Instruments and equipment to which this standard applies may be geographically widespread, so a wide range of environmental conditions might need to be considered.
The limitation of undesired electromagnetic emissions ensures that no other equipment, installed nearby, is unduly influenced by the equipment under consideration. The limits are more or less specified by, and therefore taken from, IEC and International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) publications.
However, the equipment has to function without undue degradation in a typical electromagnetic environment. The limit values for immunity specified in this standard have been chosen under this assumption. Special risks, involving for example nearby or direct lightning strikes, circuit-breaking, or exceptionally high electromagnetic radiation in close proximity, are not covered.
Complex electric and/or electronic systems require electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) planning in all phases of their design and installation, taking into consideration the electromagnetic environment, any special requirements, and the severity of failures.
BS EN 61326-1 specifies the EMC requirements that are generally applicable to all equipment within its scope. For certain types of equipment, these requirements will be supplemented or modified by the special requirements of one, or more than one, particular part within IEC 61326-2. These should be read in conjunction with the IEC 61326-1 requirements.
This standard specifies requirements for immunity and emissions regarding EMC for electrical equipment, operating from a supply or battery of less than 1 000 V a.c. or 1 500 V d.c. or from the circuit being measured, intended for professional, industrial-process, industrial-manufacturing and educational use, including equipment and computing devices for:
- measurement and test
- control
- laboratory use
- accessories intended for use with the above (such as sample handling equipment);
intended to be used in industrial and non-industrial locations.
Computing devices and assemblies and similar equipment within the scope of Information Technology Equipment (ITE) and complying with applicable ITE EMC standards can be used in systems within the scope of this part of IEC 61326 without additional testing, if it is suitable for the intended electromagnetic environment.
This product family standard takes precedence over generic standards.
The following equipment is covered in this standard:
- a) Electrical measurement and test equipment
This is equipment, which by electrical means measures, indicates or records one or more electrical or non-electrical quantities, also non-measuring equipment such as signal generators, measurement standards, power supplies and transducers.
- b) Electrical control equipment
This is equipment, which controls one or more output quantities to specific values, with each value determined by manual settings, by local or remote programming, or by one or more input variables. This includes Industrial Process Measurement and Control (IPMC) equipment, which consists of devices such as:
Process controllers and regulators
Programmable controllers
Power supply units for equipment and systems (centralized or dedicated)
Analogue/digital indicators and recorders
Process instrumentation
Transducers, positioners, intelligent actuators, etc.
- c) Electrical laboratory equipment
This is equipment which measures, indicates monitors or analyses substances, or is used to prepare materials, and includes In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) equipment. This equipment may also be used in areas other than laboratories, for example self-test IVD equipment may be used in the home.
This standard is applicable to:
- equipment for use in residential, commercial and light-industrial environments, according to IEC 61000-6-1
- equipment for use in industrial locations
- equipment for use in laboratories or test and measurement areas with a controlled electromagnetic environment
- portable test and measurement equipment.
BS EN 61326-1:2006 partially supersedes BS EN 61326:1998 which will be withdrawn on publication of all of the parts of the BS EN 61326-2 series of standards (BS EN 61326-2-1:2006, BS EN 61326-2-2:2006, BS EN 61326-2-3, BS EN 61326-2-4, BS EN 61326-2-5 and BS EN 61326-2-6:2006).
