Learning Center › Authorization Guides
CE Marking Guide: 2014/30/EU EMC Directive (EMCD)
Directive 2014/30/EU — the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD) — governs the EMC requirements for electrical and electronic apparatus placed on the EU market. This guide covers its scope, the two essential EMC requirements, harmonised standards, and the conformity assessment process.
Scope of the EMC Directive
The EMCD applies to apparatus — any finished appliance or combination of finished appliances made commercially available as a single functional unit, intended for the end user, which is liable to generate electromagnetic disturbance or the performance of which is liable to be affected by such disturbance. It also covers fixed installations — combinations of apparatus assembled for permanent installation at a defined location.
Key exclusions from EMCD scope (covered by other directives instead):
- Radio equipment covered by the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) — see RED guide
- Aeronautical products (covered by EASA regulations)
- Amateur radio equipment not commercially available
- Products specifically excluded by other EU legislation
ⓘ Many electronic products must comply with both the EMCD and the Low Voltage Directive (LVD, 2014/35/EU) — or the EMCD and the RED — to achieve CE marking. The EMCD covers the EMC aspects; LVD covers electrical safety; RED covers radio performance and its own EMC requirements.
Essential Requirements of the EMCD (Article 6)
Protection Requirement — Emissions
Apparatus must be designed and manufactured so that the electromagnetic disturbance it generates does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other apparatus cannot operate as intended. In practice: apparatus must comply with the applicable EMC emissions limits from the relevant harmonised standard.
Protection Requirement — Immunity
Apparatus must be designed and manufactured with a level of immunity to the electromagnetic disturbance to be expected in its intended use which allows it to operate without unacceptable degradation of its intended use. In practice: apparatus must meet the immunity performance criteria from the relevant harmonised standard.
Harmonised Standards Under the EMCD
The harmonised standard framework for the EMCD consists of product family standards (preferred) and generic standards (fallback when no product family standard applies):
Product Family Standards (selected examples)
- EN 55032 / CISPR 32 — Multimedia equipment (emissions)
- EN 55035 / CISPR 35 — Multimedia equipment (immunity)
- EN 55011 / CISPR 11 — Industrial, scientific and medical equipment
- EN 55015 / CISPR 15 — Lighting equipment
- EN 61326-1 — Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use
- EN 60601-1-2 — Medical electrical equipment (EMC)
- EN 50130-4 — Alarm systems
Generic Standards (fallback)
- EN 61000-6-1 — Immunity, residential/commercial/light industrial
- EN 61000-6-2 — Immunity, industrial environments
- EN 61000-6-3 — Emissions, residential/commercial/light industrial
- EN 61000-6-4 — Emissions, industrial environments
Compatible Electronics performs CE Marking EMC testing — emissions and immunity — to product family and generic standards at three Southern California labs.
CE Marking EMC Testing →
Conformity Assessment Under the EMCD
The EMCD offers two conformity assessment routes:
Internal Production Control (Annex II)
The manufacturer applies harmonised standards and performs internal documentation and testing. No Notified Body is required. The manufacturer compiles the technical documentation, signs the EU Declaration of Conformity, and affixes the CE mark. This is the most common route for standard apparatus.
Technical Documentation + Notified Body Assessment (Annex III)
Used when harmonised standards do not fully cover the essential requirements, or when the manufacturer chooses not to apply harmonised standards. A Notified Body assesses the technical documentation and issues a certificate. The manufacturer then signs the DoC referencing the Notified Body's certificate number.
Technical Documentation Requirements
The technical file must contain: a general description of the apparatus; conceptual design and manufacturing drawings; descriptions of how the essential requirements are met; list of harmonised standards applied (fully or partly); results of design calculations; test reports; and a copy of the EU Declaration of Conformity.
CE Marking EMC Testing at Compatible Electronics
We perform EMCD emissions and immunity testing to product family and generic harmonised standards — providing test data for your EU Declaration of Conformity.
www.celectronics.com
