BS EN 62233-2008 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN 62233:2008 — Measurement methods for electromagnetic fields of household appliances and similar apparatus with regard to human exposure. This is the UK adoption (BS EN) of the European standard EN 62233:2008, based on IEC 62233, which defines procedures, measurement positions and distances, and operating modes for assessing electric and magnetic fields produced by household and similar electrical appliances.

Abstract

The standard specifies measurement methods for evaluating electric field strength and magnetic flux density around household and similar electrical appliances for the purpose of assessing human exposure. It covers measurement instruments and sensors, reference and simplified test methods, measurement distances and operator positions, and the frequency ranges and evaluation procedures needed to compare measured fields with exposure limits and reference levels. The measurement methods are principally defined for the low- and audio-frequency ranges and include guidance on when appliances may be deemed compliant without specific testing.

General information

• Status: Published / national adoption as BS EN (identical/adopted text for the UK).
• Publication date: 2008 (BS EN publication: 2008; national publication listings show late 2008).
• Publisher: British Standards Institution (BSI) as BS EN; original international text from IEC (IEC 62233:2005) and endorsed by CENELEC as EN 62233:2008.
• ICS / categories: 97.030 (Domestic electrical appliances in general); 17.220.20 (Measurement of electrical and magnetic quantities).
• Edition / version: 2008 (BS EN 62233:2008 — adoption of EN 62233:2008 / IEC 62233:2005 (mod)).
• Number of pages: National BS EN publication listings commonly show approximately 46 pages (document length may vary between national publishers/editions; IEC original edition is longer).

Key bibliographic and status entries for the BS/EN adoption and the underlying IEC text are recorded by national and international standards bodies.

Scope

Specifies measurement methods for electric and magnetic fields produced by household and similar appliances (including tools and toys) with regard to human exposure. The standard addresses measurement distances, sensor definition and placement, operating modes of the appliance under test and treatment of different frequency ranges; the principal measurement range is from about 10 Hz up to 400 kHz for the detailed procedures described, with additional notes on higher-frequency considerations and applicability relative to IEC 60335 series appliances. Appliances not intended for heavy industrial fixed installations but that may be approached by members of the public or laypersons are within scope.

Key topics and requirements

• Defined measurement frequency bands and how to combine weighted results across bands.
• Reference (full) measurement method and alternative/simplified methods for specific types of spectra (line spectra, mains-frequency-dominated emissions, etc.).
• Sensor/probe definitions, calibration and positioning requirements (measuring distances and operator-related positions).
• Procedures for evaluating magnetic flux density and electric field strength against reference levels and basic restrictions; use of coupling factors where fields are highly localized.
• Clear listing of appliances and situations out of scope (e.g., heavy industrial equipment, fixed building installations, certain radio transmitters and medical equipment where other standards apply).

The standard also includes normative annexes with test conditions and tables of measuring distances for typical appliance categories.

Typical use and users

Used by product manufacturers, compliance and test laboratories, certification bodies, safety engineers and regulators to assess electromagnetic fields from household and similar appliances during product development, pre‑market testing and compliance demonstrations. It is also used by standards committees and technical assessors when harmonizing appliance safety requirements with exposure limits.

Related standards

Closely related to the underlying IEC document IEC 62233:2005 (basis for EN 62233:2008) and connected to other exposure and measurement standards such as EN/IEC 62311 (assessment of electrical and electronic equipment with respect to exposure limits), EN 62479 (low-power devices) and EN 50413 (basic procedures for exposure assessment). It replaces or updates earlier appliance EMF measurement guidance such as EN 50366. National adoptions (AS/NZS, national EN/IEC adoptions) exist with country‑specific modifications.

Keywords

electromagnetic fields, EMF, household appliances, measurement methods, electric field, magnetic flux density, exposure assessment, IEC 62233, EN 62233, BSI, test methods.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: BS EN 62233:2008 is the British/European adoption of measurement methods for electromagnetic fields produced by household and similar electrical appliances, intended to assess human exposure.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It provides procedures for measuring electric field strength and magnetic flux density around appliances, definitions for probes and measuring positions, operating modes for tests, and evaluation rules to compare measured values with reference levels or basic restrictions (principal measurement detail from ~10 Hz up to 400 kHz).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Appliance manufacturers, independent test laboratories, conformity assessment bodies, regulatory and safety engineers, and standards committees—any stakeholders performing EMF measurement or demonstrating compliance of household and similar devices.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: EN 62233:2008 (adopted as BS EN 62233:2008) is the harmonized European adoption of IEC 62233:2005. National listings and standards stores record the 2008 EN/BS EN publication as the operative adoption; however, national editions and corrigenda exist and users should verify the current national status (amendments, corrigenda or later adoptions) with the national standards body (BSI for the UK) before relying on presumption of conformity.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the family of standards addressing human exposure to electromagnetic fields and appliance safety; it is formally linked to IEC 62233 (international text) and is used alongside exposure-assessment standards such as IEC/EN 62311, EN 50413 and EN 62479. It also replaces/updates earlier appliance EMF guidance standards (for example EN 50366).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Electromagnetic fields (EMF), electric field strength, magnetic flux density, household appliances, measurement methods, exposure assessment, probe/sensor placement, IEC 62233, EN 62233.