Testing that Reaches the World

Clark Testing proudly offers fully accredited Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing services, catering to equipment manufacturers across the United States. Our EMC laboratory holds ISO-17025 and FCC accreditations, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability in our testing procedures.

Understanding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the cornerstone of ensuring seamless operation and coexistence of electrical or electronic equipment within various environments. It encompasses the capacity of devices to function without interference or disturbances caused by electromagnetic energy. At Clark Testing, we prioritize EMC compliance to eliminate any potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI), adhering to stringent regulatory standards.

Exploring EMC Testing

EMC testing evaluates the resilience of products to withstand electromagnetic energy encountered in their operational environments. This assessment is crucial across diverse industries such as military, aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, and medical sectors. By examining electromagnetic immunity, we ascertain the ability of equipment to maintain optimal functionality amid challenging EM environments.

Distinguishing EMC vs. EMI Testing

While EMC focuses on the ability of devices to coexist without affecting others, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) occurs when a device's electromagnetic output disrupts the operation of others. Though the terms are often used interchangeably, EMC testing primarily scrutinizes a product's radio frequency (RF) emissions, while EMI testing evaluates its immunity to RF disturbances.

Benefits and Objectives of EMC Testing

EMC testing serves dual purposes: assessing electromagnetic emissions and evaluating immunity levels of electrical and electronic products. By scrutinizing EM emissions' frequencies and levels, we ensure regulatory compliance and minimize interference risks. Moreover, evaluating immunity safeguards products against EM energy encountered in their operational settings, ensuring uninterrupted performance.

Rail Industry

The Railway electromagnetic environment is intricate. Multiple systems coexist and operate simultaneously to achieve safe and efficient transportation of goods and people. These systems like signaling or telecommunications are required to operate in an often harsh conditions created by the electrified railway and propulsion systems used. These systems and the increasing spectral crowding create electromagnetic interference (EMI) that needs to be dealt with to insure the safety and continued operation of today’s Trains.

Some common standards used for railway electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are:

• IEC 62236: Railway Applications- Electromagnetic Compatibility
• EN 50121: Railway Applications- Electromagnetic Compatibility
• EN 55011: Industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio-frequency equipment – Electromagnetic disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement
• EN 55022: Information Technology Equipment – Radio disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement
• EN 50121-3-2: Rolling stock – Apparatus
• EN 50121-3-1: Rolling stock Train and complete vehicle
• EN 50121-4: Emission and immunity of the signaling and telecommunications apparatus

Nuclear Power and Power Generation

For over 25 years Clark Testing has supported the Nuclear Power industry providing testing and project management for all aspects of Nuclear EQ (equipment qualification) programs, from EMC to Seismic. With the integration of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems replacing the obsolete analog systems, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) uses the test methods and levels from the Electric Power and Research Institute (EPRI) called out in the EPRI TR-102323. EPRI initially surveyed seven nuclear power plants in the United States to craft the emission limits and immunity levels. Since the initial release of EPRI TR-102323 in 1994 the NRC has created its own document, the NRC Regulatory Guide RG 1.180, released in 2000 and references the EPRI TR-102323. The guidance and test programs laid out in these documents is intended to control emissions from the next generation digital I&C equipment and electronic systems to minimize electromagnetic interference and establish immunity performance so the equipment can stand up in the Plant’s electromagnetic environment.

Some common standards used for Nuclear electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are:

• Nuclear Regulation Guide 1.180- GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING ELECTROMAGNETIC AND RADIO-FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE IN SAFETY-RELATED INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• EPRI 102323-1- GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING ELECTROMAGNETIC AND RADIO-FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE IN SAFETY-RELATED INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• MIL-STD 461- MILITARY STANDARD: ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE CHARACTERISTICS REQUIREMENTS FOR EQUIPMENT

Military Testing

Military equipment and devices need to be able to withstand the most demanding requirements. From changing environments to active threats, commercial designs can be terribly inadequate for military applications. Because of the unique applications most military equipment will be subject to, Military EMC requirements were developed. MIL-STD 461 covers multiple platforms and installations with different limits and levels for each. Table IV below shows the available tests in 461 while table V show applicability for each application.