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EMC testing · UK & EU markets

EMC Testing for Electrical Products and Machinery

Understand which EMC tests your product needs. ConformTest helps define applicable standards for its intended environment and target market, assess emissions and immunity, and provide clear test reports to support your conformity assessment.

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  • EU: EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
  • UK: Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016, as amended
Illustrative EMC test chamber with radio-frequency absorbers and measurement equipment
Illustrative EMC testing environment.

Define the right test scope

Emissions and Immunity: Two Sides of EMC

EMC testing considers the disturbance your product creates and how it responds to interference. The tests below are selected for the product, its ports, power supply and intended use. Not every test applies to every product.

Emissions Testing

Check unwanted electromagnetic disturbance leaving your product through cables or through the air.

Conducted emissions

Measures disturbance on relevant power and signal connections. Helps identify noise that could affect other connected equipment.

Radiated emissions

Measures disturbance radiated by the product and its cables. Helps assess the risk of interference to nearby electronics and radio reception.

Measurement methods and limits come from the applicable product or generic emissions standard.

Immunity Testing

Check product behaviour during electromagnetic disturbances, using agreed operating modes and performance criteria.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD)

Assesses response to static discharges at accessible surfaces, helping identify resets or loss of function.

EN/IEC 61000-4-2
Radiated RF immunity

Assesses operation in radio-frequency fields, including susceptibility that could affect controls or readings.

EN/IEC 61000-4-3
Conducted RF immunity

Applies radio-frequency disturbance to relevant cables to assess disruption through connected ports.

EN/IEC 61000-4-6

Switching and Transient Disturbances

Electrical fast transient/burst (EFT)

Assesses response to repetitive fast pulses associated with switching, helping identify interruption of control or communication.

EN/IEC 61000-4-4
Surge immunity

Assesses response to higher-energy transients associated with switching or indirect lightning effects. Helps evaluate performance at exposed ports.

EN/IEC 61000-4-5

Supply and Magnetic Disturbances

Power-frequency magnetic field immunity

Assesses operation near magnetic fields from power equipment, where sensitive components or measurements may be affected.

EN/IEC 61000-4-8
Voltage dips and short interruptions

Assesses behaviour during brief supply reductions or loss, including recovery and any loss of function.

EN/IEC 61000-4-11 or 61000-4-34, as applicable to supply current

Mains Disturbance Testing

For applicable equipment connected to public low-voltage supplies, the assessment also considers effects on power quality.

Harmonic Current Emissions

Measures harmonic currents drawn from the supply, helping assess distortion imposed on the network.

61000-3-2 generally addresses equipment up to 16 A per phase; 61000-3-12 addresses equipment above 16 A and up to 75 A per phase, within their respective scopes.

Voltage Fluctuations and Flicker

Assesses supply voltage changes caused by varying loads and their potential to produce visible lighting flicker.

61000-3-3 covers applicable equipment up to 16 A per phase without conditional connection; 61000-3-11 covers applicable equipment up to 75 A per phase subject to conditional connection.

A test plan matched to your product. Supply voltage, frequency, phase arrangement, current and connection conditions are checked before selecting EN/BS EN methods. Test levels, frequency ranges and acceptance criteria are agreed from the applicable standards and intended use.

Product-led standard selection

Which EMC Standards Apply to Your Product?

Start with a relevant product or product-family standard. Generic standards are considered where no relevant dedicated standard applies; they are not automatically assigned to every machine.

Examples of standard families to assess, not a universal test checklist.
Product groupStandard families to consider
Household appliances and electric toolsEN/EN IEC 55014-1 and 55014-2
Computers, audio-visual and multimedia equipmentEN 55032 and EN 55035
Lighting equipmentEN/EN IEC 55015 and 61547
Measurement, control and laboratory equipmentEN/EN IEC 61326-1 and relevant particular parts
Adjustable-speed electrical power drive systemsEN/EN IEC 61800-3
Industrial equipment without a relevant product standardEN/EN IEC 61000-6-2 and 61000-6-4
Residential equipment without a relevant product standardEN/EN IEC 61000-6-1 and the applicable edition of 61000-6-3

Function, environment, connections and market determine the choice. For professional equipment in commercial and light-industrial locations, the scope of 61000-6-8 is also checked, including restrictions on residential use and professional installation.

