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IEC 61000-4-4 is a standard produced by the International Electrotechnical Commission that regulates the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of devices. The IEC provides international standards for electrotechnology equipment.
More specifically, IEC 61000-4-4 deals with the ability of electrical devices to deal with abrupt, transient bursts of electromagnetic interference, referred to as electrical fast transient (EFT) or burst transients.
If you’re an electronic device manufacturer, complying with IEC 61000-4-4 is an important part of demonstrating your product’s electromagnetic compatibility, safety and suitability for use in a residential, commercial or industrial setting.
As specialists in IEC, FCC and CE compliance, our team can help you achieve compliance with IEC 61000-4-4. Contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287 to talk to our engineers about your project or request a free quote for IEC 61000-4-4 testing and certification.
You can also learn more about IEC 61000-4-4, including what the standard is, why it’s a critical part of product testing, and how to achieve certification, below.
What is IEC 61000-4-4?
IEC 61000-4-4 is one of numerous international standards for electronic devices published by the International Electrotechnical Commission. It’s part of the IEC 61000 group of standards.
The IEC 61000-4-4 standard deals specifically with fast transient/burst immunity for electronic devices.
Fast, transient bursts are sudden, short spikes or bursts in electrical energy. They can happen when devices rapidly change power draw or are switched on and off, resulting in disturbance to an electrical system.
For example, the start and stop of a powerful motor may cause fast, transient bursts that affect the power system of an industrial facility.
In a residential setting, something simple like a washing machine changing from washing to its spin cycle can lead to a sudden change in the internal motor’s operation, resulting in transient bursts.
IEC 61000-4-4 sets international minimum standards for immunity to fast, transient bursts to ensure that electronic devices can tolerate these disruptions without being damaged.
Why is IEC 61000-4-4 Compliance Important?
IEC 61000-4-4 compliance is critically important for manufacturers for several reasons. First, it’s a key part of showing that your device is manufactured to a high standard and able to withstand the environment in which it’s designed to operate.
This not only strengthens your brand image and reputation — it also helps to reduce your risk of experiencing unhappy customers and/or product returns.
Second, IEC 61000-4-4 is important for safety. If your device malfunctions due to fast, transient bursts, it may pose safety risks for users. For example, a medical device may need to continue functioning after a fast, transient burst to protect a person’s health and wellbeing.
Alternatively, an industrial device may need to continue functioning correctly after fast, transient electrical bursts in order to provide a safe working environment.
Finally, IEC 61000-4-4 standards are harmonized with certain regulatory standards required for access to markets around the world. For example, the EU’s EMC directive requires compliance with standards that align with IEC standards.
Similar regulatory standards are applied in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and other international markets. In the United States, the FCC provides regulations that typically require similar levels of immunity and protection to the standards set by the IEC.
How to Achieve IEC 61000-4-4 Compliance
Understand the IEC 61000-4-4 Requirements
The first step in achieving compliance with IEC 61000-4-4 is understanding the requirements, as well as how they affect your device.
The IEC 61000-4-4 standards define the levels of fast, transient bursts your device will need to tolerate without malfunctioning in order to achieve compliance. These limits can help you select appropriate components and design your device with regulatory compliance in mind.
Carry Out IEC 61000-4-4 Testing
IEC 61000-4-4 testing involves simulating the fast, transient bursts that may affect your product during normal operation.
In order to successfully pass testing for IEC 61000-4-4, your product will need to tolerate these electronic bursts without malfunctioning or suffering damage.
As specialists in IEC testing, we can test your product for IEC 61000-4-4 compliance and help you achieve certification.
In the event that your device doesn’t pass testing, our expert team can help you make changes to your device to pass IEC 61000-4-4 tests and successfully achieve compliance.
Achieve Product Compliance
Once your product has demonstrated its immunity to fast, transient bursts and passed testing for IEC 61000-4-4, you can claim compliance to IEC 61000-4-4 standards.
Talk to Our Team About IEC 61000-4-4 Testing & Certification
Achieving compliance with IEC 61000-4-4 demonstrates that your product meets the standards for fast, transient burst immunity. It’s an important sign of quality that reassures customers, and it’s also important for market access around the world.
As an accredited testing lab, our expert team can test your product for IEC 61000-4-4 and help you achieve compliance.
For more information, to request a free quote for your device, or to ask our engineering team a question, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287.
