EMC Test — CISPR 32 / IEC 61000 / CISPR 25 / EN 50121 · Automotive Testing

What Is EMC?

EMC testing is a group of tests that verify that the electromagnetic interference a product radiates into its surroundings remains within limits, and that it maintains its function under external interference. It is carried out under two main headings: emission and immunity.

Purpose of EMC

The purpose is to verify that the product does not affect other devices and operates reliably in a real electromagnetic environment, and to meet the requirements of the relevant legislation.

Which Products Is EMC Applied To?

Battery management systems and packs
Automotive wiring harnesses and electronic units
Rail vehicle equipment
Industrial and consumer electronics

In Which Sectors Is EMC Used?

AutomotiveElectric VehicleBatteryPlasticsRubber

Standards Related to EMC

CISPR 32emissions in multimedia devices test
CISPR 25Radio degradation of in-car components test
IEC 61000-4 series
IEC 61000-6 serisi
EN 50121electromagnetic compatibility in railway applications test
UNECE R10electromagnetic compatibility in vehicles test
ISO 11452radiated field immunity in vehicles test

EMC Conditions

Emissions: Radiated and conducted emission; the frequency range is defined in the product standard
Immunity: Radiated and conducted immunity, ESD, EFT/burst, surge, voltage dips
Environment: Semi-anechoic chamber (SAC) or fully anechoic chamber; conducted measurements with an LISN
Operating mode: The worst-case operating mode is determined and documented

Equipment for EMC

Semi-anechoic EMC chamber and antennas
EMI receiver and spectrum analyser
LISN and conducted-emission setup
ESD simulator, EFT/burst and surge generators
Function-monitoring system

Sample Requirements for EMC

The specimen must be set up in its typical use configuration and wiring
The worst-case operating mode must be defined
The function-monitoring method must be defined before the test
The charge/discharge condition must be stated in battery tests

Duration of EMC

A comprehensive EMC programme takes between several days and a week, depending on product complexity.

EMC Procedure

1The product standard and the list of tests to be applied are determined.
2The specimen is set up in the chamber, and wiring and function monitoring are prepared.
3Emission measurements are taken and compared with the limits.
4Immunity tests are applied at the defined levels.
5The performance criterion is assessed for each test.
6If a non-conformity is found, additional measurements are taken for root-cause analysis.

EMC Acceptance Criteria

Emission results must remain below the limits in the product standard. In immunity, the result is evaluated as performance criterion A, B or C; which criterion applies is stated in the product standard.

Evaluation of Results

Emission graphs are presented together with the limit lines, and the margin is stated. In immunity, the observed behaviour and whether self-recovery occurred are recorded.

EMC Report

Applied standards and list of tests
Test setup, wiring and operating mode
Emission measurement graphs and margins
Immunity levels and performance criterion results
Calibration information for the instruments used

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

EMC 2014/30/EU
UNECE R10 (automotive)
EN 50121 (rail)
RED 2014/53/EU

Otomotiv Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the EMC test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Automotive testing shows that a component keeps working under conditions representing the loads it will meet over the life of the vehicle. A vehicle is not a single product but an ENVIRONMENT: vibration, temperature cycling, salt water, stone impact, electrical transients and electromagnetic noise are all present at the same time and for years.

What distinguishes this family is that VEHICLE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS sit on top of the standards. ISO and SAE publications establish the common ground; but Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota and Renault define different severity levels, additional tests and different acceptance criteria in their own specifications. For a component, the phrase "complies with automotive standards" is not sufficient on its own; which manufacturer's specification, and which revision of it, must be answered.

The family carries three separate processes together and they are often confused. Homologation covers the type approvals a vehicle needs to enter traffic and runs under state authority. Supplier approval means passing the vehicle manufacturer's own quality and testing requirements and is a commercial relationship. The third is design verification: the engineering team demonstrating that its own design meets its targets.

At component level the test plan is built around the LOCATION OF USE. A module in the engine bay and a module in the boot do not go through the same temperature and vibration profile; a component inside a door and one in the roof console do not see the same water and dust exposure. The ISO 16750 series is the common framework for this location-based approach.

The shift to electric vehicles has reshaped the field. High-voltage safety, insulation coordination, battery safety, charging interface conformity and the electromagnetic behaviour of high-voltage components have been added to the classical automotive test set. In a quiet vehicle, acoustic and vibration expectations have changed too; sounds once masked by the combustion engine are now audible.

The quality system side cannot be separated from testing in this field. A manufacturer under IATF 16949 presents test results in the PPAP file; measurement system analysis, process capability study and the control plan stand around the test report. A single good result is not enough — the process must be shown to be able to repeat it.

Method groups in this field

Environmental and climatic
Temperature cycling, thermal shock, damp heat, salt spray, dust and water ingress (IP), solar radiation. Severity levels vary with the mounting location.
Mechanical
Sine and random vibration, shock, mechanical loads, fastener torque and durability cycles.
Electrical
Supply voltage variations, transients (ISO 7637), reverse polarity, overvoltage, short circuit and sleep current measurements.
EMC
Component emissions (CISPR 25), radiated and conducted immunity (ISO 11452 series), electrostatic discharge (ISO 10605).
Materials and emissions
Odour, fogging and VOC emissions from interior materials; flammability; UV ageing; coating durability and stone impact.
Functional safety and cyber security
Functional safety evidence under ISO 26262 and cyber security engineering under ISO/SAE 21434; these are tied to regulation through UNECE R155 and R156.

Commonly confused in this field

An automotive report without a specification reference is not accepted in the supply chain; which OEM specification and revision was applied must be stated.
Type approval and supplier approval are different processes. A component with E-Mark approval is not thereby considered to have passed the OEM's own acceptance tests.
A result obtained on a prototype does not carry over to series production; PPAP is done with series production parts.
On the EMC side, measuring emissions alone is incomplete; immunity is a separate body of work and is more critical in a vehicle.
On electric vehicle components, high-voltage safety is a distinct competence; classical 12 V test infrastructure is not sufficient.

Which decisions these results support

Supplier component approval and the PPAP file
UNECE type approval and E-Mark marking
Design verification and durability evidence
Root cause analysis of field complaints and warranty returns
Assessing the impact of a design or supplier change

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About EMC

Which standard should I apply for EMC testing?

It varies by product family: the CISPR 32 and IEC 61000 series for general electronics, UNECE R10 and CISPR 25 for automotive, and EN 50121 for rail. Which standard applies is determined by your product and target market.