Are you planning to export electronics to the US? If the answer is yes, then you need to verify whether the product falls under the management scope of FCC Title 47 CFR Part 15.
This article will introduce the main requirements of FCC Part 15, including standards, documents, labels and laboratory tests, etc.
Product Range and Equipment Classification
FCC Part 15 mainly regulates electronic equipment that has the ability to emit radio frequency energy, and these electrical equipment may cause interference to equipment operating in the radio frequency range of 9 kHz to 3000 GHz. The regulations divide equipment into three categories:
Unintentional Radiators
Intentional Radiators
Incidental Radiators
What are Intentional Radiators?
Intended radiators are defined as devices that generate and emit radio frequency energy by radiation or induction. This includes most Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, 5G, Bluetooth, LTE or active RFID devices.
Examples of intent radiators:
Bluetooth Speaker
Active RFID Tag
smart phone
wireless microphone
Wireless Router
What are unintentional radiators? (Unintentional Radiator)
An unintentional radiator is defined as a device that intentionally emits radio frequency energy for use within a device, or sends a signal through a connecting wire, but is not designed to emit radio frequency energy by radiation or induction.
Examples of unintentional radiators:
LED lighting
Coffee machine
U disk
Wired Mouse
External switching power supply
What is an Incidental Radiator?
Incidental radiators can generate or radiate radio frequency energy, even if the product is not designed to do so. Few devices are defined as incidental radiators, and they often act as components that are then integrated into devices classified as unintentional or intentional radiators. Therefore, when it comes to technical requirements, it is advisable to follow only the final device, usually a radiator, intentional or not.
Examples of attached radiators:
·Motor
·Mechanical light switch
exempt equipment
Certain devices are exempt from certain technical standards and other requirements in FCC Part 15, including:
· Appliances used only in appliances such as microwave ovens or dishwashers
· Equipment that consumes less than 6 NW
· Equipment used only as industrial, commercial or medical testing equipment
Note that the FCC recommends that manufacturers or exporters of exempt devices should still verify their potential hazards due to radiation or interference.
skills requirement
FCC Part 15 provides general technical requirements such as conduction limits for unintentional and intentional radiators, radiated emission limits, and antenna power conduction limits.
Digital equipment
Before seeking the applicable requirements, exporters or manufacturers should determine whether their equipment is Class A or Class B according to the definitions below.
Class A Digital Equipment: Digital equipment on the market for use in business, industrial or business environments.
Class B digital equipment: Digital equipment commercially available for residential use.
Depending on the category of equipment, technical requirements may vary. For example, the conducted limit of Class A equipment with a frequency of 0.15-0.5 (MHz) shall not exceed 56-66 quasi-peak. However, for Class B equipment with emissions at the same frequency, the conducted limit shall not exceed 79 quasi-peak values.
Exporters and manufacturers can find more technical requirements in FCC Part 15 Subpart B §15.101-§15.123.
Frequency Band Operation Band
You can also search for specific technical requirements based on the scope of operation. For each kHz band range, the regulation sets limits for:
input power
Transmission line
antenna
field strength
Frequency Tolerance
Compliance statement
According to Section 15.19, the device shall also carry the following warning statement:
The following is the original statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation .
Furthermore, if your device is a radio receiver or stand-alone cable input selector switch, you shall bear a different statement as below:
Radio receivers – This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the condition that this device does not cause harmful interference
Laboratory Testing Requirements
When a certification authorization program is required, testing must be performed by an accredited laboratory recognized by the FCC. However, even if sDoC procedures could be used instead, testing would still be required.
Here we list some of the accredited laboratories recognized by the FCC:
·FCC Test TFAB
·American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
·Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA)
·Laboratory Accreditation Bureau