TR CU 020: Electromagnetic Compatibility Explained
TR CU 020/2011 reaches any technical device that can create electromagnetic interference, or whose function depends on external interference. Household appliances and computer peripherals are on the certification list; everything else in scope declares. Almost every product it touches is also touched by TR CU 004 and TR EAEU 037.
What does TR CU 020 cover?
TR CU 020/2011, Electromagnetic compatibility of technical means, covers technical devices in two situations:
- Those capable of creating electromagnetic interference
- Those whose quality of functioning depends on the impact of external electromagnetic interference
Either condition is enough. A device that emits nothing but stops working near a motor is in scope just as much as one that emits.
Certify or declare?
The regulation provides for both forms. Which applies depends on whether the product is on the mandatory certification list.
Subject to certification:
- Electrical appliances and household appliances
- Technical means connected to personal computers, printers, monitors, scanners, uninterruptible power supplies and others
Everything else in scope is assessed by declaration, which is available under every scheme except 5d.
The three certification schemes
| Scheme | Applies to | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| 1c | Serial release | Testing of typical samples in an accredited laboratory, plus analysis of the state of production by the certification body |
| 3c | A batch | Testing of samples drawn from the batch |
| 4c | A single product | Testing of that product |
There is a planning point buried in the choice. When picking a scheme, check whether the same scheme is available for the other technical regulations the product falls under, otherwise a scheme that is efficient for EMC forces a second, incompatible process elsewhere.
Which other regulations apply alongside TR CU 020?
The vast majority of products under TR CU 020 also fall under:
- TR CU 004/2011, On the safety of low-voltage equipment
- TR EAEU 037/2016, On the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products
A product therefore rarely has a “TR CU 020 project”. It has an electrical product project in which EMC is one of three assessments, and the certificate for 004 and 020 is normally issued as one document.
What does TR CU 020 not apply to?
TR CU 020/2011 does not apply to:
- Technical means used by manufacturers of other technical means as components, not intended for independent use
- Technical means that are passive with respect to electromagnetic compatibility
The first exclusion is the one most often claimed and most often misjudged. A module sold to an OEM is a component; the same module sold as a spare part for end users is not.
Sources
- TR CU 020/2011, Electromagnetic compatibility of technical means, Eurasian Economic Commission
- TR CU 004/2011, On the safety of low-voltage equipment
- TR EAEU 037/2016, On restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products
Frequently asked questions
Which products must be certified rather than declared under TR CU 020?
Electrical appliances and household appliances, and technical means connected to personal computers, printers, monitors, scanners, uninterruptible power supplies and similar. Technical means not on that list are assessed by declaration instead, which is available under every scheme except 5d.
What does TR CU 020 not apply to?
Two categories. Technical means used by manufacturers of other technical means as components, not intended for independent use. And products that are passive with respect to electromagnetic compatibility, items that neither emit interference nor depend on the absence of it.
Which other regulations usually apply alongside it?
TR CU 004/2011 on the safety of low-voltage equipment, and TR EAEU 037/2016 on restricted hazardous substances. The vast majority of products falling under TR CU 020 fall under both, so the practical question is rarely about TR CU 020 alone.
Not sure which of these applies to your product? Send it and we will tell you
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