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Bs EN
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BRITISH STANDARD ~

50081-1 : I992

Electromagnetic
compatibility -
Generic emission
standard
Part 1. Residential, commercial and
light industry

The European Standard EN 50081-1 : 1992 has the status of a

British Standard

Compatibilité électromagnétique Elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit

Norme générique émission Fhchgrundnorm Störaussendung
Partie 1. Résidentiel, commercial, industrie Teil 1. Wohnbereich, Geschäfts- und
légère Gewerbebereiche sowie Kleinindustrie

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 Cooperating organizations

The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC),

under whose supervision this European Standard was prepared, comprises the
national committees of the following countries.

Austria Italy
Belgium Luxembourg
Denmark Netherlands
Finland Norway
France Portugal
Germany Spain
Greece Sweden
Iceland Switzerland
Ireland United Kingdom

of the Standards Board and Amd. No. Date Text affected

comes into effect on
1 April 1992

O BSI 1992

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference GEL/llO
Draft for comment (10'26273 DC

ISBN O 680 20779 X

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BS EN 50081-1 : 1992

Contents

Page
Cooperating orgauations Inside front cover
National foreword i
Foreword 2
Text of EN 50081-1 3
National annex NA (informative) Inside back cover
National annex NB (informativel Inside back cover

National foreword
This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the General
Electrotechnical Standards Policy Committee and is the English language
version of EN 50081-1, ‘Electromagnetic compatibility - Generic emission
standard. Part 1 : Residential, commercial and light industry’, published by the
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC).
This standard is one of a number of generic standards related to European
Council Directive 89/336/EEC, dated 3 May 1989 (referred to as the
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive), which applies to apparatus
(equipment) liable to cause electromagnetic disturbance or the performance of
which is liable to be affected by such disturbance. It defines the protection
requirements, and related conformity procedures. The protection requirements
state that apparatus within the scope of the Directive are to be so constructed
that:
(a) the electromagnetic disturbance it generates does not exceed a level
allowing radio and telecommunications equipment and other apparatus to
operate as intended;
(b) the apparatus has an adequate level of intrinsic immunity to
electromagnetic disturbance to enable it to operate as intended.
Member States of the EC are required to presume compliance with the
protection requirements where apparatus is in conformity with the relevant
national standard implementing the harmonized standard (in this case
EN 50081-1).
Attention is drawn to Article 10 of the EMC Directive which covers such
matters as declarations of conformity and EC marks.
The following guidance is given to manufacturers intending to make a
declaration of conformity with the protection requirements of Directive
89/336/EEC.
(1) Where a declaration of conformity is to be based exclusively on
standards, a manufacturer should apply all of the standards which have
been listed in the OfSEcial J m m l of the Europeun Cmmunities where
the scopes of those standards are appropriate to the product, but see also
footnote 1to the table on page ii.
(2) Where the scopes of the product-family or product standards listed are
not appropriate to a particular product, the generic standards should be
applied.
(3) Where, for whatever reason, a manufacturer chooses not to apply the
standards or to apply them only in part, the technical construction file
route, as described in Article lO(2) of Directive 89/336/EEC, can be
followed in order to make a declaration of conformity.

i
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BS EN 50081-1 : 1992

Types of Product') Standards which should be applied t o make a declaration of

conformity
Emission Immunity
Harmonics Voltage Radio- All aspects
fluctuations interference

Household appliances and BS 5406 : BS 5406 : BS 800 BS EN 50082-12)

