With the tremendous increase in the use of hardware development platforms like Arduino and the emergence of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, a new wave of electronic products from innovators and young entrepreneurs is hitting the global market at a pace that has never been seen before.

For these inventors and start-ups, the journey to launching a viable product is challenging enough without even considering the regulatory hurdles that they must pass such as EMC testing and certifications for electrical and electronic products.

Testing Requirements

We all know by now that most electrical products out there today need to undergo some sort of testing to prove compliance with certain rules and standards that apply to that specific product or product group.

Getting accurate information regarding the EMC requirements of a specific product is not easy. Even well-established manufactures sometimes have a hard time figuring out which standards they should follow when testing the electrical products for electromagnetic compatibility.

Regulatory Testing

Regulatory testing is mandated by governments and other regulatory bodies around the globe to help maintain order in the massive electronics and electrical products market.

For most electronic product manufacturers, successfully jumping over regulatory hurdles is crucial to introducing their new product to market and making revenue from it.

Currently, there are many different types of regulatory testing that manufacturers must be privy to. There are 3 main regulations that electronic product manufacturers should concern themselves with;

  • EMC testing
  • RF (Radio Frequency) testing
  • Safety testing

EMC Testing & Certification Electrical Product Testing

Certifications

Currently, there are a plethora of certifications for electronic products due to the many different types of electronic devices out there today and the different regulations that apply. Regulations vary depending on the industry, product types and geographical region.

Conventionally, certification is obtained when a product is tested by an in-house lab or 3rd party lab to ensure it passes specific tests and complies with relevant standards. If a product passes the tests, it is typically considered “certified”, “compliant”, “verified”, “listed”, or “authorised” based on the tests done and the party/body/entity that is doing the tests.

EMC – Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing

This type of testing applies to nearly all electronic products, regardless of their function, product type or place of origin. There are a few products that are exempt from EMC testing but this category is very small and makes up less than 1% of electronic products in the global market.

The fact is that most electronic products give off some form of electromagnetic radiation no matter how small. They are simply following the laws of physics and the universe at large.

EMC testing involves measuring the electromagnetic signals that your product generates to ensure that the radiation does not exceed the standards that have been set by regulatory bodies in Australia or other parts of the world.

EMC Testing & Certification Electrical Product Testing

This testing is often referred to as “emissions testing”. If your product needs to be powered from an AC power link on the wall, the energy your product injects back into the main power grid may also need to be measured.

This is to make sure that your product does not unintentionally interfere with other devices using the same grid.

EMC testing also involves subjecting your product to a wide range of electromagnetic signals to ensure that its functionality and safety are not affected.

This type of testing is often referred to as “immunity testing” and is carried out to establish whether a product has been appropriately shielded and protected from external electromagnetic interference. Immunity testing is mandatory for all electronic products that are sold in Australia.

Summary

Failure to pass EMC testing means products do not get the necessary certifications needed to go to market. Manufacturers are advised to subject their products to EMC tests throughout the production process in order to reduce chances of failure.

Compliance Engineering offers accredited testing services for a broad range of products in particular compliance with EMC regulations in Australia.

EMC regulations are mandatory in Australia and apply to almost all electrical and electronic products supplied to the market.

We provide the highest standard of environmental testing that measures the performance of specific products under particular environmental conditions.

Please call us today at Compliance Engineering on + 61 3 9763 3079 or leave an enquiry.