What is CISPR 32? 

CISPR 32 is an International EMC emission standard for the Electromagnetic Compatibility of Multimedia Equipment (MME). This standard specifies EMC emission limits and methods of measurement of radio disturbance characteristics of multimedia equipment (MME). Multimedia equipment includes audio equipment, video equipment, broadcast receiver equipment, entertainment lighting control equipment, and Information Technology Equipment (ITE). This standard applies to MME having a rated r.m.s AC voltage or DC supply voltage not exceeding 600 Volts. The frequency range covered by this standard is 9 KHz to 400 GHz.

The CISPR 32 standard is titled: “Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment - Emission requirements”, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Currently, amendment 1 of the second edition of this standard (CISPR 32:2015+A1:2019, published in 2019) is available and valid. 

For multimedia equipment, the CISPR 32 document specifies the EMI emission limits (conducted & radiated emission limits)­, methods of measurements, test procedure, measurement instrumentation, and other related details for EMC emission measurement tests (both conducted & radiated emissions tests). The technical standard CISPR 32 covers two classes of MME (Class A and Class B), and the MME intended primarily for professional use is within this document.  

Two objectives of this standard: 

• The first objective is to establish emission requirements that provide a sufficient level of protection of the radio spectrum, allowing radio services to operate as intended in the frequency range 9 kHz to 400 GHz;
• The second objective is to define procedures that ensure the reproducibility of measurement and the repeatability of results.

 Note 1: The emission requirements outlined in the CISPR 32 document are not intended to apply to the intentional transmissions from a radio communication device operated by the ITU-R Radio Regulations, nor to any spurious emissions related to these intentional transmissions. The standard is prepared for equipment that will be tested in an EMC Testing Laboratory (i.e., not cover In-situ testing).  

Note 2: This publication excludes equipment from its scope if emission requirements for the frequency range covered by this document are explicitly addressed in other CISPR publications.

The document contains a series of Annexes that provide useful information related to the emission measurements. For example, Annex C of the second edition (CISPR 32:2015+A1:2019) provides "Measurement procedures, instrumentation and supporting information."

For the previous edition, the second edition (CISPR 32:2015+A1:2019) includes the following significant technical changes:

a) Includes additional requirements using FAR,
b) Includes additional requirements for outdoor unit of home satellite receiving systems,
c) New informative annexes added that cover GTEM and RVC,
d) To improve the testing of MME, numerous maintenance items are addressed.

Key Definitions:

Some key definitions are provided­­­ in the CISPR 32 standard include:

Audio Equipment - Equipment that has a primary function of either (or a combination of) generation, input, storage, play, retrieval, transmission, reception, amplification, processing, switching or control of audio signals.

Entertainment Lighting Control Equipment - Equipment generating or processing electrical signals for controlling the intensity, color, nature or direction of the light from a luminaire, where the intention is to create artistic effects in theatrical, televisual or musical productions and visual presentations.

Information Technology Equipment (ITE) - Equipment having a primary function of either (or a combination of) entry, storage, display, retrieval, transmission, processing, switching, or control of data and/or telecommunication messages and which may be equipped with one or more ports typically for information transfer

Video Equipment - Equipment that has a primary function of either (or a combination of) generation, input, storage, display, play, retrieval, transmission, reception, amplification, processing, switching, or control of video signals.

Emission limits requirements specifications:

Conducted and radiated emission tests are performed to find the conducted and radiated EMI level emission from the equipment under test (EUT). To comply with this EMC standard, the radio noise emission level (EMI level) from the EUT should be below the conducted and radiated EMI emission limits specified in this standard.  Annex A of the CISPR 32 document provides the following emission limit requirements for Class A and Class B equipment.

Class A equipment radiated emissions limit requirements (up to 1 GHz): 

Class B equipment radiated emissions limit requirements (up to 1 GHz):