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Generic EMC Standards to be Replaced

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When there were no product specific standards for their products, manufacturers have turned to the generic standards for as along as the EMC Directive has been enforce, as part of CE Marking for the European Union (EU).

There are two specific environments that are covered by the generic standards, these are:

Residential, Commercial And Light Industrial, and

Industrial (or some times referred to as heavy industrial)

For each of these defined environments there are emission and immunity requirements, which are currently covered by the following standards:

EN50081-1
Generic Emission Standard for Residential, Commercial And Light Industrial Environment

EN50081-2
Generic Emission Standard for Industrial Environment

EN50082-1
Generic Immunity Standard for Residential, Commercial And Light Industrial Environment

EN50082-2
Generic Immunity Standard for Industrial Environment

There are now plans to replace and revise these standards, and from April 2002 the first of these standards to be replaced is generic immunity standard for industrial environment (EN50082-2). This standard will be replaced by EN610006-2.

The affect of this, is that, if manufacturers have previously self-certified to EN50082-2 they will most likely need to retest their products to the new standard in order to continue to sell their products in EU. Product all ready sold and/or in service will not have to be retested; this is also true for manufacturers who have used the TCF route to compliance, unless their certification was conditional.

In most cases, retesting is required because manufacturers did not perform the entire suite of tests outlined in the immunity test standard. Since, some manufacturers did not perform the tests specified in the informative annex, as these were not mandatory. The tests in the informative annex are now, in some form, called up in the main body of new industrial immunity standard, EN61000-6-2.

Differences Between New and Old Standards

The new standard only refers to the basic immunity standards covered by the EN610004series.

The new standard covers power frequency magnetic field test (EN61000-4-8) for both 50 and 60 Hz. EUT is only tested at the frequency appropriate to the power supply frequency. In EU this is 50 Hz. This test is still only applicable if the apparatus contains devices that are susceptible to magnetic fields. If this was performed before at the required 50 Hz there is no need to redo this test.

No requirements for pulse modulate radiated field test in the new standard, associated with mobile telephones.

Surge testing for signal lines, whose total length is greater than 30 metres, is now required (1kV (line to earth)). Previously this was only required in the informative annex of the EN50082-2 for process measurement and control lines.

Surge testing for dc power inputs and outputs ports, whose length is greater than 10 metres, is also required (0.5kV (line-to-earth and line-to-line)). Previously this was only required in the informative annex of the EN50082-2.

Surge testing to ac power inputs and outputs ports is also required (2kV (line-to-earth) and 1kV (line-to-line)). Previously this was only required in the informative annex of the EN50082-2. The new test levels are reduction from the levels outlined in EN50082-2.

Voltage dips and interruptions are now called for on ac power input ports. Previously similar tests were only required in the informative annex of the EN50082-2.

Fast transients will be required on functional earth ports (1kV), whose cable length exceeds 3 metres.

It is not only the industrial immunity standard that is being replaced as there are plans to replace all the generic standards. The generic immunity standard for residential, commercial and light industrial environment standard will be replaced from 1 July 2004. This new standard will be EN61000-6-1. The new emission standard for residential, commercial and light industrial environment will be EN61000-6-3, where as the new emission standard for industrial environment will be EN610006-4; both these standards will replace the old generic standards from 1 July 2004.

Full list of current generic standards and the standards that will replace them are listed below.

Old Standard Title New Standard D.O.W.
EN50082-1: 1997
Generic Immunity Standard for Residential, Commercial And Light Industrial Environment
Replaced by: EN61000-6-1: 2001 07-01-04
EN50082-2: 1995 Generic Immunity Standard for Industrial Environment Replaced by: EN61000-6-2: 1999
04-01-02
EN50081-1: 1992
Generic Emission Standard for Residential, Commercial And Light Industrial Environment Replaced by: EN61000-6-3: 2001 07-01-04
EN50081-2: 1993 Generic Emission Standard for Industrial Environment
Replaced by: EN61000-6-4: 2001 07-01-04

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