Emissions testing

Competency Group: Electrical Engineering

Type: Compliance Test Hardware 

Description: Emissions tests ensure that a product will not emit harmful interference by electromagnetic radiation and/or electrical signals in communication and power lines. One or more antennas are used to measure the amplitude of the electromagnetic waves that a device emits. The amplitude must be under a set limit, with the limit depending on the devices classification. Usually performed in a laboratory with sensitive hall effect devices and antennae for analyzing Electromagnetic radiation emission.

Citation for Description: Conformance testing. (2011). Retrieved from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Conformance_testing&oldid=467938354

Units: Pass/Fail

Advantages: Can provide valuable information on how the device may interact with other devices.

Limitations: Can be expensive to test these devices in electrically and magnetically shielded rooms.

Regulations: Telcordia. (n.d.). Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety — Generic Criteria for Network Telecommunications Equipment. Retrieved from http://telecom-info.telcordia.com/site-cgi/ido/docs.cgi?ID=SEARCH&DOCUMENT=GR-1089

Target Audience: Engineering

Relevant to Universal Design: Yes

Stages and Steps: 5, 6

Free Resources: List of EMC directives. (2011).  Retrieved from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_EMC_directives

Engineers Edge. (2012). EMI RFI Shielding Review. Retrieved from http://www.engineersedge.com/instrumentation/emi_rfi_shielding.htm