WIRE AND CABLE

Electromagnetic Compatibility/Interferences
EMC/EMI testing for screened - shielded
cables and cable assemblies

UL is pleased to offer a new service about EMC/EMI testing to quantify the shielding quality and electromagnetic
compatibility/interferences performances of your screened — shielded cables and/or cable assemblies.

EMC/EMI
EMC and EMI testing is a key part of the electrical
cable characterization for evaluating the performance,
efficiency and quality of the shield, like other tests such as
dimensional, mechanical, thermal, environmental or flame
tests. As a physical protection against received and emitted
electromagnetic interferences and disturbing noises,
screened and shielded cables use one or several metallic
shielding elements such as foil, braid or combinations
of both to operate properly and avoid disturbing the
surrounding environment. These interferences may occur
and be sensitive, especially at high frequencies and when
different cables are in close proximity. EMC performances
of cables are mainly determined by the measurement of
Transfer Impedance, Screening Attenuation and Coupling
Attenuation. EMI performances of cables can be evaluated
by the measurement of radiated emissions.

Testing scope at UL

MEASURABLE PARAMETERS TEST METHODS STANDARDS APPLICABILITY

• Triaxial • IEC 62153-4-3 / EN 50289-1-6

Surface Transfer Impedance • Line Injection
• Cable leakage method
STI (mΩ/m) – Until 100MHz • Method of susceptible cable
• Triaxial
Screening Attenuation • Absorbing clamp
SA (dB) – Until 3GHz • Injection clamp
• Reverberation chamber
• IEC 62153-4-6 / EN 50289-1-6
• EN 3475-807 method A Cable
• EN 3475-807 method B
• ANSI/NEMA WC 61
• IEC 62153-4-4 / EN 50289-1-6
• IEC 62153-4-5 / EN 50289-1-6
Cable
• IEC 62153-4-2
• IEC 61726

Coupling Attenuation • Triaxial • IEC 62153-4-9

• Absorbing clamp • IEC 62153-4-5 / EN 50289-1-6 Cable
CA (dB) – Until 2GHz • Injection clamp • IEC 62153-4-2
Radiated Emission
Cable
HDMI Category 3 Ultra High Speed Cable • CISPR 32 • HDMI 2.1 Specification
assembly
Assembly – from 30MHz to 6GHz

Shielding Effectiveness • USB Type-C Cable and

• USB Type-C Connectors and Cable Cable
Connector Specification
USB Type-C Cable Assembly – Until 6GHz Assemblies Compliance Document assembly
• IEC 62680-1-3
EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Testing for Screened and Shielded Cables

EMC requirements for shielded cables can be found in many applications:

Coaxial LAN Residential Harmonized Automotive Railways Marine Aerospace

Cables Cables Cables Cables Cables Cables Cables & Military
Cables
Screening F/UTP, SF/UTP, Grade 1, H05VVC4
classes U/FTP, F/FTP, S/FTP Grade 2,
Grade 3,
(A++, A+ , A, B
Grade 2TV &
and C)
Grade 3 TV

EN 50117 IEC 61156 UTE C93-531 EN 50525-2-51 ISO 14572 IEC 61375 IEC 60092-370 EN 3475-807
-5/-6/-7/-8/-9/-10 -12 -2-1
UTE C 90-132 ISO 19642 MIL-C-24758
-13 -2-2
ISO 11801 -2/-7/-8/-9/-10
-14 -3-1 MIL-C-85485
EN 50173 -15 -3-2 AS85485
EN 50288 XP C93-531
-2-1, -2-2 -16
-3-1, -3-2 -17
-4-1, -4-2
-5-1, -5-2
-6-1, -6-2
-8
-9-1, -9-2
-10-1, -10-2
-11-1, -11-2
-12-1
TIA-EIA-568

Due to the nature and quality of the metallic materials used, the design and the manufacturing process, all cable
shields are not equivalent nor comparable, and the presence of a metal screen or shield may be not sufficient for
the cable to meet all expected EMC/EMI standards’ requirements.

Benefits of EMC/EMI testing: For special test requests or should

you need more information and go
Performance and/or research testing: the EMC/EMI performance of your further with EMC testing at UL, feel
shielded cables and cable assemblies can be evaluated and quantified by free to contact us with the details
an independent third-party testing lab, according to the latest standards or of your enquiry such as datasheet
technical specifications. A UL test report with all the data is provided to check of your cable(s) and required
EMC/EMI compliance.
test specifications (test method,
standards and requirement) for
Differentiate from competition: for high performance or special applications,
you can differentiate your shielded cable from the competition by promoting studying the feasibility.
high EMC performances and the better quality (higher pass test margins) of
your strong EMC shielding protection.
To apply for EMC/EMI
Design and cost optimization: for common applications where pricing is
critical, EMC testing is a good a way to quantify the performance level of testing, or for additional
your cable’s screen or shield protection. You can optimize the design of your information, please reach
cable by adapting the shielding coverage required to pass the relevant EMC out to your UL representative
standards and specifications, without excess margin nor extra cost.
via www.UL.com/contactwc.

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