Automotive EMC Type Approval

72/245/EC is a European Commission type approval “e“ marking directive that requires an Approval Authority or their appointed Technical Service to witness tests to demonstrate compliance with the technical annexes. The basis of the directive is protection of radio and television broadcast reception from radio frequency disturbances radiated by road vehicle internal combustion engine spark ignition systems.

95/54/EC is an amendment to 72/245/EC that increased requirements to include the immunity of safety related electronically controlled road vehicle functions to radiated electromagnetic disturbances and specifies a limit for the maximum permissible level of radiated narrowband radio frequency emissions from vehicles, trailers and their components. It came fully into force in October 2002. Automotive components can be approved for fitting to any model vehicle or a specific vehicle model.

2004/104/EC is a further amendment to 72/245/EC to adapt to further technical progress in that it identifies additional EMC requirements to be met by road vehicles, trailers, components and aftermarket fit equipment by harmonising the technical annexes with ISO and CISPR test methods. New vehicle types must comply from 1st July 2006 and existing vehicle types by 1st January 2009.

Spare parts are exempt if they are marked as a spare part, identical to the original type approved part and from the original manufacturer. Refurbished parts are not spare parts and need no type approval. Equipment which is not permanently fixed to the vehicle (it can be removed without tools) is exempt if it does not use the vehicle power supply. Equipment which is not permanently fixed to the vehicle, and which is powered using the vehicle power supply, nevertheless is exempt if it is connected to the vehicle by means of a separate "interface" unit that is approved to 2004/104/EC.

Components sold as aftermarket equipment and intended for the installation in motor vehicles need no type approval if they are not related to immunity-related functions. In this case a Declaration of Conformity according to the procedures of Directive 89/336/EEC or 1999/5/EC must be issued.

Vehicle manufacturers may limit the frequency range of radio transmitting equipment used in their vehicles. Vehicle manufacturers must provide frequency bands of radio transmitters that can be fitted to the vehicle model, the maximum transmitter power in each frequency band, permitted antenna positions and specific conditions for installation and use of the transmitter. This information is part of the type approval certificate and shall be made public by the manufacturer.

Note: 89/336/EEC (2004/108) has a greater scope than 2004/104/EC in that it covers all EMC phenomena and a frequency range of “DC to daylight”. There are no product standards (European Norms, EN standards) for automotive EMC so the TCF route to compliance must be used for phenomena and frequencies outside the scope of 2004/104/EC (until July 2007 or when an EN is published in the Official Journal).

ECE Regulation 10 is a United Nations requirement for “E” marking road vehicles that has similar technical annexes as the European Commission EMC Directive.

ECE Regulation 13 prescribes the immunity of vehicle braking systems to radiated electromagnetic disturbances by making reference to the road vehicle type approval EMC directive.

89/336/EEC

The generic EMC Directive, 89/336/EEC, was published in 1989, came into full effect on 1 January 1996 and applies to all electrical and electronic equipment. Article 2.2 of 89/336/EEC provides an exemption for apparatus covered by a product specific directive.

The majority of vehicle types together with their electronic/electrical systems are exempted by a number of product specific directives.

89/336/EEC is a "new approach" directive which allows manufacturers to put a "CE" mark on their product when they are satisfied it meets the requirements of the EMC directive and other relevant directives.

Where there is an harmonised European Standard for the product the manufacturer may apply the procedure identified in article 10.1 of 89/336/EEC. This procedure requires the manufacturer to ensure his product complies with the EMC requirements of the appropriate harmonised standard before issuing his Declaration of Conformity.

Where harmonised standards do not exist, or where the manufacturer requires technical advice, he follows the procedure identified in article 10.2 of 89/336/EEC and works with an EMC Competent Body to assess and test his product against test requirements advised by the Competent Body. If the product meets the requirements of the Competent Body , the Competent Body will issue a Certificate of Compliance to the manufacturer which will allow the manufacturer to issue his Declaration of Compliance with confidence.

89/336/EEC is considered to be a performance related directive, other “CE” marking directives may have more onerous requirements for functionality or safety. An example of this is the Machinery Safety directive, 98/37/EC, which requires EMC requirements to be met for functional safety.

95/54/EC

95/54/EC applies to vehicles defined as: "any vehicle intended for use on the road, being complete or incomplete, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, and its trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails and of agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery".

95/54/EC's scope includes all electrical and electronic equipment intended for fitment to vehicles. This includes both aftermarket equipment and original equipment. Equipment is defined as:

• Component, a device which is automotive type approved for fitment to all vehicles to become part of the vehicle.
• Separate Technical Unit, a device which is automotive type approved for fitment to specified vehicles.

Any device, original fit or aftermarket, which is within the above definitions, is within the scope of 95/54/EC and consequently is outside the scope of 89/336/EEC. The only approval mark for automotive equipment that provides freedom of movement across Europe is the automotive type approval "e" mark.

