October 9, 2007
New 3-Meter Chamber
May 31, 2007
HHA Safety Standard 60335-1's new EMC requirements significantly increase severity
of immunity testing.
A recent amendment to the IEC/EN 60335-1 Standard, which covers household and similar appliances, added EMC requirements to this safety standard. These requirements apply to electrical appliances which incorporate protective electronic circuits, those which have a switch with an off position obtained by electronic disconnection and those with a switch that can electronically be placed in a stand-by mode. The new requirement significantly increases the IEC 61000-4-x severity levels mandated in the EMC standard EN 55014-2. Some of these requirements became mandatory on October 1, 2006, while the rest are currently scheduled to become mandatory on October 1, 2007.
The new requirements significantly increase the IEC 61000-4-x severity levels mandated in the EMC Standard EN 55014-2. As an example, products without protective/standby electronic switches are required to meet EN 61000-4-5 Surge levels of:
+ 1kV Differential Mode (line-to-line)
+ 2kV Common Mode (line-to-ground)
For products with these electronic switches, the levels are increased considerably to:
+ 2kV Differential Mode (line-to-line)
+ 4kV Common Mode (line-to-ground)
In addition to the surge test example above, there are many other immunity tests affected, including radiated susceptibility and ESD.
Since there is no grandfather provision, manufacturers of household and similar appliances should have their products evaluated, and potentially tested, immediately. This will assure they are prepared for the new IEC/EN 60335-1 EMC mandates becoming mandatory in October 1, 2007. For more information call Steve Grimes at 847-537-6400.
