EMC & Regulatory Compliance Testing

EMC is short for electromagnetic compatibility and refers to a branch of electrical engineering ensuring compliance with various standards governing the ways in which electrical devices coexist.

For more information, read What is EMI/EMC Testing?

There are four types of EMC tests: radiated emissions, radiated immunity, conducted emissions, and conducted immunity. To fulfill these tests with the certainty that the device under test truly meets industry requirements, test engineers require equipment designed to fulfill test standards such as IEC 61000, MIL-STD-461G, and DO-160. Manufacturers who rely on EMC testing include developers of aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and consumer electronics technology.

For more info on each type of EMC testing, read our solutions page.

Below are some common standards for EMC. You can read more in-depth on each standard by clicking the respective links.

Commercial Standards

• IEC 61000
• IEC CISPR

Automotive Standards

• ISO 7637-2
• ISO 11452-4
• ISO 167502

Military/Aerospace Standards

• MIL-STD-461
• RTCA/DO-160

Pre-compliance refers to running all the appropriate EMC tests on your device under test (DUT) before sending it into a test lab for certification. This certification is called full compliance.

ATEC rents equipment to complete both pre-compliance and full compliance testing.

Calibration requirements depend on the test being run as well as the requirements of your company. ATEC supports in-house calibration for NIST, NIST with Date, and ISO 17025.

NIST: Equipment is calibrated and traceable according to standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
NIST with Date: The same calibration with additional documentation ensuring all devices were up to appropriate calibration.
ISO 17025: Calibration is a higher-level, accredited service adding international recognition and detailed measurement uncertainties on top of standard NIST traceable calibration.