Technical Guidance Note 38

Technical Guidance Note 40

TOPIC: Multifunctional Equipment

ISSUE: 2

REVISION DATE: 06/10/00

PREVIOUS REVISION DATE: 19/04/00

BACKGROUND: Increasingly multifunctional equipment is being integrated into everyday life, for example microprocessor (computer) controlled washing machines and integrated appliances (integral fridge, TV and microwave). Tests performed on the equipment’s primary function may meet the conformity assessment requirements but may not be adequate to demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements of the EMC Directive.

How does multifunctional apparatus achieve compliance with the EMC Directive given that the primary functions of the equipment may require the application of more than one EMC standard whose limits and methods may be different?

Definition:

Multifunctional equipment can be considered as equipment that has a number of primary functions, or whose inherent operation covers more than one standard.

For example:

Equipment with a number of primary functions: Integral TV, microwave and Fridge

Advice:

Multifunctional equipment should be operated in its normal mode of operation, if two or more function are capable of operating simultaneously under normal operation, then tests must be conducted with these functions operating simultaneously. For multifunctional equipment where functions work in isolation under normal operation these functions can be tested in isolation. However, equipment that has isolated functions, which can be configured to operate simultaneously during testing, then this is acceptable.

In any event all clause of the relevant standards must be applied. Where limits cover the same frequency range or phenomena the highest limits should be applied for emissions and immunity. If the same test is covered by more than one standard then this test only needs to be performed once provide all relevant operations are function over the test period.

Additional, all functions may be tested separately provided that the cumulative test data (ie adding up emission results etc) ensure the overall product complies with the highest test limits for emissions and immunity.

Note: If each function of TV, microwave and Fridge were tested independently then a DoC was product for the overall product then this means that the manufacture will have applied the principle of CE+CE, which computer manufacturer’s have found to their cost does not always correlate to actual test results.

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.