EMC Standards And Regulations – A Brief Overview
EMC Testing helps manufacturers, distributors, and importers of electrical and electronic equipment meet regulatory requirements before marketing or sales to help them avoid costly non-compliance.
Compliance implies that these products must be tested, certified, and labelled as compliant according to Australian EMC standards. EMC certification is a mandatory requirement in Australia and regulated by the ACMA (Australian Communications & Media Authority).
They have a published ACMA Standards List with different standards and requirements for different products and geographical areas.
Are you involved in the manufacture and supply of electronic products to the Australian market? Compliance Engineering offers the highest standards of EMC testing to measure the performance of specific electrical and electronic equipment under different environmental conditions to meet your compliance requirements.
Australian EMC Standards And Regulations
Certain technical, administrative, and labelling requirements must be met in compliance with the Australian EMC Regulations before electrical and electronic products can be legally marketed in Australia. All electrical and electronic circuits, when powered up, produce electromagnetism.
This is a fundamental law of science. Without it, the everyday electronics we all take for granted could not exist. Power stations provide us with power for electric lighting, household appliances, and all kinds of mains and battery-operated gadgets, all of which produce electromagnetism.
What Is EMC Compliance?
Electromagnetic compatibility and compliance have to do with energy and how electromagnetic energy can cause interference in a specific environment where it operates. Radio and electronic transmissions can cause trouble because of their inherent risk of interference with other, nearby electronic circuits.
EMC regulations require electrical and electronic equipment and products to be tested, registered, certified, and labelled according to applicable standards. These standards will vary according to different categories of equipment.
Suppliers are required to complete certain regulatory requirements before they market or sell electric or electronic products on the Australian market. Here are some of the requirements:
- Determine whether a product is subject to Australian EMC Compliance
- Consult the ACMA database list to identify the applicable EMC standards required
- Have the equipment or product tested by an accredited testing laboratory such as Compliance Engineering in order to demonstrate compliance
- Complete a DoC (Declaration of Conformity) to confirm that the product complies with applicable Australian EMC standards
- Have the product or equipment registered on the national ACMA database
- Attach a Compliance Label as proof of compliance
Suppliers may find it difficult to correctly identify which standards are applicable to their particular products. Because of the sheer volume of standards listed, the safest way to check is to consult with an accredited test laboratory such as Compliance Engineering.
What Are EMC Standaards?
Standards are documents that set out certain specifications, guidelines, and procedures with the aim of ensuring that products, systems, and services are reliable, safe, and consistent. Standards are reviewed regularly by Standards Australia Technical Committees to ensure that they keep pace with current and new technologies. The list covers a wide variety of subjects including:
- Consumer products and services
- Construction
- Environmental
- Water utilities
- Energy
There are 3 main categories of standards:
- International Standards developed by IEC, ITU, and ISO for countries to adopt as national use.
- Regional Standards prepared for a specific region for example the EN Standards for the European Union.
- National Standards developed by a national standards body such as Standards Australia or by other accredited bodies.
Summary
EMC compliance helps to reduce the possibility that conducted or radiated emissions that are produced by a device will negatively interfere with other electronic equipment in the vicinity. EMC and EMI testing is a critical step when bringing a new product to market.
This type of testing ensures that emissions from the device are kept below relevant limits defined for that particular type of device. The purpose of EMC standards is to ensure that equipment and products continue to safely function as intended in the presence of several other electromagnetic devices without causing interference.
If you would like to know more about the EMC standards and product testing or need EMC testing done, then look no further than Compliance Engineering.
We are the definitive source for all of your Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements. Please call us today on + 61 3 9763 3079 or contact us here.