portable tools, e.g. Part 2 Part 3 (EN 55014)
vacuum cleaners, washing (EN 60555-2) (EN 60555-3)
machines, heating and
cooking appliances,
dimmers
Luminaires with discharge BS 5406 : BS 5394 BS EN 50082-12)
lamps Part 2 (EN 55015)
(EN 60555-2)
TV receivers BS 5406 : BS 905 : Part 1 BS 905 : Part 2
Part 23) (EN 55013) (EN 55020)
(EN 60555-2)
Information Technology BS 5406 : BS 6527 EN 55101 all
(IT) equipment Part z3) (EN 55022) Parts')
[EN 60555-2)
Mains signalling BS EN 50065-1 BS EN 50082-1
equipment
industrial, Scientific and BS Eh' 55011 EN 50082-24)
Medical (ISM) equipment
designed to generate radio
Crequency energy
Lndustrial electronic EN 50081-24) EN 50082-24)
power and control
quipment
industrial non-electronic EN 50081-2') if
squipment producing radio
frequency
interference
')Manufacturers are advised to consult both the scope and definitions contained in a particular
;tandard for further guidance in determining what individual items of equipment may be
:overed.
"he scopes of BS EN 55011, BS 905 : Pai-t 1, BS 800 and BS 6527 are in general mutually
?xclusive, but it should be noted that equipment designed to generate radio frequency energy
nay be covered by the scope of more than one standard and the requirements of both standards
;hould be applied, e.g. a domestic microwave oven is covered by the scope of both BS 800 and
3s EN 56011.
!)Only applies to equipment containing electronic circuits.
')Applicability is limited to equipment which is intended for household use
')in preparation.
WiX. Where no requirements covering a paiticular phenomenon are specified the equipment
ihould be designed to meet the supply authority requirements.

ii
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BS EN 50081-1 : 1992

The examples of typical equipment given in the table on page ii, which is not
exhaustive, show which standards should be applied if it is intended to make a
declaration of confoimity which is based exclusively on standards.
Although the EMC Directive requires the Member States of the EC to
implement it on 1 January 1992, the EC Commission has proposed an
Amending Directive which would provide a transitional period of 4 years ending
31 December 1995. At the present time, the decision of the Council of Ministers
on the proposal is awaited. During this proposed transitional period,
manufacturers of electrotechniçal products would have the option either to
comply with the Directive, with effect from 1 January 1992, or to continue to
comply with existing national regulations. Any such national regulations in
force within a Member State before 1January 1992 could continue to apply
until 31 December 1995 when they would have to be repealed. During this
peiiod, products manufactured in one Member State which do not conform to
the Directive would be required to conform to the regulations of the Member
State in which they are marketed.
For information on the basic standards listed in annex A wiite to Customer
Information, BSI, Linford Wood, MK14 6LE.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

iii
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 E S 1 BS*EN*500ôL- II 92 W Lb24bb9 0 2 8 7 7 9 2 4 W
EN 5 0 0 ~ 1 - 1 ~
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EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM January 1992

UDG 621.37.001.365

Descriptors: Radiodisturbances, electromagnetic compatibility, tests, equipment protection

English version

Electromagnetic compatibility - Generic emission

standard
Part 1: Residential, commercial and light industry

Compatibilité électromagnétique Elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit

Norme générique émission Fachgrundnom Störaussendung
Partie 1 : Résidentiel, commercial, industrie %il 1: Wohnbereich, Geschäfts-und
légère Gewerbebereiche sowie Kleinindustrie

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 10 December 1991.

CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CENKENELEC Internal
Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any
CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French,
German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to
the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B-1050 Brussels

0 1992 Copyright reserved to CENELEC members

Ref. No. EN 50081-1 : 1992 E

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Page 2
EN 50081-1 : 1992

Foreword
The present European Standard was prepared by
the CENELEC %chnical Committee Tc 110. It was
submitted to the CENELEC members for Unique
Acceptance in February 1991 and was approved by
all members, with the exception of Austria, as
EN 50081-1 on 10 December 1991.
The following dates were fixed:
- latest date of publication (dop) 1992-06-01
of an identical national
standard
- latest date of withdrawal (dow) 1992-12-31
of conflicting national
standards

