |
---- |
EN 50065-1 |
EN 50082-1 |
| Professional Audio Visual Equipment |
---- |
---- |
prEN 55103-1 |
prEN 55103-2 |
| Residential and Light Industrial equipment |
EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 61000-3-3 |
EN 50081-1 |
EN 50082-1 |
| TV and Radio Receivers |
EN 60555-2 will become EN 61000-3-2 |
EN 60555-3 will become EN 610003-3 |
EN 55013 |
EN 55020 | Product and Product Family Standards for Immunity Maximum Required Test Levels
| IEC |
ESD |
EFT |
Surge Combination Wave |
Surge Telecom Wave |
Power Frequency Magnetic Field |
Pulse Magnetic Field |
Dips & Interrupts |
100kHz Ring Wave |
| EN 50082-1: Jan 92 Generic Immunity – Residential, Commercial, and Light Industrial |
8kV air discharge |
1kV |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| prEN 50082-1: Oct 96 Generic Immunity – Residential, Commercial, and Light Industrial |
4kV contact mode |
1kV |
2kV common mode |
– |
3A/m |
– |
40% and 70% Dips; Interrupts to 0 |
– |
| 8kV air discharge |
1kV differential mode |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| EN 50082-2: 1995 Generic Immunity – Industrial Environment |
4kV contact mode |
2kV |
– |
– |
30A/m |
– |
– |
– |
| 8kV air discharge |
1kV differential mode |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| prEN 50082-2: Aug 96 Generic Immunity – Industrial Environment |
4kV contact mode |
2kV |
4kV common mode |
– |
30A/m |
– |
40% and 70% Dips; Interrupts to 0 |
– |
| 8kV air discharge |
2kV differential mode |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| EN 55104 Immunity – Household Appliances, Tools and Similar Apparatus |
4kV contact mode |
1kV |
2kV common mode |
– |
– |
– |
40% and 70% Dips; Interrupts to 0 |
– |
| 8kV air discharge |
1kV differential mode |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|