BS EN 61326-1:2013

What is BS EN 61326-1:2020 about?

This is Part 1 of a European standard that ensures the specified types of electrical equipment don’t cause electromagnetic interference. BS EN 61326-1:2020 gives general requirements for measurement, control, and laboratory equipment.

NOTE: This BS EN 61326-1:2020 edition is temporarily decoupled from the EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) and is not offered up for citation in the OJEU.

Who is BS EN 61326-1:2020 for?

• Manufacturers selling scientific, test, and measurement equipment in Europe
• EMC testing and certification bodies

Why should you use BS EN 61326-1:2020?

It specifies requirements for immunity and emissions regarding electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for electrical equipment, operating from a supply or battery of less than 1 000 V AC or 1 500 V DC or from the circuit being measured.

It covers equipment intended for professional, industrial-process, industrial-manufacturing and educational uses, including equipment and computing devices for:

• Measurement and test
• Control
• Laboratory use
• Accessories intended for use with the above (such as sample handling equipment), intended to be used in industrial and non-industrial locations

BS EN 61326-1:2020 considers three types of electromagnetic environments:

• Basic electromagnetic environment
• Industrial electromagnetic environment
• Controlled electromagnetic environment

NOTE: It’s generally considered that this product family standard takes precedence over the corresponding generic EMC standards.

Computing devices and assemblies and similar equipment within the scope of information technology equipment (ITE) and complying with applicable ITE EMC standards can be used in systems within the scope of BS EN 61326-1:2020 without additional testing if they are suitable for the intended electromagnetic environment.

BS EN 61326-1:2020 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure because the standard supports the compatibility of electrical equipment.

What’s new about BS EN 61326-1:2020?
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2013. BS EN 61326-1:2020 constitutes a technical revision and includes the following changes:

• The immunity test levels and performance criteria have been reviewed
• Requirements for portable test and measurement equipment have been clarified and amended
• The description of the electromagnetic environments has been improved
• Guidance for an assessment concerning the risk for achieving EMC has been introduced