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Page 3
EN 50081-111992

GENERIC EMISSION STANDARD

1 Scope
This standard for emission requirements applies to electrical and electronic apparatus intended for
use in the residential, commercial and light-industrial environment, as described in clause 5, for
which no dedicated product or product-family emission standard exists. Apparatus designed to
radiate electromagnetic energy for radio communications purposes is excluded from this standard.
Disturbances in the frequency range O Hz to 400 GHz are covered.
Where a relevant dedicated product or product-family EMC emission standard exists, this shall take
precedence over all aspects of this generic standard.
The emission requirements have been selected so as to ensure that disturbances generated by
apparatus operating normally at residential, commercial and light-industrial locations do not exceed
a level which could prevent other apparatus from operating as intended. Fault conditions of
apparatus are not taken into account.
Apparatus installed in the locations covered by this standard are considered to be directly connected
to low-voltage public mains supplies or to a dedicated DC source which is intended to interface
between the apparatus and the low-voltage public mains supply. Apparatus intended to be
connected to an industrial power network or to special power supply sources are covered by another
generic standard.

2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other
publications. These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the
publications are lisfed hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of
any of these publications apply to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by
amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the publication referred to
applies.
When the international publication has been modified by CENELEC common modifications,
indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD applies.
IEC
Publication Title EN/HD
50(161) International ElectrotechnicalVocabulary
Chapter 161: Electromagnetic compatibility
555 Disturbances in supply systems caused by household
appliances and similar electrical equipment
555-1 Part 1: Definitions EN 60555-1
555-2 (mod) Part 2: Harmonics EN 60555-2
555-3 Part 3:Voltage fluctuations EN 60555-3
CISPR 14 Limits and methods of measurement of radio interference EN 55014
(mod) characteristics of household electrical appliances, portable
tools and similar electrical apparatus
CISPR 22 Limits and methods of measurement of radio interference EN 55022
(mod) characteristics of information technology equipment

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Page 4
EN 50081-1:1992

3 Objective
The objective of this standard is to define limits and test methods for apparatus defined in the scope,
in relation to electromagnetic emissions which may cause interference in other apparatus e.g. radio
receivers.
These emission limits represent essential electromagnetic compatibility requirements.
Test requirements are specified for each port considered.
NOTE 1: The limits in this standard may not, however, provide full protection against interference
to radio and television reception when the apparatus is used closer than 10 m to the receiving
antenna(e).
NOTE 2: In special cases, for instance when highly susceptible apparatus is being used in
proximity, additional mitigation measures may have to be employedto reducethe electromagnetic
emission further below the specified levels.

4 Definitions
Definitions related to EMC and to relevant phenomena may be found in the EEC Directive, in
chapter 161 of the IEV (IEC 50) and in IEC and CISPR Publications. The definitions stated in the
Directive (89/336/EEC) take precedence.
The following particular definitions are used in this standard:
port: Particular interface of the specified apparatus with the external electromagnetic environment
(see figure 1).
enclosure port The physical boundary of the apparatus through which electromagnetic fields may
radiate or impinge.

Enclosure port
AC power port
...........................................................
1 Earth port

...........................................................
II APPARATUS

DC power port l
iI Signakontroi port
Figure 1: Examples of ports

5 Description of locations
The environments encompassed by this standard are residential, commercial and light-industrial
locations, both indoor and outdoor. The following list, although not comprehensive, gives an
indication of locations which are included:
- residential properties, e.g. houses, apartments, etc.;
- retail outlets, e.g. shops, supermarkets, etc.;
- business premises, e.g. offices, banks, etc.;

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EN 50081-1:I 992

- areas of public entertainment, e.g. cinemas, public bars, dance halls, etc.;
- outdoor locations, e.g. petrol stations, car parks, amusement and sports centres, etc.;
- light-industrial locations, e.g. workshops, laboratories, service centres, etc.
Locations which are characterized by being supplied directly at low voltage from the public mains
are considered to be residential, commercial or light industrial.

6 Conditions during measurement

The measurements shall be made in the operating mode producing the largest emission in the
frequency band being investigated consistent with normal applications.
An attempt shall be made to maximize the emission by varying the configuration of the test sample.
If the apparatus is part of a system, or can be connected to auxiliary apparatus, then the apparatus
shall be tested while connected to the minimum configuration of auxiliary apparatus necessary to
exercise the ports in accordance with EN 55022.
The configuration and mode of operation during measurement shall be precisely noted in the test
report.
If the apparatus has a large number of terminals, then a sufficient number shall be selected to
simulate actual operating conditions and to ensure that all the different types of termination are
covered.
The tests shall be carried out somewhere within the specified operating environmental range for the
apparatus and at its rated supply voltage, unless otherwise indicated in the basic standard.

