Table 1 - EMC test standards

EMC COMPLIANCE ARRANGEMENTS

To ensure compliance with the EMC regulatory arrangements, suppliers must satisfy four basic requirements. They must:

• establish sound technical grounds for product compliance;
• make and hold a Declaration of Conformity;
• prepare and keep compliance records; and
• label the product as directed.

Under the EMC regulatory arrangements, before a product can be first supplied to the Australian or New Zealand market, the supplier must register an application with the ACA or RSM to use the C-Tick label. One application only is required, as the label and associated identification from one country will be recognised in the other.

All other documents, the Declaration of Conformity and the supporting evidence, should be made available by the supplier for audit purposes on request, in writing, from either the ACA or RSM.

Once these basic requirements have been satisfied, a product may be supplied in Australia or New Zealand without further approval by the ACA or RSM.

The EMC scheme defines three levels of evidence for demonstrating compliance. These levels are based on the risk of interference that may be expected from the product.

Level 1 applies to products whose interfering emissions would have a low impact on devices using the radio frequency spectrum. This level covers products that only contain:

• manually operated switches or simple relays;
• brushless squirrel cage induction motors;
• conventional AC/AC transformers; or
• resistive elements.

For example, an electronic transformer, a lighting ballast or electronic lighting ballast are not low risk devices.

Level 2 applies to products whose interfering emissions would have a higher impact on devices using the radio frequency spectrum. Examples of these products are:

• a microprocessor or other clocked digital device;
• a commutator or slip ring motor ;
• arc welding equipment; or
• switched mode power supplies, lighting dimmers and motor speed controllers.

Level 3 applies to products whose interfering emissions have the highest risk of serious impact on devices using the radio frequency spectrum. This level covers products in the industrial scientific and medical group 2 (CISPR 11) and telecommunications terminal equipment under information technology (CISPR 22) categories.

REQUIREMENTS OF EACH LEVEL

Level 1 (voluntary)
For this level, the Australian or New Zealand supplier may:

• hold a completed Declaration of Conformity; and
• hold a product description.

For Level 1 products, the requirement to obtain the above documents and label with the C-Tick compliance mark is voluntary. However, if suppliers choose to use the C-Tick mark on Level 1 products, they must comply with the arrangements by holding a Declaration of Conformity and a description of the product. The voluntary nature of the arrangements does not exclude the products from having to meet the relevant EMC standard. Products must still meet the relevant EMC standard regardless of whether they are labelled.

Level 2
For this level, the Australian or New Zealand supplier must ensure the product complies with an applicable standard and hold compliance records containing:

• a completed Declaration of Conformity;
• a product description; and
• a test report or technical construction file (TCF).

Level 3
For this level, the Australian or New Zealand supplier must ensure the product complies with an applicable standard and hold complianchttp://www.energysafety.govt.nz/e records containing:

• a completed Declaration of Conformity;
• a product description; and
• an accredited test report or TCF.