Technical Guidance Note 1

Technical Guidance Note 17

TOPIC: Broadcast Signal Distribution

ISSUE: 3

REVISION DATE: 27.1.98

PREVIOUS REVISION DATE: 14.2.96

BACKGROUND: A manufacturer of devices for broadcast signal distribution (e.g. antennas, amplifiers, signal splitters, coaxial cable sockets, and coax cable) needs to know if their products should comply with the EMC Directive.

PROBLEM: EN50083-2 covers active and passive components in the scope. Does this imply that passive products such as cable sockets and coaxial cable should be CE marked?

GUIDELINES: Article 1 of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC states that:

" ‘apparatus' means all electrical and electronic appliances together with equipment and installations containing electrical and/or electronic components."

Article 2 of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC states that:

"This Directive applies to apparatus liable to cause electromagnetic disturbance or the performance of which is liable to be effected by such a disturbance".

Articles 1 and 2 together imply that passive components fall outside the scope of the directive and as such will not be required to carry a CE mark (unless they fall within the scope of one or more of the other Directives).

Section 1 of EN50083-2: states that:

"This standard applies to the radiation characteristics and immunity to electromagnetic disturbances of active and passive components and to complete systems for the reception and distribution of television and sound signals".

Since electromagnetically benign components do not fall within the scope of the EMC Directive, it will not be necessary to apply the standard to passive components (e.g. coaxial cable and sockets etc).

However, a system supplied which includes such passive components should comply with the requirements of the directive, and may use EN50083-2 to demonstrate compliance.

The standard would apply to active components (e.g. amplifiers, splitters etc.) since these fall within the scope of the Directive.

Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability can be accepted by the EMC Test Laboratories Association or any of its officers or members for the contents, specifications and/or advice referred to or contained in this Technical Memorandum and/or action taken as a result of information contained in this Technical Memorandum. Note that:
1. The Association is not by supplying this Technical Memorandum providing professional advice or guidance to any specific party on any specific matter and no legal relationship is created by the provision of this Technical Memorandum.
2. Parties should take specific advice when dealing with specific situations and consult their own professional advisors in this regard.
3. Members are free to deviate from the above guidelines where they think it appropriate, unworkable, or not commercially viable. Under these circumstances, the EMCTLA Secretariat should be informed of the reasons for the deviation so that the matter can be reviewed.