The international standard on EMC for equipment in residential areas has been revised. This blog post looks at what’s in the standard and at what’s new.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emission standards exist for one simple reason: to ensure that electrical and electronic equipment remains compatible with other equipment sharing the same environment. When equipment is incompatible it emits electromagnetic energy that can cause interference and even physical damage to other equipment. So EMC standards specify emission requirements that ensure no interference will occur. This blog is about revisions to one of the important international EMC standards, BS EN IEC 61000-6-3:2021 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 6-3: Generic standards - Emission standard for equipment in residential environments.
Residential locations
The changes to BS EN IEC 61000-6-3:2021 were inspired by user feedback that reflected how electronic and electrical technology is changing quickly, in particular to meet the demands of a smart energy environment. As a result the standard has undergone a technical overhaul. The significant changes that users should be aware of are that an alternative method for measuring conducted emissions on DC ports has been added and more stringent limits for DC power ports have been introduced.
But as well the standard now includes limits and requirements that only apply to equipment intended to be used in residential locations. This is because the committee responsible for the standard felt it would be clearer for users if this standard was more explicitly dedicated to emission requirements for residential equipment only.
Meanwhile a new generic emission standard has been produced for commercial and light industrial equipment. This standard was published last year as BS EN IEC 61000-6-8:2020 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic standards. Emission standard for professional equipment in commercial and light-industrial locations.
Going forward then, BS EN IEC 61000-6-3:2021 specifies the electromagnetic compatibility emission requirements for electrical and electronic equipment intended for use at residential locations. But it also applies to equipment intended for use at other locations that fall between the scope of BS EN IEC 61000-6-8 and BS EN IEC 61000-6-4 for equipment in industrial environments. And if there’s any doubt, the requirements in BS EN IEC 61000-6-3 apply.
Claiming compliance
BS EN IEC 61000-6-3:2021 will be used principally by manufacturers of equipment for residential use, including lighting equipment, IT and multi-media equipment and household electrical appliances, where no relevant dedicated product or product family EMC emission standard has been published. For these manufacturers, the standard will ensure that their equipment adequately protects radio reception in residential locations.
It will also mean that their equipment complies with the latest essential emission requirements of the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU and the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU. As soon as the standard is listed in the EU’s Official Journal (OJEU), manufacturers can claim compliance with both the EU Directives and with the equivalent UK legislation, meaning that their product can be relied on to operate efficiently with other equipment and will be accepted in the marketplace more readily, and trusted by buyers.
The standard will also be used by a range of EMC and electrical product testers and by regulatory, quality and certification body assessors to check that products do indeed comply with the latest requirements in an electro-technical environment that’s becoming increasingly complex.
