CE marking EMC testing for European market access

CE Marking EMC Testing Services

Compatible Electronics provides comprehensive CE marking EMC testing under the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU — covering both emissions and immunity. Our NVLAP accredited laboratory holds accreditation for all key harmonized EN/IEC standards needed for EU market access.

NVLAP Accredited ILAC MRA Recognized ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Emissions + Immunity

What is CE Marking for EMC?

The CE mark enables the free movement of products into and within the European market. By placing a CE mark on a product, the manufacturer declares on their sole responsibility that the product conforms to all applicable EU Directive requirements. For EMC, this means compliance with the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU, which requires equipment to neither generate excessive electromagnetic disturbance nor be susceptible to such disturbances in its intended environment.

Manufacturers self-declare conformity using harmonized standards and must maintain a technical documentation file — including accredited test reports — for a minimum of 10 years and make it available to market surveillance authorities on request. Not all products require the CE mark; only products subject to specific EU Directives must bear it.

→ Download the CE Marking Brochure (European Commission)
→ Blue Guide 2022 — General information on EU product rules and directives
→ See CE Marking directive texts, harmonized standard lists & conformity assessment procedures

EMC Directive Essential Requirements

Protection requirements: electromagnetic emissions must not exceed limits that prevent radio and telecommunications equipment from operating as intended.
Immunity requirements: equipment must have a level of electromagnetic immunity adequate for its intended use.
Technical documentation: test reports and declarations must be retained for at least 10 years and made available to market surveillance authorities.
EU Declaration of Conformity: manufacturer’s self-declaration citing applicable directives and harmonized standards.
CE marking: affixed to the product and packaging once compliance is established and documented.

Applicable EU Directives

Depending on your product type, one or more of the following directives will apply. Compatible Electronics supports testing for the EMC Directive as primary scope, with cross-reference capability for related directives.

Primary Scope

EMC Directive — 2014/30/EU

Applies to all electrical and electronic equipment with potential to cause or be susceptible to electromagnetic disturbance. Repeals 2004/108/EC.

Wireless Products

Radio Equipment Directive — 2014/53/EU (RED)

Applies to products with intentional radio transmitters (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc.). Includes EMC requirements under Article 3.1(b). Repeals R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC.

Combined Projects

Low Voltage Directive — 2014/35/EU (LVD)

Applies to electrical equipment operating between 50–1000 V AC or 75–1500 V DC. Frequently combined with the EMC Directive in the same CE marking project.

Steps to Obtaining a CE Mark

Compatible Electronics will guide your company through the entire CE testing and documentation process. The key steps are:

Identify the Applicable Directive(s)

Determine which EU Directives apply to your product. Most electronic products require the EMC Directive; products with radio functions also require the RED; powered products may also require the LVD.

Know the Essential Requirements

Each directive specifies legal “essential requirements.” For the EMC Directive these are emissions limits and immunity levels. Harmonized standards provide a presumption of conformity with these requirements.

Decide if Third-Party Assessment is Required

The EMC Directive allows manufacturer self-declaration using harmonized standards. However, using an NVLAP accredited laboratory such as Compatible Electronics provides the strongest evidence base for your Declaration of Conformity and is required for many supply chain and retail customers.

Test and Assess Conformity

Perform emissions and immunity testing to the applicable harmonized EN/IEC standards. Compatible Electronics performs all testing in-house at three accredited California locations, with accredited test reports issued under NVLAP Lab Code 200527-0.

Create and Maintain Technical Documentation

Compile the technical file: product description, design drawings, risk assessment, harmonized standards applied, test reports, and EU Declaration of Conformity. This file must be retained for at least 10 years and be available to EU authorities on request. Documentation may be in any EU language.

Issue Declaration of Conformity and Affix CE Mark

Sign the EU Declaration of Conformity citing the applicable directives and harmonized standards. Affix the CE mark to the product, packaging, or accompanying documents. The CE mark must be visibly, legibly, and indelibly affixed.

CE Marking Support from Compatible Electronics

Complete emissions and immunity testing to applicable harmonized standards from a single lab
Accredited test reports formatted for EU technical documentation file (ILAC MRA recognized; accepted by EU market surveillance authorities)
Guidance on Declaration of Conformity preparation and applicable directive citations
Support for self-declaration process — lab does not act as Notified Body but provides complete test evidence
Combined CE marking + FCC + ISED + RCM + BSMI testing in one session for multi-market compliance

EMC Emissions Standards — Accredited

Multimedia / ITE

EN 55032 & EN 55022

EN 55032 (2015)+A11(2020) — current version; all three California locations
EN 55032 (2012-05) — prior version for legacy products; Lake Forest/Silverado and Brea
EN 55022 (2010) — superseded ITE emissions standard (legacy products); Lake Forest/Silverado and Newbury Park

ISM Equipment

EN 55011

EN 55011 (2007)+A2(2007) — Lake Forest/Silverado and Brea
EN 55011 (2009)+A1(2010) — Lake Forest/Silverado and Newbury Park

Appliances / Lighting

EN 55014-1 & EN 55015

EN 55014-1 (2006)+A1(2009) — household appliances and electric tools; Brea
EN 55015 (2013) — lighting and similar equipment; Lake Forest/Silverado and Newbury Park

Power Quality

EN 61000-3-2 & 3-3

EN 61000-3-2 (2014) — harmonic current emissions (≤16 A per phase); all three locations
EN 61000-3-3 (2013) — voltage fluctuations and flicker; all three locations

