Breaking all the rules: challenging the engineering and regulatory precepts of electromagnetic compatibility

It is the thesis of this paper that many of the current concepts, terminologies, methodologies, standards and regulations related to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are limited by the radio communication paradigms upon which they have been based. While EMC has been informed and shaped over the previous 95 years by the technical and regulatory concerns and approaches inherent to radio communications, it is submitted that contemporary EMC challenges require broader conceptualization and some different approaches. For example, in the management of both emissions and immunity we must turn our engineering up side-down in order to move away from an historic preoccupation with discrete frequencies and responses. Current test methodologies for immunity must use multiple sources of electromagnetic energy and we should no longer assume a linearity in the nature of responses of the equipment under test (EUT). Fundamental concepts behind terminology such as 'ground', 'conduction' and 'radiation' must be re-thought. It is submitted that if engineers and regulators do not see EMC within its historic radio communication-based culture, we will not sufficiently broaden our focus upon EMC issues to respond to the challenges of the 1990s, and beyond.