What CE Marking Means for Your Product
CE marking is a mandatory conformity mark for products sold in the European Economic Area (EEA). For electronic products, it indicates compliance with applicable EU directives including EMC (2014/30/EU), Low Voltage (2014/35/EU), RoHS (2011/65/EU), and potentially the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU).
EMC Directive: Emissions and Immunity
The EMC directive requires that your product does not generate excessive electromagnetic interference and can operate correctly in its intended electromagnetic environment. Key standards include EN 55032 for emissions and EN 55035 for immunity. Testing covers radiated emissions, conducted emissions, ESD immunity, radiated immunity, and electrical fast transients.
Low Voltage Directive: Safety Requirements
Products operating between 50–1000 VAC or 75–1500 VDC fall under the Low Voltage Directive. EN 62368-1 (Audio/Video and ICT Equipment Safety) has replaced the legacy EN 60950-1 and EN 60065 standards. Key requirements include insulation coordination, protective earthing, temperature limits, and mechanical safety.
Engineering Best Practices for First-Pass Success
- Plan for compliance from the start: Retrofit fixes cost 5–10x more than designing for compliance
- PCB layout matters: Proper ground plane design reduces emissions by 10–20 dB
- Filter early: Add EMI filters at power entry and I/O ports during schematic design
- Document everything: Maintain a Technical File with all test reports and design rationale
Our compliance and certification services help product teams navigate the regulatory landscape efficiently. We design for compliance from day one, reducing test iterations and time to market. Contact our team to discuss your certification requirements.