7 Documentation for the purchaserhser

7.1 Documentation which shall be supplied to the purchaserhser:

The purchaseduser shall be informed ifspecial measures have to be taken to achieve compliance,
e.g. the use of shielded or special cables.

7.2 Documentation which shall be available to the purchaserhser upon request:

A list of auxiliary apparatus which together with the apparatus comply with the emission
requirements shall be made available.

8 Applicability
Measurements are made on the relevant ports of the apparatus according to table 1. Measurements
shall only be carried out where the relevant ports exist.
It may be determined from consideration of the electrical characteristics and usage of a particular
apparatus that some of the measurements are inappropriate and therefore unnecessary. In such a
case it is required that the decision not to measure be recorded in the test report.

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Page 6
EN 50081-1:1992

9 Emission limits
The emission limits for apparatus covered by this standard are given on a pori by port basis.
Measurements shall be performed in well-defined and reproducible conditions for each type of
disturbance.
The description of the test, the test methods, and the test Set-up are given in basic standards which
are referred to in table 1 and in table A.1.
The contents of these basic standards are not repeated here, however modifications or additional
information needed for the practical application of the tests are given in this standard.
NOTE: The term “basic standard” has been used for want of a more suitable term. The standards
referenced (EN 55014, EN 55022 & EN 60555) are standlaione product-family standards. The
reference to “basic standard“ is intended to be limited to those parts of the standard that give the
description of the test, the test methods and the test Set-up.

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EN 50081-1 :I 992

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EN 50081-1 :I
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National annex NA (informative)

Committees responsible
The United Kingdom participation in the preparation of this European Standard was entrusted by the
General Electrotechnical Standards Policy Committee (GEW-) to Technical Committee GELD 10, upon
which the following bodies were represented:
Association of Control Manufacturers (TACMA (BEAMA Ltd.))
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances
Automated Material Handling Systems Association
BEAMA Interactive and Mains Systems Association (BIMSA)
BEAMA Ltd.
British Lighting Association for the Preparation of Standards (Britlaps)
British Radio and Electronic Equipment Manufactureix’ Association
British Telecommunicationsplc
Department of Health
Department of Trade and Industiy
Department of Transport
EEA (The Association of Electronics, Telecommunications and Business Equipment Industries)
ERA Technology Ltd.
Electrical Installation Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (BEAMA Ltd.)
Electricity Industry in United Kingdom
Electronic Components Industry Federation
GAMBICA (BEAMA Ltd.)
Health and Safety Executive
Induction & Dielectric Heating Manufacturers’ Association
Institution of Electrical Engineers
Lighting Industiy Federation Ltd.
Ministry of Defence
National Air Traffic Services
National Transcommunications Ltd.
Radiocommunications Agency
Rotating Electrical Machines Association (BEAMA Ltd.)
Society of British Gas Industries
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.
Sound and Communication Industries Federation
Transmission and Distribution Association (BEAMA Ltd.)

National annex NB (informative)

Cross-references
Publication referred to Corresponding British Standard
EN 550141) BS 800 : 1988 Specification for limits and methods of measurement of radio
interference characteristics of household electrical appliances, portable tools and
similar electrical apparatus
EN 55022l) BS 6527 : 1988 Specification for limits and methods of measurement of radio
interference characteristics of information technology equipment
EN 60555-2l) BS 5406 Disturbances in supply systems caused by household appliances and
similar electrical equipment
Part 2 : 1988 Specification of harmonics
EN 60555-3l) Part 3 : 1988 Specification of voltage fluctuations
IEC 50 (161)l) BS 4727 Glossary of electrotechnical, power, telecommunication, electronics,
lighting and colour terms
Part 1Terms common to power, telecommunications and electronics
Group O9 : 1991 Electromagnetic compatibility

‘)Undated in the text.

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BS EN
50081-1 : 1992

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