EN 50121-4 EMC Testing of Railway Signaling and Telecommunication Equipment

The EN 50121-4 test standard applies to signaling and telecommunication apparatus which are installed in the railway environment. The signaling and telecommunication apparatus mounted in vehicles is covered by EN 50121-3-2.

EN 50121-4 EMC testing specifies limits for emission and immunity and provides performance criteria for specific signaling and telecommunications equipment. This applies to equipment that may interfere with other apparatus in the railway environment. It also applies to equipment that may increase the total emissions for the railway environment beyond appropriate standard limits. When this occurs, it may cause Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) to occur outside the railway system.

Equipment that complies with the emission levels of EN 61000-6-4 will meet the emission requirements of EN 50121-4 EMC/EMI testing. This is true as long as the emissions from any d.c. power ports are within the emissions limits specified for a.c. power ports.

The immunity levels of EN 61000-6-2 will also be adequate except for special cases. EN 50121-4 EMC testing provides the immunity requirements for such equipment.

The immunity levels given for the apparatus will allow the apparatus to perform as intended in a railway environment. The immunity level establishes a common reference for evaluating the performance of the apparatus when subject to specific interferences. These interferences are resulting from direct exposure of the apparatus and associated cables to a radiofrequency field. Or, by coupling the interference from a remote source.

Ports may be intended to transmit or receive for radio communication. If this is true the emission and immunity limits at the communication frequency do not apply.

The standard does not specify basic personal safety requirements for devices such as protection against unsafe operations, and related tests. Also, the fault conditions of the devices have not been taken into account. The requirements and test methods also apply to telecommunications and signaling data and power lines connected to the equipment under test.

The frequency range considered is from d.c. to 400 GHz. No measurements need to be performed at frequencies where no requirement is specified. For products in the scope of EN 61000-3-2 or EN 61000-3-3, the requirements of those standards apply.

Expert EN 50121 Railways Compliance Testing Lab

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