The EMC Directive 2004/108/EC
On the 20th July 2009 the old EMC directive's transitional period ended such that the only directive that can be used to support CE marking for EMC is 2004/108/EC.
Prior to the end of the transitional period manufacturers were able to demonstrate compliance to either the old EMC directive (89/336/EC) or the current one, 2004/108/EC.
The new directive requires that all new products offered for sale, taken into service or made available for internal use must comply with the new directive.
The following definitions are extracted from the EMC directive for clarification on the two types of equipment / system covered by the directive:
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'apparatus' means any finished appliance or combination thereof made commercially available as a single functional unit, intended for the end user and liable to generate electromagnetic disturbance, or the performance of which is liable to be affected by such disturbance;
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'fixed installation' means a particular combination of several types of apparatus and, where applicable, other devices, which are assembled, installed and intended to be used permanently at a predefined location;
The objective of the EMC directive is the same for both apparatus and fixed installations such that
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the electromagnetic disturbance generated does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended;
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it has 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.
This is known as the 'protection requirements' and this is what all equipment [apparatus and fixed installations] need to ensure they meet.
Changes from 89/336/EC to 2004/108/EC include
- Improved definitions
- Improved market surveillance
- Treatment of fixed installations
- Improved clarity of essential requirements
- Clarification of the role of standards
- Simplification of the conformity assessment procedure
- Cutting 'red tape', improving manufacturers choice and voluntary use of Notified Bodies
