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A fictitious modem is used as an example to assist newcomers in formulating
their approach to the challenge of achieving compliance for their product and thereby
efficiently exploit the information on our website. |
THE MYTHICAL MODEM
We'll use a MODEM as an example to provide an illustration of a brief compliance strategy work-up.
You finally have the prototype of your product available for testing.
WITHOUT DOUBT...
you have applied good emission control design techniques - analog/digital circuit area demarcation, opting for the 4 layer board, using the slowest clock speed possible,
rounded off potentially noisy lines like chip-enables with appropriate resistors.
SO WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SELL IT?
The following table gives you an idea of what compliance markings you need to acquire to sell into a particular market:
| MARKET |
STANDARD |
EMISSIONS/IMMUNITY |
OPTIONS |
| AUSTRALIAN |
C-TICK |
less immunity except for some medical devices |
Technical Construction File |
| AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND |
applicable emissions standard |
les immunity except for some medical devices |
Technical Construction File |
| EUROPEAN |
CE-Mark |
both required |
Technical Construction File |
| NORTH AMERICAN |
FCC compliance_ID |
no immunity required |
compliance by test only |
I WANT TO SELL INTO
EUROPE AS WELL AS
AUSTRALIA...
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
From the table above you can see that you will have to acquire the following compliance marks:
- C-Tick for the Australian market
- CE marking for the European market
Acquiring a C-Tick for the Australian market
Following this process will allow you to market your system legally in Australia:
- Submit your system for emissions testing at a NATA accredited test house
- Acquire a test report
- Make a declaration of Conformity (DoC) backed up by this test report
- Store your DoC, test report and other documentation in your Compliance Folder
- Put C-Tick stickers on your product and go to market!
In this case, the Australian equivalent for the applicable international standard CISPR22 is
AS/NZS 3548 which applies to ITE (Information Technology Equipment). The more stringent Class B limits would apply because the device would be used in a domestic environment. Class A limits would be appropriate for a device that would only be employed in a noisier light industrial or equivalent environment.
It sounds simple, and it is.
HOWEVER,
BE WARNED!
Your DoC must be able to withstand:
- Scientific and
- Judicial scrutiny
In the event that a product's compliance is called into question, the ACA will accept a NATA test report as final in any determination.
Where the declaration of conformity is based on non-NATA testing, then the supplier may be required to bear
the cost of testing at a NATA test laboratory, the test samples and the NATA accredited test lab being nominated by the SMA.
The take home message? Check the scope of NATA accreditation of your test-house!
Acquiring CE Marking for the European Market
Following this process will allow you to market your system legally in Europe:
- Submit your system for appropriate testing at a NATA accredited test house
- Acquire a test report
- Make a declaration of Conformity (DoC) backed up by this test report
- Store your DoC, test report and other documentation in your Compliance Folder
- Put CE stickers on your product and go to market!
In contrast to Australian and North American requirements, IMMUNITY TESTING IS MANDATORY FOR ALL PRODUCTS BEING SOLD ON THE EUROPEAN MARKET.
To earn CE Marking, our mythical modem will require immunity testing to the generic standard EN50082-1 which applies to domestic equipment, and emissions testing to EN55022 with domestic CLASS B limits applying.
The EN55022 emissions standard is the European equivalent of CISPR22, as is the Australian/New Zealand AS/NZS3548 referred to above and required for C-Tick compliance.
The Generic Immunity Standard EN50082-1 calls up a range of basic standards that include:
- EN61000-4-2:1995 Part 2: Immunity to Electrostatic Discharge
- EN61000-4-3:1995 Part 3: Immunity to Radiated Electromagnetic Fields
- EN61000-4-4:1995 Part 4: Immunity to Electrical Fast Transient/Burst
- EN61000-4-5:1995 Part 5: Surge Immunity Requirements
- EN61000-4-6:1996 Part 6: Immunity to Conduct Disturbances Induced by RF Fields
- EN61000-4-11:1994 Part 11: Immunity to Supply Dips and Power Supply Variations
You should also be aware that compliance with:
- EN61000-3-2 (Limits of Harmonic Current Emissions) and
- EN61000-3-3 (Limits of Voltage Fluctuations and Flicker)
will also be mandatory.
The bottom line when striving to ensure the strength of your products compliance documentation is the reliability and accuracy of the
test results. A European authority assessing an Australian manufacturers compliance claims requires evidence of the value of the
product test report.
This is where NATA accredited testing becomes a strong ally.
NATA accredited facilities meet the requirements of ISO/Guide 25 which demands full calibration
traceability of measurement equipment to the national standards at the National Measurement
Laboratories (NML) of the CSIRO, and thereby to international standards.
Calibration traceability is essential for the acceptance and recognition of test reports. NATA accredited test houses have been thoroughly evaluated by NATA and accredited as meeting internationally recognised standards for
good laboratory practice, the availability of the necessary test facilities, an adequate level of
technical competence and the appropriate quality management systems. A NATA endorsed report
gives the highest confidence in technical competency and in the reliability of the test results.
NATA has a mutual recognition agreement with the Testing Multilateral Agreement Group of the
European Co-operation for Accreditation of Laboratories (EAL). NATA endorsed reports are
acceptable as technical grounds for making a Declaration of Conformity by the following
international bodies:
- EUROPE - NAMES, STALAG, DANK, SWEDE, SIGNAL COFRAC, RELE, ICLAB, FINAS, NA, SAS
- AUSTRALIA - NATA, ACA
- USA - NVLAP, A2LA. FCC Listed for Parts 15 and 18
- HONG KONG - HOKLAS
- NEW ZEALAND - TELARC Also listed with Ministry of Commerce
In addition to our comprehensive series of NATA accreditations, we have strengthened our ability to facilitate overseas market access
to our clients by entering into partnership with Quality Assurance Services (QAS) who have joined the International EMC-Mark program. Check out this article on the Press Releases page to find out more about this program.
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