top of page

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive

All electric devices or installations influence each other when interconnected or close to each other, e.g. interference between TV sets, GSM handsets, radios and nearby washing machine or electrical power lines. The purpose of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is to keep all those side effects under reasonable control. EMC designates all the existing and future techniques and technologies for reducing disturbance and enhancing immunity.

​​

  • Covers products or components liable to generate electromagnetic disturbance or the performance of which is liable to be affected by such disturbance. These equipment can be classified into the following 2 groups:

    • Apparatus: any finished appliance or combination of finished appliances, thereof placed on the EU market as a single functional unit, intended for the end-user, and liable to generate a specific level of electromagnetic disturbance or the performance of which is liable to be affected by such a disturbance.​

    • Fixed installations: A particular combination of several types of apparatus and, where applicable, other devices, which are assembled, installed and intended to be used permanently at a predefined location. 

​

  • The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive aims to ensure that any electrical and electronic equipment minimizes the emission of electromagnetic interference that may influence other equipment and requires equipment to be able to resist the disturbance of other equipment.

  • The main objectives of the directives are to regulate the compatibility of equipment regarding EMC:

    • Equipment needs to comply with EMC requirements when it is placed on the market and/or taken into service.​

    • The application of good engineering practice is required for fixed installations, with the possibility that competent authorities of EU countries may impose measures in instances of non-compliance.

  • It does this by:

    • Limiting electromagnetic emissions from equipment in order to ensure that, when used as intended, such equipment does not disturb radio and telecommunication, as well as other equipment.

    • The EMC directive also governs the immunity of such equipment to interference and seeks to ensure that this equipment is not disturbed by radio emissions, when used as intended.

 

Reference:

ec.europa

​

bottom of page