Installation cabling and earthing techniques for EMC

This paper is a brief review of some of the cabling and earthing requirements of BS IEC 6100-5-2:1997. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) concerns all electromagnetic phenomena including power-frequencies, so these EMC techniques also help prevent "ground loop" problems and achieve good analogue and digital signal quality. As a result, the techniques described here generally reduce development and commissioning timescales and help ensure reliable operation, as well as help comply with the EMC Directive. The extra time and costs they require should be more than made up for by savings later on, and reduced commercial risks, with greater savings being made the earlier the techniques are applied. Some of these techniques contradict what some designers and installers may regard as "traditional" or "conventional" methods. This paper should be treated as merely a guide to some of the modern EMC techniques for use inside installations such as buildings.