Can you tell us a little bit about Roxburgh EMC?
A brand of the Alpha 3 Manufacturing Ltd group, Roxburgh EMC is a UK manufacturer of EMC Filters and EMC Components. We work with a wide variety of market sectors from IT and Security to HVAC, Renewables, Military and more, assisting customers in meeting the relevant EMC directives for their industry. To support our range of products, we also offer Pre-Compliance EMC testing which can be performed in our laboratory or on the customers’ site at their own convenience
What is a pre-compliance EMC test?
A notified body is an organisation designated by an EU Member state to assess the conformity of certain products before being placed on the market. Part of the requirements placed on manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment is EMC compliance testing which verifies that the product is not liable to cause electromagnetic disturbance or the performance of which is not liable to be affected by such disturbance.
Roxburgh EMC have a pre-compliance EMC laboratory which is equipped with calibrated equipment similar to that used by notified bodies. We can perform the same tests and experiment with solutions until the equipment passes. Alternatively, some manufacturers prefer to self-certify their products for sale in the EU. Here a file of supporting evidence should be kept to demonstrate that due diligence has been followed with respect to compliance with the relevant standards. A pre-compliance test report such as that produced by Roxburgh EMC can be used as evidence of this due diligence.
Who is required to demonstrate compliance?
All producers of electronic and electrical equipment onto the European market must either have an assessment by a notified body or self-certify and be able to demonstrate due diligence. Many changes to existing compliant products can also alter the EMC performance and render a product non-compliant. Changes to wiring routes, power supplies, case materials or construction and device functionality can all adversely affect EMC.
What are the implications of non-compliant products?
The main aim of the regulations are to prevent a producer’s equipment from interfering with the function of another piece of equipment. If a non-compliant product were to affect something safety critical such as medical equipment or industrial machinery then very serious consequences could occur including fatality.
If a producer has chosen (or by dint of the type of product they produce has been forced to) employ the services of a notified body then non-compliant products will not be allowed onto the market. If a producer has self-certified and due diligence cannot be demonstrated during the investigation that follows any complaint or incident then the leaders of the self-certifying company are at risk of criminal convictions and in some cases prison.
