General

            Electro-Magnetic Compatibility means:

the ability of electric and electronic equipment, installations and systems to mutually operate in the same environment without causing or receiving interference.

            The importance of EMC is obvious. For example, think about the electro-magnetic interference that can be caused by electric generation and distribution systems, causing disturbances in sensitive electronic equipment used for telecommunication and wireless-communication.

            As a manufacturer or importer, it is essential to know whether your electric appliance is compatible with other electric equipment. EMC is a part of the performance of your product.

            EU-directive 89/336, hereinafter referred to as the EMC-directive, was issued in order to obtain regulatory rules.

Range of application

            The EMC-directive includes all electric and electronic equipment as well as equipment and systems that contain electric and/or electronic components insofar as various aspects could cause electromagnetic interference or the operation thereof could be affected by this interference. The above applies, in fact, to all equipment in which use is made of electric energy, from battery-operated products to high-voltage installations.

            The EMC-directive is not applicable to products for which separate directives exist with their own EMC criteria. Exceptions to the directive at the present time are:

• medical devices (EU-directive 90/385/EC, 93/42/EEC and 98/79/EC),

• the emission aspect of motor vehicles (covered by EU-directive 72/245/EC),

• non-automatic weighing instruments (EU-directive 90/384/EC),

• tractors,

• self-built equipment of amateur radio transmitters.

Technical requirements

            The EMC-directive simultaneously regulates the emission from electronic equipment and the degree of insusceptibility to electromagnetic interference in the immediate vicinity of this equipment. In other words, products that fall under this directive may not cause impedimentary interference in other equipment and at the same time must be sufficiently immune to interference from other sources.

            The criterion that equipment must be constructed in such a way that it neither causes interference in other devices nor can itself be affected by interference is referred to as an 'essential requirement'.

Conformity Assessment Procedures

            In order to indicate that a product complies with the essential requirements of the EMC-directive, a correlation can be made with the technical standards. There are two separate methods for the selection of standards and criteria that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the directive:

• compliance with the harmonized European EMC Standards (EN standards);

• compliance with specified requirements, if there are no standards for the product or if the standards cannot be fully followed.

EN standards:

            In principle Module A applies: the manufacturer verifies compliance of the product-design with the harmonized EN-standards and provides evidence of this compliance in the "Technical Construction File". For products with the CE marking a "Declaration of Conformity" shall be made.

No EN standards, or incomplete use:

            In principle Module Aa applies: the manufacturer compiles a "Technical Construction File" for the product. This file must contain the following information:

• a list of the standards that are in fact employed or those that are partially employed;

• a list of the measures taken in order to comply with the EMC requirements for which no standards are employed;

• technical report or certificate by an authorized organization ("Competent Body" in the scope of the EMC-directive), in which it is stated that as a result of the measures taken there is compliance with the essential safety requirements.

For products with the CE marking a "Declaration of Conformity" shall be made.

When did the directive come into force?

            In 1992 an EU-Directive for Electromagnetic Compatibility (89/336/EC), came into force. On the basis of this EMC-directive, only those products that comply with the essential requirements will be allowed on the market.

            The EMC-Directive has had a transition period that was effective until December 31st, 1995. During this transition period manufacturers were allowed to choose between compliance with the EMC-Directive or conformity with the prevailing national legislation as that applied on 30 June 1992 in the individual EU member states.

CEBEC and the EMC Directive

            CEBEC has some 60 years of experience in the field of testing and certification. The CEBEC laboratories are equipped with all the necessary facilities for EMC tests. Not only can we perform every requisite EMC measurement for you, we can also conduct on-site measurements.

            The Belgian government has appointed CEBEC as Competent Body (authorized organization). This means that CEBEC can assist you in complying with the EMC-directive even in cases where no EN standards are available for your product.

Information

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