Generic

EN 61000-6-3 & 6-4

EN 61000-6-3 — residential, commercial, and light-industrial environments; all three locations
EN 61000-6-4 (2007)+A1(2011) — industrial environments; all three locations

Product-Specific

IEC 61326 & EN 50270

IEC/EN 61326-1 (2013) — measurement, control, laboratory equipment; all three locations
EN 50270 (2015) — gas detection apparatus; Brea
EN 55103-1 (2009) — professional AV equipment; Newbury Park

EMC Immunity Standards — Accredited

Multimedia / ITE

EN 55035 & EN 55024

EN 55035 (2017)+A11(2020) — multimedia equipment immunity; all three locations
EN 55024 (2010) — ITE immunity characteristics; all three locations

ESD & Radiated RF

IEC 61000-4-2 & 4-3

IEC 61000-4-2 Ed. 2.0 (2008) — ESD immunity; all three locations
IEC 61000-4-3 Ed. 3.2 (2010) — radiated RF immunity; all three locations

Transients

IEC 61000-4-4 & 4-5

IEC 61000-4-4 Ed. 3.0 (2012) — EFT/Burst immunity; all three locations
IEC 61000-4-5 Ed. 3.0 (2014) — surge immunity; all three locations

Conducted & Magnetic

IEC 61000-4-6 & 4-8

IEC 61000-4-6 Ed. 4.0 (2013) — conducted RF immunity; all three locations
IEC 61000-4-8 (2009) — power frequency magnetic field immunity; all three locations

Voltage Variations

IEC 61000-4-11

IEC 61000-4-11 Ed. 2 (2004) — voltage dips, short interruptions, and variations; all three locations

Generic Immunity

EN 61000-6-1 & 6-2

EN 61000-6-1 (2007) — residential, commercial, light-industrial environments; all three locations
EN 61000-6-2 (2005) — industrial environments; all three locations

Product-Specific

IEC 61326, EN 50130-4 & EN 61547

IEC 61326-1 (2013) — measurement, control and laboratory equipment; all three locations
IEC 61326-2-6 (2005) — in vitro diagnostic medical equipment; all three locations
EN 50130-4 (2011) — alarm systems EMC immunity; all three locations
EN 61547 (2009) — lighting equipment EMC immunity; Newbury Park

Real-World Testing Examples

Industrial Gas Detector — EN 50270 + EN 61000 Immunity

A safety equipment manufacturer required CE marking under the EMC Directive for a fixed gas detection system installed in industrial environments. Compatible Electronics performed EN 50270 (2015) emissions testing and the full EN 61000-4 series immunity test plan at the Brea location. The combined emissions and immunity test report confirmed compliance with the EMC Directive essential requirements. The accredited test report supported the manufacturer’s Declaration of Conformity for EU industrial market deployment.

4K Streaming Media Player — EN 55032 + EN 55035 + EN 61000-3

A consumer electronics company needed CE marking for a residential 4K media player. Compatible Electronics performed EN 55032 (2015)+A11(2020) radiated and conducted emissions (Class B), EN 55035 immunity covering ESD, radiated RF, EFT/Burst, and conducted RF, and EN 61000-3-2 harmonic current (Class D). The complete EMC Directive package — emissions, immunity, and power quality — was delivered from a single test session. The accredited reports supported the EU Declaration of Conformity.

Industrial Power Supply — EN 55011 + EN 61000-6-2 + EN 61000-3

A power electronics manufacturer needed CE marking for a 3-phase industrial switching power supply with ISM-like switching frequencies. Compatible Electronics performed EN 55011 (2009)+A1(2010) conducted and radiated emissions (Class A Group 1), EN 61000-6-2 industrial immunity covering all IEC 61000-4 series tests, and EN 61000-3-2 harmonic current measurements. Conducted emissions were measured on all live conductors using calibrated LISNs. The complete EN 55011 + EN 61000 package supported the CE marking Declaration of Conformity for industrial EU market deployment.

Why Choose Compatible Electronics?

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NVLAP Accredited (Lab Code 200527-0)

ILAC MRA recognized — accredited test reports accepted by EU market surveillance authorities and Notified Bodies.

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ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Compliant

Quality management system and technical competence verified by third-party assessment against the international standard for testing laboratories.

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Both Emissions AND Immunity Accredited

Complete CE marking EMC package from a single lab — no need to split testing across different facilities.

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Broad Standard Coverage

EN 55032, EN 55035, EN 55011, EN 55014-1, EN 55015, EN 61000-3-2/3-3, IEC 61000-4 series, EN 61000-6 series, IEC 61326-1, EN 50270.

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Combined Multi-Market Testing

CE marking + FCC + ISED + RCM + BSMI from one test session — reduce cost and time-to-market for global launches.

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Pre-Compliance Testing Available

Identify emissions and immunity failures before formal certification to avoid retesting costs and schedule delays.

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Fast Turnaround Options

3 California laboratory locations — Lake Forest/Silverado, Brea, and Newbury Park — with expedited scheduling available.

Also on the Compatible Electronics Website

Looking for CE marking directive texts, official harmonized standard lists, conformity assessment procedures, or links to EU regulatory documents? Visit our dedicated CE Marking reference page under Certification:

→ CE Marking — Directive Texts, Harmonized Standards & Regulatory Reference

That page covers: EMC Directive 2014/30/EU, Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU, Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, Medical Device Regulation 2017/745, harmonized standards lists, conformity assessment procedures, and links to the Blue Guide and EU Commission documents.