REVlSfON OF THE EMC DIRECTIVE

Etectrical and electronic appliance System (Combination thereof) Component

Uwe KAR'TMANN uwe. kaitmann @id. cetecom. de CETECOM ICT Sewices GmbH

Networks

Large machines

Abstract: The revision of the EMC Directive amse as a resulf of the €U Commission's program called SLIM (Simpler Legislation for the infemal Markef) and of the Commission's efforts to improve legal security through a dearer and more precise text giving an answer fo divergent interpretations of the actual EMC Directive 89/336E€C. This paper will deal with the major changes brought by the planned new directive.

I. INTRODUCTION

On 9 March 2004 the European Pariiament adopted the proposed new directive with some amendments. After a positive statement from the Commissions side, it is expected that the text will be published in the OJ of the European Communities still in 2004. According to the time schedule the directive wilf be into force 20 days after publication, 30 months later it 'must be applicable in all Member States. 50 months after publication it is of mandatory application and apparatus compliant with 8913361EEC cannot be put on the market anymore.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE REVISION

In general terms the revision maintains the objectives of the existing ,89/336/EEC directive, and its field of application. It follows the regulatory concept of the New Approach and, for the most part, uses concepts already found in the current directive. Following objectives have been in the focus of the revision:

Clarification of the scope 0 Clarification of treatment of fixed

installations Enhanced clarity through more detailed essential requirements Clarification of the role of harmonised standards

23 7 0-7803-9374-0/05/620.00 8 2005 IEEE

0 Simplification of the conformity assessment procedure To cut "red tape" by abolishing compulsory third-party intervention To. improve market surveillance through better traceability of the manufacturer.

In view of these modifications a user-friendly, flexible and light regulation has been tailored.

3. SCOPE

The regulatory framework established regulates the electromagnetic compatibility of equipment. Affected is equipment containing electrical andlor electronic components liable to generate ektro- magnetic disturbance, or liable to be affected by such disturbance. A completely new equipment definition and classification has been developed. Thus obscurities and misinterpretation will be avoided in future.

Table I: Scope and definitions

Excluded from the scope of the directive is equipment covered by the RBTTE Directive 199915/EC, the Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002, ITU Radio Regulations, Art.1 and some types of very small equipment. For example greeting cards or wristwatches which due to the nature of their physical characteristics are uncritical from an EMC point of view.

4. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

The directive lays down a coherent and comprehensive regime of essential requirements which equipment, i.e. both apparatus and fixed installations must comply with. The essential requirements consist of generic protection requirements covering the emission and immunity characteristics already known from 89/336/EEC. In addition, more specific requirements are given separatety for apparatus. Two different groups have been laid down, one covering EMC assessment requirements:

Verification apparatus meets the protection requirements in all configurations without external devices,

over all tasks of the former Competent Body with a decreased importance: its consultation will be absolutely voluntary. In this way the new directive recognises that the conformity assessment process utilizing harmonized standards is used 95% of the time and further recognises that for the other 5% of the cases that use of non-harmonized standards is no sufficient reason to require a Notified Body. For fixed installation no a priori assessment and no CE-marking is required. However, where there are indications of nonampliance (such as interference complaints from parties around the installation), public authorities may request evidence of compliance and initiate a suitable assessment. The market surveillance authorities may also determine the responsible party for the final compliance with the relevant essential requirements.

the other dealing with information requirements: 5. CONCLUSIONS

Unique identification of apparatus Identification of manufacturer

c Precaution and restriction of use.

For fixed installations specific requiremenh with problem resolution rules have been defined:

c

Specific information requirement

No a priori EMC assessment Equipment inside the instaliation may be exempted from essential requirements

Market surveillance to request compliance.

4. CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT

In future manufacturers must assess the compliance of apparatus with the essential requirements and affix the CE marking on the equipment. The conformity can be verified through the development of a Technical File and attested by a Manufacturer‘s Declaration of Conformity.

The proposed revision is based on Article 95 of the European Commission Treaty. Its intent is to assure the easy circulation of equipment throughout the European market by having apparatus and fixed installations comply with the intent of the harmonized standards thus assuring a compatible electromagnetic environment. The presented central ideas illustrate that the manufacturer is taking over more and more responsibility for placing his equipment on the market He is ultimately responsible for his product and must always establish and maintain technical documentation, which confirms that the equipment complies with the essential requirements of the EMC directive. In most cases these high requirements can only be met with the help of third parties, who guide them through the whole process, i.e. ccrnsultants and test houses. The new directive is taking into account the new conditions arisen since 1998 for placing products on the market. Only time will tell if the new EMC directive is economically more efficient than its forerunner.

6. REFERENCES Reference to directive Identification of apparatus Name and address of manufacturer and authorised representative Dated reference to specifications under which conformity is declared

~

Date and place of issue Identification and signature of the person binding the manufacturer

Table 2: Details on the DOC

1. Directive 339/89/EEC of the European Parliament and the Council of 3 May 1989.

2. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility, Brussels, 23.1 2.2002.

3. Council of the European Union, interinstitutional File 2002/0306 (COD), Brussels, 7 April 2004

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Of Coutse, a Notified Body could always be asked to become involved in the conformity assessment has worked for different process and the NB could issue a third-party international companies, who are involved in the expert opinion to satisfy the essential field Of radio testing and type approval. Since 1998 requirements of the EMC Directive. it sfrould be he has been responsible for the competence centre emphasised that this new Notified Body will take wradio” at CETECoM ICT

23 8