Information technology equipment – Radio disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement

Published: May 10th, 2022

A Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard prepared by the Joint Technical Committee TE-003, Electromagnetic Interference, which incorporates the Special International Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR).

The standard applies to information technology equipment (ITE) as defined in section 3.1.

Procedures are given in AS/NZS CISPR 22 for the measurement of the levels of spurious signals generated by the information technology equipment (ITE) and limits are specified for the frequency range 9 kHz to 400 GHz for both Class A and Class B equipment. No measurements need be performed at frequencies where no limits are specified.

The intention of this publication is to establish uniform requirements for the radio disturbance level of the equipment contained in the scope, to fix limits of disturbance, to describe methods of measurement and to standardize operating conditions and interpretation of results.

Information technology equipment (ITE), as would be tested for AS/NZS CISPR 22, includes computer hardware and software, operating systems, web-based information and applications, telephones and other telecommunications products, video equipment and multimedia products, information kiosks, and office products such as photocopiers and fax machines.

To deal with the problem of electromagnetic interference to radio communications, the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and the Radio Spectrum Management Group (RSM) of the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development have introduced the trans-Tasman electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) regulatory arrangements.

The trans-Tasman EMC arrangements consist of a set of technical standards and common regulatory processes for products supplied to the Australian and New Zealand markets.

The AS/NZS CISPR 22 EMC regulations apply to suppliers of a wide range of electrical and electronic products in Australia and New Zealand.

Ref;

on the acma web site – EMC testing for IT and like equipment

Industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio-frequency equipment – Electromagnetic disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement.

EN 55011 is a modified derivative of CISPR 11 and applies to, as the title implies, industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment, and to electrodischarge machining (EDM) and arc welding equipment.

Furthermore, requirements for ISM lighting apparatus and UV irradiators operating at frequencies within the ISM frequency bands are also contained in EN 55011. Requirements for other types of lighting apparatus are covered in EN 55015.

EN 55011 is produced by CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. CENELEC is the European organization responsible for standardization in the electrotechnical engineering field.

Compliance with this standard gives partial presumption of conformity with the European EMC Directive, 2004/108/EC. EN 55011 is an emission only standard covering radiated and conducted emissions. Most products will also require assessment to immunity standards, such as: (1) EN 61326-1 – Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use; or (2) EN 61000-6-2 – Generic Standards Immunity for industrial environments. These aforementioned two specifications contain additional requirements for electromagnetic interference and transient phenomenon. Additionally, devices powered via the A.C. mains, may require additional testing for power line harmonics and power line flicker.

Industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment or appliances, as would be tested against EN 55011 under the EMC Directive, are designed to generate and use locally, RF energy for industrial, scientific, medical, domestic or similar purposes, excluding applications in the field of telecommunication. Typical ISM applications are the production of physical, biological, or chemical effects such as heating, ionization of gases, mechanical vibrations, hair removal and acceleration of charged particles.

Although the term medical is in the title of the document, EN 55011 does not apply directly to medical devices within the scope of the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC. The reason is that for medical devices falling within the scope of 93/42/EEC, the EMC directive does not apply directly, but rather the EMC directive’s essential requirements are incorporated within the Medical Device Directive. Other standards harmonized under the Medical Device Directive, namely EN 60601-1-2 call upon EN 55011 to assess the electromagnetic disturbance characteristics of medical devices.

Europe has a series of standards prefixed “EN” – European Norm. These are written by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The vast majority of ENs that are relevant for the EMC Directive are produced by CENELEC.

Harmonized standards are ENs produced by CEN, CENELEC or ETSI, following a mandate issued by the European Commission, for use with one or more directives. The lists of harmonized standards suitable for each Directive are published from time to time in an official publication called the Official Journal of the European Union, often referred to as “the Official Journal” or “the OJ”. We have links to harmonized standards lists on our European Conformity Assessment page.

The date of publication (dop) for an EN standard is commonly 6 months from the date of availability (dav). The date the standard becomes mandatory is its date of withdrawal (DOW).

All European Standards, including EN 55011, are shaped by consensus among enterprises, public authorities, consumers, and trade unions, through a consultation process organized by independent, recognized standardization bodies at national, European and international level.

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Ref:

EN 55011