Guideline for 2004/108/EC

EMC requirements - fixed installations

By Jørgen Duvald Christensen, jdc@delta.dk

Guide to EMC Directive 2004/108/EC" is from 21 May 2007 and is available on the EU Commission's website.

Manual for everyone

The guide is a manual for everyone who is affected by the new EMC directive. It attempts to explain and elaborate on essential aspects in connection with the use of the directive.

Not legally binding

The Guide is publicly available, but is not binding in the legal sense. What follows here is an excerpt of the Guide's interpretation of what is covered by the directive, conformity procedure and fixed installations.

Scope

The EMC directive applies to both devices and fixed installations.

Devices

A device is most often designed for an end-user who generally will have no knowledge of EMC.

A device is not, however, covered by the directive when it is exclusively designed for use in other devices.

Nor is a device covered by the directive if it is covered by a special directive that also includes EMC requirements.

Finally, nor are devices covered which cannot be imagined to emit electrical interference, and whose function cannot be interfered with by the surrounding environment.

Components such as PLCs, plug-in cards and computer disk drives, which can be used directly by an end-user, are also covered by the EMC directive.

Conformity procedure

Manufacturers can choose between using harmonised standards or their own method.

If you choose the latter, a written account must be drawn up including the considerations made in respect of fulfilment of the material requirements of article 5 of the EMC directive.

In both cases, the manufacturer must then issue a Declaration of Conformity - DoC.

Manufacturer outside the EU

Where the manufacturer is located outside the EU, the DoC must contain the name of the manufacturer's representative within the EU.

Marketing

The EMC directive refers to the marketing of each individual device.

When requirements change over time

For devices produced over a number of years, this means that the relevant harmonised standards may change over time. For this reason, it is also a requirement that the reference to harmonised standards must include the year of publication of the standard.

After a certain date ("date of cessation"), the old standard no longer gives a presumption of compliance with the material requirements. It is then necessary to do an EMC assessment/test in respect of the new standard, and to write a new DoC.

Fixed installations

Fixed installations are not to be CE marked, no DoC shall be written and no formal EMC assessment shall be drawn up. However, they must meet the EMC directive's requirements on protection.

This is secured by using "good engineering practice". General information about this can be found in various EMC handbooks and technical reports. DELTA provides advice on EMC in fixed installations.

EMC assessment

In connection with the EMC assessment, it is important to define the physical/geographical demarcation of the installation in question so it can clearly be distinguished from the surroundings. It should be stressed that it is not the purpose of the EMC directive to secure EMC between equipment that forms part of the fixed installation.

Documentation

The EMC documentation in connection with fixed installations depends on the complexity of the installation. It is recommended that the user, or the person responsible for the installation, should retain a copy of the documentation material.

Contact Test & Consultancy support for more information