The EMC Implications of Low Voltage Directive Requirements

With the introduction of Low Voltage Directive 93/68/EEC and EMC Directive 89/336/EEC many times the manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment are faced with contradictory requirements when they try to comply with applicable specifications related to both Directives. As everybody knows the Low Voltage Directive addresses human and product safety issues while the EMC Directive addresses electromagnetic environment pollution one. The point of contact is represented by grounding and bonding requirements, which are interpreted in different manners by the specifications of the two Directives. The aim of this paper is to try to clarify the implications involved in their implementation at both design and test level.