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About Generic Standards
When no dedicated product or family standard applies to your device, generic EMC standards step in. This article explains the IEC 61000-6 series — what generic standards are, how they are organized, when they apply, and which versions Compatible Electronics is accredited to test. Part of the Learning Center Generic Standards series.
What Are Generic Standards?
Generic EMC standards are applied when no dedicated product-specific or product family standard exists for a given device. With technology evolving faster than standards bodies can respond, many new and emerging product categories fall into regulatory grey areas. Generic standards bridge that gap by providing a defined set of EMC test requirements tied to the electromagnetic environment in which a product operates — rather than to the product type itself.
The IEC 61000-6 series is the primary set of international generic EMC standards. It is organized around two axes: the type of environment (residential/commercial vs. industrial) and the direction of the requirement (emissions vs. immunity). This means that any electrical product, regardless of its function or market category, can find an applicable generic standard based solely on where it will be used.
Generic standards contain test limits and applicability conditions for each test, but the actual test methods are drawn from basic standards — the IEC 61000-4 series for immunity and CISPR publications for emissions. This layered structure keeps generic standards manageable while allowing test methods to be updated independently of the limits.
ⓘ When to use a generic standard: If your product has a dedicated product-specific or product family standard — such as CISPR 32 for multimedia equipment or IEC 61326-1 for measurement equipment — that standard takes precedence. Generic standards are the fallback when no more specific standard applies.
The Four Generic Standards
The IEC 61000-6 series is divided into four standards, organized by environment and requirement type. Each is published in both IEC (international) and EN (European harmonized) editions:
Emissions
IEC/EN 61000-6-3
Residential, Commercial & Light Industrial
Sets conducted and radiated emission limits for equipment operated in environments connected to the public low-voltage mains supply — homes, offices, retail premises, and light workshops. The limits are the most stringent in the generic series because the public mains directly serves broadcast receivers and consumer electronics. Compatible Electronics is accredited for multiple versions at all three lab locations.
Read the full IEC 61000-6-3 article →
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Immunity
IEC/EN 61000-6-1
Residential, Commercial & Light Industrial
Specifies immunity test levels for equipment in the same residential/commercial environment. Tests cover ESD, radiated RF fields, electrical fast transients, surge, conducted RF disturbances, power frequency magnetic fields, and voltage dips and interruptions. These levels represent the expected electromagnetic phenomena in a typical residential or commercial building. Compatible Electronics holds accreditation for EN 61000-6-1 (2007) at all three locations.
EN 61000-6-1 Testing Services →
Emissions
IEC/EN 61000-6-4
Industrial Environments
Sets emission limits for equipment intended for industrial environments — locations typically supplied from a dedicated transformer, separate from the public grid. Limits are less stringent than IEC 61000-6-3 because industrial environments tolerate higher background electromagnetic noise. Commonly used for control panels, industrial drives, and factory equipment. Compatible Electronics is accredited for IEC 61000-6-4 (2006-07) and related amendments at all three locations.
Read the full IEC 61000-6-4 article →
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Immunity
IEC/EN 61000-6-2
Industrial Environments
Specifies immunity requirements for equipment in industrial environments. Industrial settings experience heavier disturbances — large motors, switching gear, welding equipment — so immunity test levels under IEC 61000-6-2 are generally more stringent than those in IEC 61000-6-1. Compatible Electronics holds accreditation for EN 61000-6-2 (2005) at all three lab locations.
EN 61000-6-2 Testing Services →
Environment Classification
The most critical decision when applying a generic standard is correctly identifying the intended operating environment. IEC 61000-6 uses two primary categories:
Residential, Commercial & Light Industrial
Locations supplied directly from the public low-voltage network. Includes homes, offices, shops, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and light workshop environments. Emission limits are tight and immunity levels are calibrated to protect the general public and consumer electronics connected to the same supply network.
Applicable standards: IEC/EN 61000-6-3 (emissions) and IEC/EN 61000-6-1 (immunity)
Industrial Environments
Locations typically supplied from a dedicated transformer, separated from the public grid. Includes factories, heavy production facilities, substations, and sites with high-power machinery. These environments already experience elevated electromagnetic noise levels — reflected in looser emission limits but more rigorous immunity requirements.
Applicable standards: IEC/EN 61000-6-4 (emissions) and IEC/EN 61000-6-2 (immunity)
Generic Standards and CE Marking
Within the European Union, CE Marking under the EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) requires manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements. For products with no applicable product or family standard, the EN 61000-6-x series serves as the designated harmonized standards. Testing against these standards at an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory generates the technical documentation needed to support the Declaration of Conformity.
Compatible Electronics is NVLAP-accredited (Lab Code 200527-0) and ILAC-MRA recognized, so test reports generated at our facilities are accepted throughout Europe and in most international markets. Our full accreditation scope covers multiple versions of all four IEC 61000-6 standards across our three Southern California locations.
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Compatible Electronics is NVLAP-accredited for the full IEC 61000-6 series at three Southern California lab locations. Our engineers help you determine which standard applies and build a cost-effective test plan.
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