IEC 61547 / EN 61547

IEC 61547 deals with electromagnetic immunity requirements, applies to lighting equipment which is within the scope of IEC technical committee 34, including apparatus such as lamps, luminaires, and modules.

Excluded from the scope of IEC 61547 are:

– components or modules intended to be built into lighting equipment and which are not end-user replaceable;

– equipment for which the electromagnetic compatibility requirements in the radio

-frequency range are explicitly formulated in other product immunity standards, even if they incorporate a built-in lighting function.

Examples of exclusions are:

– equipment with built-in lighting devices for display back lighting, scale illumination and signaling;

– SSL-displays;

– range hoods, refrigerators, freezers;

– photocopiers, projectors;

– electronic switches for fixed installations;

– lighting equipment for road vehicles (within the scope of CISPR 12);

– lighting equipment for aircraft and airfield facilities.

However, in multi-function equipment where the lighting function operates independently from other functions, the electromagnetic immunity requirements of this document apply to the lighting function only. Lighting equipment with a wireless control function are also within the scope of this document. However, the test is limited to the control of the lighting function only. Radio properties like frequency stability or spurious emissions are not assessed.

Title of IEC 61547 is Equipment for general lighting purposes – EMC immunity requirements

There are seven different tests defined in IEC 61457. All of these tests are immunity tests and external disturbance signals are applied to the equipment under test. 

1. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

2. Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields 

3. Fast Transients

4. Surge

5. Injected Currents (Radio-Frequency Common Mode) 

6. Power Frequency Magnetic Fields

7. Voltage Dips and Short Interruptions

During immunity tests, you should monitor the performance of the equipment under test. Monitoring the performance is not enough to make PASS/FAIL decision. Thus IEC 61547 defines three categories of performance criteria. Minimum performance criteria is defined for each test. By using explanations of perfomance criteria and required minimum performance criteria, you can make PASS/FAIL evaluation.  

The following three categories of performance criteria apply.
a) Performance criterion A: During the test, no change of the Iuminous intensity shall be observed and the regulating control, if any, shall operate during the test as intended.
b) Performance criterion B: During the test, the Iuminous intensity may change to any value. After the test, the luminous intensity shall be restored to its initial value within 1 min (30 min for high pressure gas discharge lamps). Regulating controls need not function during the test, but after the test, the mode of the control shall be the same as before the test, provided that
during the test no mode changing commands were given.
c) Performance criterion C: During and after the test, any change of the luminous intensity is allowed and the light source(s) may be extinguished. After the test, within 30 min, all functions shall return to normal, if necessary by temporary interruption of the mains supply and/or operating the regulating control.

When you check ‘Test applicability and associated performance criterion’ table of the standard you would see performance criteria for each test. We derived below list from that table. 

1. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD): B

2. Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields: A

3. Fast Transients: B

4. Surge: C *

5. Injected Currents (Radio-Frequency Common Mode) : A

6. Power Frequency Magnetic Fields: A

7. Voltage Dips and Short Interruptions: B