In message <[email protected]>, dated Tue, 18 Aug 2009, Monrad Monsen <[email protected]> writes:
>What EMC and safety approvals are required for USB flash drives or >"thumb drives"? > >We are preparing to source for re-sell some USB flash drives from >another company that tells us that they are exempt. They have a >Declaration of Conformity (DOC), but no supporting test reports. This >seems flaky to me on many levels. In Europe, neither test reports or 'agency' approvals are legally required, but what IS required is a rationale or justification of any decision not to test for an EMC phenomenon. > >Looking at the "USB flash drive" article in Wikipedia, the devices >would have a 12 MHz clock oscillator, so I can't merely say it is >passive memory. Not necessarily 12 MHz. >However, could the USB flash drive still be excluded >from the scope of the European Union EMC Directive 2004/108/EC as >inherently benign equipment? See section 1.1.4 within the "Guide for >the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC". >(http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/electr_equipment >/emc/guides/emcguide_may2007.pdf) No, I don't think that works, unless the on-board clock is very low power, like in an electronic watch. > I would want the device tested for radiated emissions, Well, certainly pre-compliance tested to see if any emissions are so far below limits that a claim of 'benign' is justified. >as well as >the EN55024 enclosure port immunity tests like RF radiated field >immunity, ESD, and power frequency magnetic field immunity. I think that may be going a bit far, but ESD testing is justifiable. >I see that the LVD Directive 2006/95/EC limits its cope to equipment >operating in the range of 50-1000VAC and a range of 75-1500VDC. >(Article 1 of LVD Directive 2006/95/EC) However, "electrical >components which are intended to be incorporated into other equipment >and for which a risk assessment can be undertaken, such as transformers >and electrical motors, are covered as such by the Directive and must be >CE marked." (Section 9, "Guidelines on the Application of Directive >2006/95/EC") I would assume that this standard USB flash drive would >fit this description. The power levels associated with a USB stick are so low that no safety issue is likely. >Please confirm what worldwide EMC and safety approvals and testing is >required. I definitely plan to required some systems level EMC testing >that includes the USB Flash Drive mounted on a server or PC, but I need >to confirm what agency approvals are needed for the Flash Drive to be >able to sell worldwide including the frequently regulated countries >like USA, Canada, Europe (plus Turkey), No mandatory agency approvals for Europe. > Australia, Japan (VCCI), >Taiwan, China, Russia, Argentina and Mexico. -- OOO - Own Opinions Only. Try www.jmwa.demon.co.uk and www.isce.org.uk Things can always get better. But that's not the only option. John Woodgate, J M Woodgate and Associates, Rayleigh, Essex UK - This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
