CHOOSING THE CORRECT STANDARD

1. INTRODUCTION

A product achieves EMC when it is able to operate satisfactorily in its intended operating environment without causing Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) to other electronic equipment, and is itself, able to operate satisfactorily without being adversely effected by EMI from other equipment operating in the same environment. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is essential for most electrical/electronic devices to allow them unimpeded access to the market place. The European EMC Directive imposes broadly based electromagnetic emission and immunity standards. The Australian Communications Authority (ACA, formerly the SMA) has implemented the Australian EMC Framework which requires compliance with emission standards only. As of 1 January 1997, compliance with the CISPR emission standards became mandatory in Australia for all electrical equipment marketed for use in the commercial, light industry and residential environments.

Most products have a very high risk of failure for the first time EMC compliance test. An innovative "high-tech" product with unlimited potential is useless if it does not meet the regulatory requirements since it cannot be sold. A product will have the quickest entry into the market place and the best chance of realising its full market potential if it complies on the first pass through the test house. Failure to do so can result in unacceptable delays in reaching the market place, expensive retrofit of EMC control measures and further design modifications.

This paper details the principal EMC standards and regulations applicable to electrical/electronic products and gives an overview of the emissions and immunity testing requirements. Guidelines are also given for good EMC design practise that will assist in avoiding the most common causes of EMC test failures.

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