Technical Guidance Note 23

TOPIC: Loudspeakers

ISSUE: 3

REVISION DATE: 27.1.98

PREVIOUS REVISION DATE: 14.2.96

BACKGROUND: The British Radio & Electronic Equipment Manufacturers Association is concerned about whether loudspeakers, supplied in cabinets, are considered to be within the scope of the EMC Directive.

PROBLEM: Do enclosed loudspeakers fall within the scope of the EMC Directive and, if so, what performance criteria and methods of measurement should be applied.

GUIDELINES: It is quite clear that the magnetic fields produced by passive loudspeakers can cause visible interference on monitors and TV receivers and they may themselves be susceptible. As a result, such products do fall within the scope of the EMC directive.

These products are within the scope of EN55013 and EN55020 and/or EN55103-1 but due to the nature of the products, testing is deemed not to be necessary. A warning notice should accompany the product to indicate the steps the end user might need to take to limit the effects of interference.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Some such products may be regarded as components if they are not supplied on their own to the final user, in which case they should not be CE marked.

This issue has been reviewed in ACB guidance note no. 2 (16.11.95), which confirms that passive loud speakers should be CE marked, but without testing.

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.