EN 61326-1 is part of a family. If you are designing a product, you may also need:
If your product passed immunity testing under the 2013 version, it will likely fail under the 2021 version due to doubled test levels. You must re-test.
The standard defines three distinct environmental levels, each with different test severity limits:
EN 61326-1 acts as the "base standard" for the entire product family. While Part 1 dictates general requirements, specialized sub-standards (the EN 61326-2-x series) modify or expand these requirements for specific device categories. en 61326-1 pdf
Is it intended for an environment or a standard laboratory/home environment?
If your device is for , you may be exempt from certain surge and EFT testing if it operates below 30 V AC or 60 V DC. Always check Clause 4 of the PDF.
You can buy the latest version (currently EN 61326-1:2021) from national standards bodies like BSI (UK), DIN (Germany), or the IEC Webstore . EN 61326-1 is part of a family
Implement proper PCB layout techniques, shielding, twisting of cables, and decoupling capacitors early in the design cycle.
Tests immunity against RF currents injected into power and data cables.
Tests how the equipment handles sudden drops or brief losses of grid power. Performance Criteria for Immunity Tests If your device is for , you may
Emissions testing ensures your device does not leak unwanted electromagnetic energy into the air or back into the power grid. EN 61326-1 references for classification and limits:
Searching for "en 61326-2-1 pdf" or "IEC 61326-2-5 pdf" will be your next step after mastering Part 1.
The 2021 edition introduced significant changes:
Generic locations, similar to residential or light commercial. 3 V/m RF immunity; ±4 kV contact ESD. Industrial Locations with high-power equipment and machinery. 10 V/m RF immunity; higher surge/burst levels. Controlled Specialized areas like calibrated laboratories. 1 V/m RF immunity. 3. Performance Criteria
Eva closed her eyes. She remembered her training in Bremen, a grizzled professor hammering a single truth: “Standards are not suggestions. They are the walls that keep the chaos out. Never guess the levels. Find the PDF.”