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Description and classification of electromagnetic environments - revision of

IEC 61000-2-5

Conference Paper · September 2008

DOI: 10.1109/ISEMC.2008.4652033 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 Description and classification of electromagnetic
environments – revision of IEC 61000-2-5
Bernd W Jaekel
Siemens AG, Sector Industry, EMC-Center
Erlangen, Germany
bernd.jaekel@siemens.com

Abstract— Knowledge of electromagnetic environment where Therefore the topic of electromagnetic environment has
equipment is intended to be operated is an essential precondition been identified to be very important within the series of
for achievement of electromagnetic compatibility. The necessity immunity standards and hence a series of relevant documents
of such a knowledge results from the fact that suitable immunity dealing with electromagnetic environment has been published.
requirements can be concluded from corresponding data of the The classification of these documents and their relation to the
electromagnetic environment. Description of a general EMC publications of the series IEC 61000-X-Y is shown in the
electromagnetic environment should consider a multitude of following diagram of Figure 1.
phenomena with a broad spectrum of parameters. Such a general
description, however, is not helpful in most cases because it
would imply that immunity against all such phenomena has to be
taken into consideration. A more practical approach consists in IEC 61000-1-Y
introducing a classification scheme which gives a correlation
between locations and electromagnetic phenomena there. This General considerations
approach forms the basis of the document IEC 61000-2-5. (Definitions, principles,
Because of continuous change of existing technologies or terminology, functional
introduction of new ones, electromagnetic environments in a safety, HEMP, HPEM)
certain respect change fundamentally. This is obvious in case of
all the recently introduced radio and communication services
with the generation of electromagnetic fields in the frequency
range above 1 GHz. Hence it is needed to continuously monitor
the electromagnetic environment and to adapt its description. IEC 61000-2-Y IEC 61000-2-1
Such an adaptation is done currently by a working group of
IEC TC 77. The results of its work should be object of the next Description and classification IEC 61000-2-5
edition of IEC 61000-2-5. The present status as well as expected of electromagnetic
environments, compatibility IEC 61000-2-12
changes will be discussed in this paper.
levels
Keywords – electromagnetic environment, electromagnetic
phenomenon, compatibility level, location class

