As an electronics manufacturer, it’s critical that your device complies with regulatory standards for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). A key aspect of this process is EMC testing, which is where an electromagnetic compatibility chamber, or an EMC chamber, comes into play.
EMC chambers are special testing environments that are designed to accurately measure the emissions of a device, as well as the device’s susceptibility to emissions from other devices.
If your device needs to comply with the FCC Part 15 rules to get an FCC mark, or a European directive to receive the CE mark, you’ll need to test it within an EMC chamber.
As an ANSI-accredited electronic product testing lab, we have an industry-leading three meter semi-anechoic testing chamber that’s designed specifically for EMC testing.
To request a quote for testing your device in our facility, or to ask our engineers your questions about the EMC testing process, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287.
You can also learn more below about what EMC chambers are, how they’re designed to make electromagnetic compatibility testing as accurate as possible, and why using an accredited lab is critical for achieving compliance with FCC, CE, ISED and other regulations.
What is an EMC Chamber?
An EMC chamber is a specialized indoor environment that’s designed specifically to accurately measure the electromagnetic emissions that are produced from electronic devices.
Electromagnetic emissions are measurable waves of electromagnetic energy that are released from devices during their operation. These emissions are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from low-frequency radio waves to high-frequency gamma rays.
Emissions are a big deal in the world of electronics. When a device emits an excessive level of electromagnetic energy, it can interfere with the function of surrounding devices, stopping them from working properly or causing inaccurate readings.
This can cause a range of problems, from issues with your TV’s signal or your Wi-Fi network’s strength to potentially life-threatening problems with industrial machinery and medical devices.
Because of this, electromagnetic compatibility compliance — the process of measuring these emissions and ensuring they’re within the legal limits — is a key step in bringing an electronic product to market.
Many EMC chambers are referred to as anechoic chambers. These are chambers lined with special materials that absorb electromagnetic energy and sound waves. The absorbent walls prevent echoing, allowing for precise testing and measurement.
In combination with antennas and sensors that are set up around the electronic device that’s undergoing testing, these materials allow an engineer to accurately and reliably measure the electromagnetic energy that’s emitted from a device.
EMC chambers aren’t just used for measuring emissions. They also play a key role in another vital part of EMC testing, which is measuring a device’s level of immunity to interference.
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) refers to interference that’s created by devices. To comply with regulations like the FCC Part 15 rules, a device needs to show not only that its emissions are within the legal limits, but also that it has a certain level of immunity to emissions.
In other words, it needs to demonstrate that it can continue operating normally, even when it’s exposed to normal levels of electromagnetic emissions from other devices.
This is referred to as immunity testing for EMC, and it’s performed by deliberately exposing an electronic device to electromagnetic emissions within an EMC chamber.
Why an EMC Chamber is Important for Testing
If you’re planning to bring your electronic device to market, completing compliance testing in a chamber is an essential step not only for getting market access, but also for verifying that your device is safe to use in a shared electromagnetic environment.
Compliance With Regulations
Completing lab testing in an EMC chamber is one of several vital steps in achieving compliance with regulations such as FCC Part 15 in the United States and the European Union’s EMC and RED Directives, which are required to get the FCC mark and CE mark respectively.
These regulations exist to prevent interference from electronic devices from affecting radio, TV and other communications channels.
Testing for FCC or CE compliance needs to be completed in an EMC chamber by an accredited electronics testing lab. In some cases, such as for products with radio transmitters, EMC testing needs to be accompanied by a formal application process for FCC certification.
Consumer EMC Safety
While the FCC and CE marks aren’t safety marks, they do show consumers that your device is designed for electromagnetic compatibility. This acts as a strong indicator of reliability, since it’s a signal that you’ve committed to testing and regulatory compliance for your device.
Achieving compliance isn’t just legally important — it also sets your device apart from competing, low-cost devices available internationally that may not meet the same EMC standards.
Our EMC Testing Facilities
As an ANSI-accredited EMC testing laboratory, we operate a semi-anechoic testing chamber that you can use to complete FCC testing, CE testing or other compliance testing processes for your device.
You can view photos of our testing chamber as part of our lab photos and virtual tour, or find out more about the testing procedures and standards we offer on our Accredited Lab Scope page.
Contact Us About EMC Testing & Compliance
Completing EMC testing for your device is a critical step in achieving regulatory compliance and going to market. As an accredited electronics testing lab, we’re here to support you from start to finish with testing and compliance, from the early design phases to your device’s release.
If you’d like to request a free quote for testing your device in our EMC chamber, or if you have a question for our engineers and compliance specialists, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287 to speak to a member of our team.
