What Does the Directive Apply to?

Apparatus for use in a sealed electromagnetic environment

Radio amateur apparatus which is not available commercially

Military equipment (at least in the UK)

Apparatus wholly covered by product-specific Directives (e.g. cars, trucks generally covered by Automotive EMC Directive, 95/54/EC)

Apparatus partly covered by product-specific Directives - are partially exempted

Spare parts - but Directive still applies to apparatus into which they are fitted

Components.

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Apparatus consists of a product with an intrinsic function intended for the end-user; and
is supplied (or intended for supply) or taken into service (or intended to be taken into service) as a single commercial unit which is:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

an electrical appliance
an electronic appliance
a system

Internal modems are examples of apparatus.

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For the purposes of the EMC Directive, a system is defined as a combination of several equipments, finished products, and/or components combined, designed and/or put together by the same person (system manufacturer) intended to be placed on the market for distribution as a single functional unit for an end user and intended to be installed and operated together to perform a specific task.

Personal Computers are examples of systems.

The system as a whole constitutes an apparatus and must comply fully with the EMC Directive.

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These are defined as a combination of several equipments, finished products, and/or components assembled and/or erected by an assembler/installer at a given place to operate together in a expected environment to perform a specific task, but not intended to be placed on the market as a single functional or commercial market.

The installation must comply with the essential requirements of the Directive. The person responsible for the design, engineering and construction (assembly and erection) becomes the manufacturer and assumes responsibility for the installations compliance with all applicable provisions of the Directive. Since the installation cannot enjoy free movement within the EEA market, there is no need for CE Marking or a Declaration of Conformity.

Movable installations have free movement within the EEA and must comply with the Directive in the same way as a system.

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Components are outside the scope of the EMC Directive but it is necessary to decide what constitutes a component. It is sometimes not clear whether a device is a component or not. The principle criterion for a component is that it does not perform a direct function for the end user.

Examples of components which are outside the scope of the Directive are:

	Resistors, capacitors, coils, diodes, transistors, thyristors, triacs and integrated circuits
	Cables and cabling accessories
	All or nothing relays
	Plugs, sockets and terminal blocks
	LEDs and LCD displays
	Simple mechanical thermostats

Plug-in cards for computers

Programmable logic controllers

Lift controls

Electric motors (except for induction motors)

Computer disk drives

Autonomous power supply units

Electronic temperature controls

For full details, it is essential to consult the latest Guidelines on the application of the Directive, since the above gives only a simplified explanation.

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