I. INTRODUCTION IEC 61000-6-Y IEC 61000-4-Y

The achievement of an adequate immunity of electrical or
electronic equipment against electromagnetic disturbances is a Generic standards, Immunity Immunity test procedures
requirements dependent on the type (reflecting the effects of
basic provision when ensuring electromagnetic compatibility of of electromagnetic environment electromagnetic
equipment, systems or installations. The immunity is described phenomena)
in terms of specified immunity levels as well as by means of
performance criteria which indicate the behavior of equipment Figure 1. Overview of the documents within the series of
under test when being exposed to electromagnetic disturbances. IEC 61000-X-Y dealing with EMC topics
Selection of immunity levels and of performance criteria
should take into account the situation at the intended location The data for description of the electromagnetic
of operation as well as the characteristics of the equipment. environment are taken into account in the series of the EMC
Insofar the knowledge of electromagnetic environment at that basic standards IEC 61000-4-Y, in which potentially occurring
location is a crucial factor when determining immunity levels. electromagnetic phenomena are simulated by means of
Obtaining such knowledge, whereas the resultant data need to immunity test procedures, as well as in the series of Generic
have certain evidence, represents a challenging task, directly Standards IEC 61000-6-Y which list immunity levels for those
deducible from the definition of the electromagnetic immunity test procedures with levels actually dependent on the
environment: totality of electromagnetic phenomena existing at type of electromagnetic environment under consideration.
a given location.
 II. ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT supply of industrial plants as regards low-
frequency conducted disturbances
As can be seen from Figure 1 there are several documents
This report recommends the procedures to assess
published in the series IEC 61000-2-Y dealing with a the disturbance levels produced by the emission
description related to the topic of electromagnetic environment. of the devices, equipment and systems installed
The detailed titles with short descriptions of the corresponding in non-public networks in industrial environment
contents are listed in the following Table I. as far as low-frequency conducted disturbances
in the power supply are concerned; it applies to
low and medium a.c. non-public supply at 50/60
TABLE I. DESCRIPTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT WITHIN Hz. The disturbances considered are: harmonics
IEC 61000-2-X DOCUMENTS and interharmonics, unbalances, voltage changes
and voltage dips.
IEC 61000-2-1 Description of the environment – 1990
IEC 61000-2-7 Low frequency magnetic fields in various 1998
Electromagnetic environment for low-
environments
frequency conducted disturbances and
signalling in public power supply systems Interest in magnetic fields has been stimulated in
This report is concerned with conducted recent years by concern over the physiological
disturbances in the frequency range up to 10 kHz effects they may have on humans and animals
and the deleterious effects they have on the
with an extension for mains signalling systems.
Separate sections give numerical compatibility performance of some electrical equipment,
levels for different system voltage levels. The particularly video display units. Investigations
have yielded results which are presented in this
object is to give information on the various types
of disturbances that can be expected on public report as reference values.
power supply systems. It is a reference IEC 61000-2-8 Environment – Voltage dips and short 2002
document for those associated parts that give interruptions on public electric power supply
values of compatibility level. systems with statistical measurement results
IEC 61000-2-2 Environment – Compatibility levels for low- 2002 This report describes the electromagnetic
frequency conducted disturbances and disturbance phenomena of voltage dips and short
signalling in public low-voltage power supply interruptions in terms of their sources, effects,
systems remedial measures, methods of measurement,
and measurement results.
This standard is concerned with conducted
disturbances in the frequency range from 0 kHz IEC 61000-2-9 Environment – Description of HEMP 1996
to 9 kHz, with an extension up to 148,5 kHz environment – Radiated disturbance – Basic
specifically for mains signalling systems. It EMC publication
gives compatibility levels for public low voltage This section defines the high-altitude
a.c. distribution systems having a nominal electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) environment that
voltage up to 420 V, single-phase or 690 V, is one of the consequences of a high-altitude
three-phase and a nominal frequency of 50 Hz or nuclear explosion. The object is to establish a
60 Hz. The compatibility levels specified in this common reference for the HEMP environment.
standard apply at the point of common coupling.
Compatibility levels are specified for IEC 61000-2-10 Environment – Description of HEMP 1998
disturbances which can be expected in public environment – Conducted disturbance
low voltage power supply systems. This International Standard defines the high-
Description of the environment – Radiated altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP)
IEC 61000-2-3 1992
and non-network-frequency-related conducted environment that is one of the
phenomena consequences of a high-altitude nuclear
explosion. The object is to establish a common
This report is primarily concerned with the reference for the conducted HEMP environment
characteristics and levels of electromagnetic in order to select realistic stresses to apply to
fields and of non-network-frequency-related victim equipment for evaluating their
conducted emissions from unintentional sources performance.
of interference.
IEC 61000-2-11 Environment – Classification of HEMP 1999
IEC 61000-2-4 Environment – Compatibility levels in 1994 environments
industrial plants for low-frequency conducted
disturbances This part is applicable to the classification of
high-altitude EMP (HEMP) electromagnetic
This standard gives the requirements for the environments. Its purpose is to help specify the
compatibility levels for industrial and non-public immunity requirements of an item (e.g.
networks. These levels are relevant to equipment or subsystem) containing electrical or
disturbances that may occur in the electrical electronic parts to ensure that it will operate
power supply in normal operating conditions. It during and/or after exposure to a HEMP
applies to low-voltage and medium-voltage a.c. waveform. This part is primarily intended for
power supply at 50 Hz/60 Hz. The compatibility those who are responsible for writing product
