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EN IEC 61326-1:2021 and EN IEC 61326-2-x Series Standards Update for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use.

*Additional testing may now be required*

EN IEC 61326-1: 2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020

EN IEC 61326-1:2021 is the standard for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use – EMC requirements – Part 1: General requirements. This third edition, which constitutes a technical revision, cancels and replaces the second edition, published in 2012, and has the potential to affect a large number of devices. 

Key technical change regarding radiated immunity test

Manufacturers should take note that there has been a key technical change regarding the radiated immunity test, where the frequency range has been extended up to 6GHz. This means manufacturers need to review any potentially affected products and test within that frequency band if necessary. 

Other significant technical changes concerning the previous edition include:

• 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
• Transients now give the option of using 5kHz or 100kHz burst durations
• For both Performance Criteria A & B, a permissible loss of performance is allowed within the performance level only when this information is clearly provided to the end-user via documentation, such as the product user manual.
• Normative references for test methods have also been updated and may introduce additional changes to the compliance of products. In particular, CISPR 11, IEC 61000-3-2, IEC 61000-3-3, IEC 61000-3-11, IEC 61000-3-12, IEC 61000-4-4, IEC 61000-4-5, IEC 61000-4-6, and IEC 61000-4-11 have all been updated to the most recently released editions.

EN IEC 61326-2-1:2021 / IEC 61326-2-1:2020

In addition to the scope of IEC 61326 1, this part of IEC 61326 specifies more detailed test configurations, operational conditions, and performance criteria for equipment with test and measurement circuits (internal or external to the equipment, or both) that are not EMC-protected for operational and/or functional reasons, as specified by the manufacturer.

The manufacturer specifies the environment for which the product is intended to be used and selects the appropriate test-level specifications of IEC 61326 1:2020. Examples of equipment include oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, analog instruments, digital multimeters (DMMs), and board test systems.

A significant technical change with respect to the previous edition is an update to the EN IEC 61326-1:2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020.

EN IEC 61326-2-2:2021 / IEC 61326-2-2:2020

Part 2-2 of EN IEC 61326 specifies more detailed test configurations, operational conditions, and performance criteria for portable testing, measuring, and monitoring equipment used in low-voltage distribution systems.

A significant technical change concerning the previous edition is an update to the EN IEC 61326-1:2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020.

EN IEC 61326-2-3:2021 / IEC 61326-2-3:2020

Part 2-3 specifies more detailed test configuration, operational conditions, and performance criteria for transducers with integrated or remote signal conditioning.

A significant technical change with respect to the previous edition is an update to EN IEC 61326-1:2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020.

EN IEC 61326-2-4:2021 / IEC 61326-2-4:2020

Part 2-4 specifies more detailed test configurations, operational conditions, and performance criteria for insulation monitoring devices according to IEC 61557-8 and for equipment for insulation fault location according to IEC 61557-9.

This edition includes a significant technical change with an update with respect to EN IEC 61326-1:2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020.

EN IEC 61326-2-5:2021 / IEC 61326-2-5:2020

Part 2-5 specifies more detailed test configurations, operational conditions, and performance criteria for field devices with field bus interfaces according to IEC 61784-1.

A significant technical change to the previous edition is an update concerning the EN IEC 61326-1:2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020.

EN 61326-2-6:2021 / IEC 61326-2-6:2020

Part 2-6 specifies more detailed product-specific requirements for In vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical equipment.

This edition includes a number of significant technical changes, perhaps the most significant of which regards changes in test levels depending on the selected environment, being either a professional healthcare facility or a home healthcare environment. 

Test levels may have increased depending on the environment

Manufacturers will therefore need to take action and review the testing requirements of their products as testing levels may have increased depending on the environment. 

Other significant technical changes for the previous edition include:

• Update with respect to EN IEC 61326-1:2021 / IEC 61326-1:2020
• Two environments are defined (professional healthcare facility & home healthcare environments)
• Radiated immunity now goes up to 6GHz
• New immunity to RF communications equipment test for equipment used in the home healthcare environment

Transients now give the option of using 5kHz or 100kHz burst durations.

These changes have brought EN 61326-2-6 into alignment with the medical specification EN 60601-1-2.

Manufacturers need to take action

Manufacturers of any of the products covered by EN IEC 61326-1:2021 and any of the EN IEC 61326-2-x series, need to be aware that additional testing may now be required to ensure that a product is compliant with the standards before the transition period comes to an end on 4th June 2024. 

Element can provide a full review of requirements and UKAS-accredited testing

As a fully UKAS-accredited test house for EN IEC 61326-1:2021 and all of the EN IEC 61326-2-x series of standards. We can provide a full review of the requirements in relation to your individual products, including any necessary additional testing and updating of the reports and associated technical documentation. 

If you would like more information or need to arrange for your product to be tested against the newly revised EN IEC 61326-1:2021 and EN IEC 61326-2-x series, please contact our experts.