Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Safety standards

IEC 61000

Also known as: EMC standards

German: IEC 61000

IEC 61000 is the international series of standards on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), covering the electromagnetic environment, emission limits, immunity requirements and test and measurement techniques for electrical and electronic equipment.

  • Standards
  • Compliance

In one sentence

IEC 61000 is the series of international standards on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC): emission limits, immunity and test methods.

Example

A control cabinet for industrial use is tested for immunity according to the generic standard IEC 61000-6-2 and for emission according to IEC 61000-6-4.

How it applies

  • Engineering: The generic standards IEC 61000-6-x define emission and immunity for residential and industrial environments; parts 61000-4-x define test methods.
  • Compliance: In the EU, EMC is regulated by the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU; many parts of IEC 61000 are adopted as EN standards and harmonized under it. Using the standards supports, but does not by itself establish, conformity.
  • Functional safety: EMC immunity of safety-related parts is an input to IEC 61508 and ISO 13849-2 considerations, sometimes with increased test levels.
  • Documentation: Installation instructions must state EMC-relevant conditions (shielding, grounding, cable routing) and the intended environment; the documentation team should take these from the EMC test report.

EMC tests are usually done by accredited laboratories; keep the test reports with the Technical file.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: IEC 61000 series, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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