levels are given for different electromagnetic immunity standards and/or other immunity
environment classes. This standard is in practice standards. It provides basic guidance for the
a classification of the a.c. supplies associated selection of immunity test levels for any
with industrial and non-public networks. component, device, equipment, subsystem or
IEC 61000-2-5 Classification of electromagnetic 1995 system which contains electrical circuits that
environments – Basic EMC publication may be disturbed by electromagnetic signals.
IEC 61000-2-6 Assessment of the emission levels in the power 1995 IEC 61000-2-12 Environment – Compatibility levels for low- 2003
frequency conducted disturbances and
 signalling in public medium-voltage power cannot be stated in a reasonable way – under special
supply systems circumstances there is always a scenario imaginable in which
This part is concerned with conducted such a maximum value is exceeded. Hence the compatibility
disturbances in the frequency range from 0 kHz level actually describes such a level which in praxis is
to 9 kHz, with an extension up to 148,5 kHz
specifically for mains signalling systems. It
exceeded with a very low probability only.
gives compatibility levels for public medium In order to provide a data basis for deduction of immunity
voltage a.c. distribution systems with a nominal levels by applying IEC 61000-2-5, there is a need to consider
voltage between 1 kV and 35 kV. Compatibility
levels are specified for disturbances of the types all relevant electromagnetic phenomena and to state the
which can be expected in public medium voltage relevant compatibility levels. This need is reflected in the
power supply systems. following main chapters of the document:
• Guide for understanding the concept of the document
Most of these documents deal with a limited aspect of the
electromagnetic environment only. This refers to both the • Low- and high frequency phenomena (conducted as
category of considered electromagnetic phenomena and to a well as radiated phenomena)
special class of locations (e.g. public medium voltage power
supply networks). Solely the document IEC 61000-2-5 gives an • Electrostatic discharge
overview of the whole spectrum of electromagnetic phenomena • Classification scheme for types of electromagnetic
– except for the HEMP – in various types of location classes. environments
Insofar it represents the general starting point when
determining environment related immunity levels. • Principles to conclude on immunity levels
The individual documents of the IEC 61000-2-Y series • Compatibility levels for various types of
were worked on and published during different periods electromagnetic environments
depending on the actual interest of the responsible working
group and the existence of available relevant data. Hence there IV. CHANGES IN ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENTS
could be slight differences in the data of the respective
documents. A plausible reason for such differences is due to There is a common understanding that electromagnetic
the fact that the electromagnetic environment is not a static and environments with the variety of phenomena occurring in them
constant value. It changes permanently because of different are not constant situations. This fact does not refer to short-
tendencies such as the introduction of new technologies or the term or temporary conditions such as statistical occurrence of
increasing spread and distribution of equipment which could electromagnetic phenomena. Such not constant situation exists
act as interference source. One task when working on also on a long-term basis because of various reasons: existing
IEC 61000-2-5 consists of a harmonized consideration of the technologies are permanently changed and adapted, the number
data of the individual documents of that series. of applications of equipment, which acts as prominent
interference source and which was used rather seldom in the
From that constant change the need arises to track past, increases and new technologies are constantly being
continuously the characteristics of an electromagnetic introduced. Hence the electromagnetic environment changes in
environment and to adapt its description according to the actual many cases in a fundamental way. For example, this is very
status of for example new technologies being operated. Such an obvious in case of the recently introduced wireless
adaptation is currently under discussion and assessment and the communication services (W-LAN, Bluetooth, etc.) with the
relevant work is being done in the technical committee TC 77 increasing generation of electromagnetic fields in the frequency
of IEC. Beside the adaptation with respect to changes in range above 1 GHz.
electromagnetic phenomena there is a discussion how to
classify relevant types of electromagnetic environments. The For the first edition of IEC 61000-2-5 this frequency range
results will be published in the 2nd edition of IEC 61000-2-5. has been described in a rather global way only, mostly because
of the fact that there were no wide spread radiation sources in
that frequency range. Meanwhile the importance of that
III. STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS OF IEC 61000-2-5
frequency range has increased. Therefore future editions of IEC
The document IEC 61000-2-5 contains a nearly complete 61000-2-5 have to consider this situation. Recently performed
description of the electromagnetic environment with respect to work has resulted in the data given in Table II which shows a
all the relevant electromagnetic phenomena. It introduces the very clear and comprehensive description of the radiated
basic term “compatibility level” for assessment of the situation in the higher frequency range.
phenomenon specific level of an electromagnetic disturbance.
That term stands for a “specified maximum electromagnetic V. CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
disturbance level expected to be impressed on a device, ENVIRONMENTS
equipment or system operated in particular conditions”.
Conditions mean among others the type of the actual The description of a general electromagnetic environment,
electromagnetic environment at a location under consideration, i.e. generally applicable to all types of locations, has to
for example in the rural area, the industrial area or the medical consider a broad variety of electromagnetic phenomena,
area. Furthermore the term “maximum” should not be basically all which can occur at a location of interest. Such a
understood literally because an absolute maximum value general description, however, is not very helpful in practice,
because it would imply that immunity has to be achieved
against all such electromagnetic phenomena, or at least it has to TABLE III. TYPES OF LOCATION CLASSES
be taken into account.
Location class type Description see

