Chapter 10 - Electromagnetic compatibility

Abstract

The main requirement of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Directive is to ensure that throughout Europe, the use of electronic equipment does not interfere with the operation of other equipment. Under the terms of these publications, as of I January 1996, all active electronic devices have had to comply with the EMC Directive and only Conformity Europe (CE) marked equipment may be offered for sale. All active equipment connected to a network shall, therefore, be required to carry a CE mark and by virtue of this mark, the user of such equipment has the suppliers' guarantee of compliance with the EMC Directive. The Directive applies to a wide sweep of equipment including in the widest sense all electrical apparatus, equipment, and installations including vehicles, electricity, transport and telecommunications distribution, and transport networks likely to cause, or be affected by, electromagnetic disturbance. In the UK, enforcement of the EMC Directive is principally carried out by Local Authority Trading Standards Departments and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Enforcement is primarily complaints driven rather than by market surveillance. The DTI has also adopted a soft approach in the initial years that the EMC Directive is mandatory. It expects Trading Standards Officers to use a fair degree of discretion in dealing with non-compliant products, helping manufacturers to comply without resorting to formal enforcement measures, wherever possible.