References above identify families, not approved editions. The exact EN or BS EN edition, amendments, transition dates and EU harmonised or GB designated status must be checked for the assessment. The newest IEC edition is not automatically harmonised or designated.

Official reference lists: EU harmonised EMC standards · GB designated EMC standards.

A clear route through testing

From Product Details to EMC Test Results

  1. Review the Product

    Review intended use, environment, supply, connections and target markets.

  2. Agree the Test Plan

    Define standards, test scope, representative configurations, operating modes and performance criteria.

  3. Carry Out Testing

    Perform the agreed emissions, immunity and, where relevant, mains disturbance tests.

  4. Explain the Results

    Report findings, identify any non-conformities and discuss the next steps.

What You Receive

Depending on the agreed service scope:

  • Applied standards and the scope of testing.
  • Identification of the tested model, configuration and operating modes.
  • Measurement results, applicable limits and performance assessments.
  • A test report stating relevant limitations.
  • Corrective-action and retest recommendations where needed.
  • Support for the technical file and Declaration of Conformity.

Market requirements

EMC Requirements for EU and UK Markets

European Union

For equipment within scope, EMC Directive 2014/30/EU sets requirements for emissions and immunity. Apparatus requires the relevant conformity assessment, technical documentation, EU Declaration of Conformity and CE marking.

EU EMC framework

Great Britain

The Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016, as amended, apply. Qualifying products meeting recognised EU requirements, including CE marking, continue to be accepted indefinitely. UKCA remains an available route; it is not compulsory for all EMC products.

GB EMC guidance

Northern Ireland

Applicable EU requirements and CE marking continue to apply. UKCA alone is insufficient. CE + UKNI applies where a UK notified body is used for the relevant conformity-assessment procedure. Testing in the UK alone does not trigger UKNI.

NI EMC guidance

Scope matters. EMC compliance does not make third-party testing or certification mandatory for every product. Radio equipment within RED scope is assessed for EMC under the applicable radio legislation. Fixed installations follow specific requirements, including documented good engineering practice, rather than the apparatus marking route.

EMC testing is not a complete electrical or functional safety assessment. Related work may include LVD Testing and Machinery Compliance.

For wider conformity support, see CE Marking and UKCA Marking.

Market guidance checked on 21 October 2026. Requirements and the applicable standards are reviewed for each project.

Common questions

EMC Testing FAQs

Does my product need EMC testing?

Many electrical products need an EMC assessment because they can generate disturbance or be affected by it. The evidence and tests needed depend on the product, environment and applicable legislation. Third-party testing is not automatically required for every product.

What is the difference between emissions and immunity?

Emissions testing assesses disturbance leaving your product. Immunity testing assesses how it performs when exposed to external interference. Both inform the EMC assessment where applicable.

Which EMC standards apply to my product?

We first consider product-specific or product-family standards, then relevant generic standards where appropriate. Intended use, supply, ports, installation and target market determine the final selection and editions.

Can existing test reports be used?

They may provide useful evidence if they cover the relevant model, configuration, standards and intended use. We review their scope and any product changes to identify gaps or additional testing.

What happens if the product fails a test?

The report identifies the test conditions and the limit or performance criterion not met. Where included in the scope, we discuss corrective actions and agree which tests should be repeated after changes.

What information is needed for a quotation?

Tell us what the product does, where it will be used and which markets you are targeting. Add supply and connection details or existing reports if available. You do not need to know a standard number to make an enquiry.

Start with your product

Request Your EMC Testing Quote

Briefly describe your product and where it will be used. We will review the information and discuss the relevant EMC test scope.

No standard number is needed for your initial enquiry.

Request an EMC Testing Quote