TABLE II. DESCRIPTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT – 1 Residential-rural location A.1

RADIATED HIGH-FREQUENCY PHENOMENA 2 Residential-urban location A.2

Current edition of IEC 61000-2-5 3 Commercial location (may include A.3

densely populated public areas)
Sources of AM Walkie-talkie CB TV – VHF
high Broadcasting 27-1 000 MHz 27 MHz 48-223 4 Light industrial location A.4
frequency 150 kHz-30 MHz
P=5W P = 12 W 5 Heavy industrial location A.5
electro- MHz P = 200 kW
magnetic
P = 500 kW 6 Traffic area A.6
fields

Current status of work for the next edition of IEC 61000-2-5 7 Telecommunication centre A.7

Sources of AM Walkie-talkie CB TV – VHF 8 Hospital A.8

high Broadcasting 27-1 000 MHz 27 MHz 48-223
frequency 150 kHz-30 MHz
P=5W P = 12 W
electro- MHz The respective compatibility levels are given in the
P = 200
magnetic
fields
P = 500 kW kW referenced annexes (A.1 to A.8) of the document. The working
Mobile GSM DCS 1800 DECT CT-2 group is currently discussing a needed modification of the
Phones 890-915 1,71-1,784 GHz 1.88-1.96 864-868 published compatibility levels and consideration of new
(mobile
equipment
MHz P=4W GHz MHz compatibility levels, especially for the radiated phenomena
P=20 W P = 0.25 W P = 0.01W above 1 GHz. Furthermore the whole concept of classification,
part 1)
Mobile PDC PHS NADC IMT-2000 i.e. the types of location classes, may need to be revised.
Phones 940-955MHz 1,895-1,918 825-845 1,90-1,92
(mobile GHz MHz GHz
1,429-1,453 VI. SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
equipment
GHz 1,920-
part 2)
P=2 W P = 0.01 W P=6W 1,980 The current discussions in the context of the revision of
GHz
P = 0.25
IEC 61000-2-5 show the difficulties that appear when trying to
W describe an electromagnetic environment: they start already
Mobile GSM DCS 1800 DECT CT-2 with evaluating and assessing very extensive data basis which
Phones 935-960 1,805-1,880 1.88-1.96 864-868 exists with respect to nearly every electromagnetic
(Base
stations,
MHz GHz GHz MHz phenomenon. On the other hand the results regarding the
P=320 W P = 200 W P = 0.25 W P = 0.25 individual phenomena should be demonstrated and described in
part 1)
W
Mobile PDC PHS NADC IMT-2000
a relatively simple way; furthermore compatibility levels have
Phones 810-826MHz 1,895-1,918 870-890 1,900-
to be concluded in an evident way and these levels have to be
(Base
1,477-1,501 GHz MHz 1,920 assigned to various location classes. And finally there is a
stations,
part 2
GHz GHz challenge to structure the document in such a way that makes it
P=96 W P = 0.5 W P = 500 W 2,110- possible to be used in an easy and comfortable way by all
2,170
GHz interested parties, for example those who are dealing with the
P = 20 W determination of immunity levels for products or product
Further RFID RTTT Wideband families intended to be used in certain location classes.
HF 2,446-2,454 5,795- 5,815 data
equipment GHz GHz transmission
(part 1) systems and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
P=４ W P=8W -
HIPERLANs
Such a complex topic as the description of an
2,400-2,4835
GHz electromagnetic environment represents a permanent process of
P = 0.1 W work and discussion. This is currently done in the working
Further Wideband Wideband data Non specific group 13 (WG 13) of IEC TC 77. Hence the author would like
HF data transmission short range to thank all the very active members of this working group, i.e.
equipment transmission systems and devices
(part 2) systems and HIPERLANs
D. Carpenter, S. Ishigami, F. Jetzschmann, D. Moehr, A.
2,400–
HIPERLANs 5,470-5,725 2,4835 GHz
- Ogunsola, M. Ohshima and W. Radasky, who all provide very
5,150-5,350 GHz 5,725-5,875 valuable input and enable very fruitful discussions.
GHz P=1W GHz
P = 0.2 W P = 0.025 W
REFERENCES
[1] IEC 61000-2-5, “Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Part 2:
A more practical approach consists in introducing a Environment – Section 5: Classification of electromagnetic
classification scheme for electromagnetic environments, environments”, Basic EMC publication, IEC, Geneva, Switzerland, 1995
namely in such a way that typical location classes are described
by the electromagnetic phenomena more or less specific and
relevant for those areas. The current edition of IEC 61000-2-5
lists eight types of location classes which are given in Table III.

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