CE Mark - EMC & Norms

Introduction

Electrical powered devices take their energy from transformers, power supplies or even directly from the mains (380/220Vac). Electrical noise generated from these devices can crawl back, thus disturbing other devices sharing the same power distribution network. This is how conducted noise is created.

Sometimes the device emits undesired electromagnetic waves, that reach other devices by direct irradiation or by inbound cables coupling. This is how radiated noise is created.

CE Marking

CE marking was introduced with the purpose to standardize safety characteristics of products used in all European Community countries. Directives and laws were issued for this purpose, forcing manufacturers to build their products in compliance with these norms, in order to sell their goods in the CEE countries.

Norms

EU Directive
EU Directives give essential guidelines, leaving to laws details concerning each product.

Directive 89/336/CEE concerning electomagnetic compatibility prescribes that all the electrics/electronics pieces of equipment must correctly operate without being influenced by the noise produced by other devices and without generating noise that disrupts the correct functioning of other equipments.

It has been subject to three amendments and it has been repealed by the new 2004/108/EC Directive as from 20th July 2007.

Directive 98/37/CEE is about safeties required for machines, equipments and components in general.

Directive 73/23/CEE (LVD Low Voltage Directive) describes requirements covering all health and safety risks of electrical equipment operating within certain voltage ranges. It has been recently re-coded as 2006/95/EC

Depending from product class, electromagnetic compatibility and safety requirements are described by specific laws.

There are laws for IT equipments (computers, routers etc), laws for the household appliances (washing machines, vacuum cleaners etc), laws for the medical equipments, etc. Whereas specific laws are not yet available, general laws are applied.

By making goods compliant to these laws, producers make sure these products are safe. The manufacturer then writes a conformity declaration, to be attached to the user manual. Finally a CE marking sticker is applied on the piece of equipment.

When specific laws are not available the following general laws dictate the electromagnetic compatibility requirements.

General laws
They are divided depending on the environment.

EN61000-6-1 - Immunity for the residential/commercial light industry environment.
EN61000-6-3 - Emission for the residential/commercial light industry environment.
EN61000-6-2 - Immunity for industrial environment.
EN61000-6-4 - Emission for industrial environment.

Product laws
Specify electromagnetic compatibility(emission and noise immunity) and safety requirements for the specified devices.
Some product laws are related.

EN55014-1 - Electromagnetic compatibility. Emission for household-electric, electrical utensil and similar.
EN55014-2 -Electromagnetic compatibility. Immunity for household-electric, electrical utensil and similar.
EN60335-1 -Safety for household-electric, electrical utensil and similar (General requirement)
EN60335-2-x -Safety for household-electric, electrical utensil and similar (Particular requirement) *
EN61326 - Electromagnetic compatibility. (Emission and Immunity ) for laboratory measure instruments.
EN 61010-1- Safety for laboratory measure instruments (General requirement)
EN 61010-2-x -Safety for laboratory measure instruments(Particular requirement)*

(*) Applies to a peculiar device. The "x" represent the peculiar device code-

EN 55022 - Electromagnetic compatibility. (Emission) for IT equipments.
EN 55024 - Electromagnetic compatibility (Immunity) for IT equipments.
EN 60950 - Safety requirements for IT equipments and...

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