The United States and Europe are dominant consumer markets for a wide range of electronic devices related to consumer, industrial, automotive, aerospace, and medical systems. Consequently, many companies design their products with the US and EU markets in mind.
However, there is a major challenge that these companies may face: passing EMC testing. The United States and Europe have their own EMC standards governed by FCC and CE regulations, respectively. Companies selling in one market generally plan to sell in the other as well, so they must consider the requirements in both CE and FCC regulations. We’ll look at the overlap and the differences between these standards in this article.
Comparing FCC and CE EMC Standards
FCC and CE regulatory standards are baseline standards upon which many other EMC standards are based. They have similarities and differences:
- FCC and CE both require emissions testing; FCC does not require immunity testing.
- Both distinguish between battery-powered and AC-mains-connected devices.
- Both distinguish between intentional and unintentional emitters.
- Both have provisions for self-certification based on certified test data.
- They specify different emissions limits.
Many products receive both FCC and CE testing, and some test facilities provide both FCC and CE testing.
FCC Part 15 and CE Emissions Limits
FCC radiated and conducted emissions limits are published as part of FCC regulations, and they are publicly available. FCC Part 15 requirements for Class A digital devices form a baseline set of requirements for a broad set of digital products, and these requirements can be used to guide further compliance efforts.
The tables below show FCC Part 15 emissions limits for class A digital devices that are unintentional radiators, i.e., that do not intentionally broadcast a radio signal.
FCC Part 15 radiated emissions limits for Class A digital devices (unintentional radiators):
|
Frequency range |
Emissions limit |
Emissions limit |
|
30–88 MHz |
100 μV/m @ 3 meters |
90 μV/m @ 10 meters |
|
88–216 MHz |
150 μV/m @ 3 meters |
150 μV/m @ 10 meters |
|
216–960 MHz |
200 μV/m @ 3 meters |
210 μV/m @ 10 meters |
|
Above 960 MHz |
500 μV/m @ 3 meters |
300 μV/m @ 10 meters |
FCC Part 15 conducted emissions limits for Class A digital devices (unintentional radiators):
|
Frequency range |
Quasi-peak |
Average |
|
0.15–0.5 MHz |
79 μV |
66 μV |
|
0.5–30 MHz |
73 μV |
60 μV |
The other broad FCC standard that applies to many products is FCC Part 18. Please use the following links to view requirements for FCC Part 18 devices.
The CE emissions limits are difficult to summarize, as there are many standards covering the European equivalents of products destined for US markets. The CE emissions limits are defined in CISPR and EN standards, and there are 7 CISPR/EN standards for products that are covered by FCC Part 15. Each of these standards carries emissions requirements and measurement methods that are tailored to the specific products in question.
For instance, CISPR 11 addresses industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment, while CISPR 25 pertains to vehicles and equipment powered by an internal combustion engine. Other CISPR standards cover lighting, information technology products, and household appliances.
Other Markets with Similar Requirements
Two other important markets for companies that wish to sell in the US and Europe are Canada and Mexico. Neither CE nor FCC markings guarantee compliance with Canadian or Mexican regulations, but there is some overlap between the various regulations.
Canada - EMC standardization in Canada is regulated by the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED). These standards are similar to the FCC regulatory requirements in the US. One significant similarity is the absence of immunity testing requirements in ISED regulations. However, radiated and conducted emissions limits are different.
Mexico - The FCC EMC standards are not directly used in Mexico. However, the FCC requirements have heavily influenced Mexican regulations, and as a result, some test data, test procedures, and compliance certificates used for FCC certification are recognized in Mexico. The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) defines Mexican EMC standards and certification processes.
Other Standards
For any company that wants to sell in the US and Europe, FCC and CE requirements are the first place to look when thinking about EMC compliance. However, there are industry-specific standards which are not necessarily part of the FCC or CE certification processes. Even if compliance with these standards is not legally required, companies may refuse to use products that are not compliant with these industry standards.
For detailed information on limits and testing methods, it's advisable to consult the latest versions of the applicable FCC, CE, or industry standards, or to seek guidance from EMC compliance professionals.
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