Type Approval Process

Where a device is also suitable for use in areas not covered by the above definitions, then it is also within the scope of 89/336/EEC and it must be "CE" marked for these areas of "non-automotive" application.

It is necessary to recognise the meaning of "fitment as part of the vehicle" in the definition of a component. As an example, an electric compressor temporarily plugged into the accessory socket (cigarette lighter) to inflate the tyres while the vehicle is parked is not part of the vehicle.

The essential features of 95/54/EC are summarised below:

• Vehicles and products on the market before 1 January 1996 could continue to be sold until 1 October 2002 without having to meet the requirements of 95/54/EC.
• New type vehicles and new type equipment must meet the requirements from 1 January 1996.
• Spare parts for vehicles and products on the market before 1 January 1996 are exempt.
• Aftermarket components fitted to the vehicle are assumed to be suitable for the vehicle's EMC environment.  Type approval is to ensure that the component when fitted does not affect the type approval of the vehicle.
• Aftermarket components had the option until 1 October 2002 of continuing to meet the EMC requirements of the country in which they were being sold, or of meeting the requirements of 95/54/EC. (The "CE" mark is considered to be a misleading mark for a device within the scope of 95/54/EC.)
• Standard domestic and business equipment complying with 89/336/EEC may be fitted to a vehicle during manufacturer provided it is installed in accordance with recommendations of the equipment and vehicle manufacturer. This is on the basis that the vehicle manufacturer has obtained approval for this from the approval authority as part of the vehicle’s type approval. Aftermarket product would be expected to meet automotive type approval requirements.
• Mobile communication equipment may be installed provided it is installed in accordance with guidelines provided by the vehicle manufacturer and the equipment manufacturer, and the approval authority is satisfied that when the communications equipment is transmitting the vehicle's normal operation is not affected. This allows the vehicle manufacturer to make provision for the installation of radio equipment as part of the vehicle’s type approval. For aftermarket radio equipment automotive type approval is required with the interpretation that evidence is required to show that when installed the normal operation of the vehicle is not affected.

75/322/EEC as amended by 2000/2/EC

Directive 2000/2/EC adapts to technical progress Council Directive 75/322/EEC.

• 75/322/EEC is amended into a tractor EMC directive that is considered as a specific directive for the purposes of directive 89/336/EEC article 2.2 from 1 October 2001.
• Each EC government was obliged to bring 2000/2/EC into their national legislation before 31 December 2000.
• From 1 January 2001 it became possible to type approve tractors and their ESAs. This approval is valid across Europe.
• From 1 October 2002 all tractors and ESAs must comply in order to be sold across Europe.
• Existing type tractors with a diesel emissions approval to 77/537/EEC may continue to be sold until 1 October 2008. After this date all tractors must comply with 75/322/EEC as amended by 2000/2/EC.
• Replacement parts for vehicles not approved to 75/322/EEC, as amended, do not need to comply with this directive.

For this directive forestry and agricultural tractors are defined:

• motor vehicle with wheels having 2 axles
• fitted with pneumatic tyres
• designed speed between 6 and 40 kph
• main function being tractive power
• designed to tow, push, carry or power tools, machinery or trailers
• intended for agricultural or forestry use.

97/24/EC

The multi-directive for 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles was adopted on 17 June 1997. Chapter 8 of this directive covers EMC for the vehicles and the Separate Technical Units.

• Each Member State was required to bring the directive into their national law by 17 December 1998.
• Each Member State was required to cease to issue National Type Approval from 17 June 1999.
• Existing National Type Approvals can remain in force for a maximum of 4 years from the date at which 97/24/EC requirements enter National legislation.
• The EMC chapter is similar to the automotive EMC directive 95/54/EC; however there are a number of detail differences.

Chapter 8’s title is “Electromagnetic Compatibility of 2 or 3 wheel motor vehicles and Electrical or Electronic Separate Technical Units”. The definition of a Separate Technical Unit (STU) is different to that in 95/54/EC in that the Component approval of a STU is for either fitting to any vehicle type, or to a specific vehicle type or types.

An electrical or electronic component sold as aftermarket equipment which is not exclusively designed for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles may either comply with this directive or with 89/336/EEC. Remember that compliance with 89/336/EEC requires suitability for the vehicle environment not the domestic environment. This appears to allow the fitting of an Electronic Sub Assembly type approved as a Component to 95/54/EC.

The emission and immunity requirements have the same reference levels as 95/54/EC, as well as the same type approval and Conformity of Production levels. There are a number of detail differences in the testing methods.

ECE Regulation 10.02

This regulation is based on 95/54/EC for technical content. Additional features have been incorporated to include the relevant features of 97/24/EC. Hence this Regulation is applicable to vehicles with 2/3 wheels as well as those with 4 wheels or more.