Q.What is EMC?
EMC means nothing more than "an electronic or electrical product shall work as intended in its environment. The electronic or electrical product shall not generate electromagnetic disturbances, which may influence other products". In other words, EMC deals with problems of noise emission as well as noise immunity of electronic and electrical products and systems. Electromagnetic disturbances occur as conducted interference as well as radiated emissions and immunity problems.
Q.Why does my product need to pass EMC examination?
The following countries have requested EMC compliance
| America | FCC |
| Australia | RCM |
| Canada | ISED |
| China | CCC |
| European Union | CE |
| United Kingdom | UKCA |
| Japan | VCCI |
| Taiwan | BSMI |
Q.Where does CE apply?
The following countries accept the CE mark for product certification. The list includes the original 15 European Union (EU) countries, all new members of the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
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Q.Why should we do it?
Obtaining a CE marking for your product is to have access to the European Union Market. This market is made up by the above countries with a population of over 4 Million people. The EU is a net importer of electronics, with over half of the imports coming from Asia. CE marking is not a quality symbol. It only indicates that the product conforms to the directives set forth by the EU. It is not an indicator of the overall quality of the product. European national authorities have been charged with enforcement. This could be done in vfarious ways, including random checks. The incorrect CE marking of products can result in penalties such as fines, remoal of equipment from the market place (at the manufacturer's expense), or even imprisonment, both for the company and for the individual responsibe for signing the DoC.
Q.What’s the process for obtaining a CE mark?
For most products, the manufacturer has the obligation to ensure that a product intended to be placed on the EU Community market is designed and manufactured, and its conformity assessed, to the essential requirements in accordance with the provisions of the applicable “New approach” directives.
Some products require an evaluation by a Notified Body. Examples of these types of products would include: many medical devices, some radio transmitters, products intended to operate in explosive atmospheres, etc. In these cases, the manufacturer is required to provide all product documentation, including assessment information to the notified body prior to placing the product on the market. In practice, the manufacturer of those types of products should work closely with the notified body to make sure their assessment documentation is in order.
Q.How should I apply CE marking on the product?
The requirement of the CE marking is 5mm in height minimum. For most apparatus, the marking is requested to be affixed to the apparatus or to its data plate. For product that is not possible, due to the nature of the product, to have the marking affixed to the apparatus or to its data plate. It is allowed to have the CE marking affixed on the packaging.
Q.What is LVD?
LVD stands for Low Voltage Directive. LVD 2014/35/EU is a CE marking Directive that covers requirements for all mechanical and electrical safety risks of equipments operating within the voltage rating between 50 and 1000V for A.C. power and between 75 and 1500V for D.C. power.
Q. LVD Technical File
Unlike EMC, a simple declaration of Conformity (DoC) is not sufficient enough to prove the compliance of product safety. A Technical file is necessary to support the compliance. It covers a general description of electrical equipments, details of design, and diagrams of components, sub-assemblies, circuits are accessed to guarantee the compliance of the product safety. A product safety testing report either from the manufacturer itself or from the third party laboratory is mandatory to make a technical file complete.
