The EMC-directive is a special one in the series of so-called "new approach" directives. It is considered with (for emissions) protection of the radio spectrum. The main goal to achieve for emissions is to assess if you equipment is potentially interfering with other equipment. One way is to refer directly to this goal and have a notified (competent) body (authoritive for EMC-directive) establish if this is the case or not. Another route to follow is comply to harmonized standards. A list of those is regularly updated and published in the European Official Journal (OJ). This route enables you to assess your equipment against the limits in these standards. In spite of some exceptions, most equipment (99.9) needs to comply with the limits as found in f.a. EN 55022. For house hold and light industrial equipment this is more stringent (ClassB) then for industrial equipment (Class A).
The 80/80 rule is mentioned in fa. this standard. It is applicable only to apparatuses produced in substantial numbers. Of course , statistics become relevant when numbers are larger (> 10 ?) For small numbers tables are listed in the standard. The question if your product is safe is not relevant here. You will just need to diminish your emission level by f.a. adding a mains filter to comply with the essential requirement of the directive by following the limit in the standard. I for any reason the reduction is technically impossible, you will have to follow the route using the NB or CB. They will as "competent" reference judge if the apparatus as produced by you may or may not exceed the limits, and if so what restrictions must be applied if connected to the mains. You may end up with an unaccepted product, or with a product that may be used in restricted areas , fa. only outdoors, or connected to a dedicated mains group. Your remark about authorities recognizing that equipment may exceed limits is possibly caused by manufacturers ignoring rules, and I cannot believe that this is a reason to accept non-compliant equipment. Note that a constated excess of emission will almost always lead to withdrawal of your product, on your costs. I have had 6 customers in 2 years needing advice on how to limit the costs of fixing large numbers of equipment installed and sold. If I can do anything to help, let me know. Gert Gremmen www.cetest.nl -----Original Message----- From: owner-emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org [mailto:owner-emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org]On Behalf Of Enci Sent: donderdag 6 december 2001 11:00 To: emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org Subject: EMC. 10db over limit = unsafe? Hi Group, If I have a product, a finished apparatus, that passes all LVD or safety tests, i.e. earth leakage, insulation, etc., is that product "unsafe" if it is 10db over the conducted emissions limits for EMC? Article 4 and Annex III of the EMC directive do not refer to safety, only to the concept that equipment will not hinder the use of other equipment and immunity. Where does this 80/80 rule now fit in that was discussed recently - specifically if authorities acknowledge the fact that there may be equipment out there that exceeds the EMC emissions limits for their product type? Also in Annex III, it states: "The information required to enable use in accordance with the intended purpose of the apparatus must be contained in the instructions accompanying the apparatus." Does this then imply that the manual must state that suitable measures must be taken to ensure compliance? e.g. additional filter? Thank you in advance, Enci ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server. ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server.
