Note: The Part 15 and Part 18 documents can be accessed via the links above. Follow the link and fill out the request form using TITLE = 47, PART = 15 or 18 and SUBPART = A or B or C etc. for the various subparts in each document.
Products Covered
All equipment liable to cause radio frequency interference is subject to the requirements of the FCC.
Part 15 covers devices, including digital devices, which use radio-frequency energy and may be intentional or unintentional radiators. Certain devices are exempted, including:
Digital devices used exclusively as industrial, commercial or medical test equipment
Digital devices used exclusively in an appliance, e.g. dishwasher, air conditioner, etc.
Digital devices having a power consumption not exceeding 6 nW
Operation of an exempt device may be stopped by the FCC if the device is found to cause harmful interference. Operation may be resumed only after the condition causing the interference has been corrected.
Part 18 covers industrial, scientific and medical equipment which emits radio frequency energy. Medical diathermy and ultrasonic equipment is also included.
Requirements
Part 15
Digital devices are classified into Class B devices, which are marketed for use in a residential environment, while Class A devices are marketed for use an a commercial, industrial or business environment.
Examples of Class B devices include, but are not limited to personal computers, calculators and similar electronic devices that are marketed for use by the general public.
Testing
Testing is required for conducted and radiated emissions. Note that other US authorities may have additional EMC requirements, e.g. medical equipment may require immunity testing for FDA requirements.
Testing to Part 15 can be either to the limits given in the text of the regulations, or according to CISPR 22, with the following points applying:
The limits CISPR 22 must be used in their entirety. You cannot mix results using CISPR 22 and Part 15.
Additional testing above 1GHz must be carried out for equipment with clock frequencies above 108MHz.
The test procedures must be those specified in Part 15 and ANSI C63.4, not those in CISPR 22.
Testing must be carried out using the same mains power supply as used in the USA, i.e. 120V, 60Hz.
Subpart C of Part 15 covers intentional radiators and gives details of permitted frequency ranges and field strengths.
Testing to Part 18 is to the limits given in the text of the regulations.
Procedures
1. Declaration of Conformity
Class B personal computers and their peripherals, and consumer ISM equipment (e.g. microwave ovens) are authorized by the Declaration of Conformity procedure or the Certification procedure. The manufacturer must:
Get the product tested at a laboratory which has been accredited by A2LA or NAVLAP for EMC testing.
Prepare a technical file
Mark the product and place the requirement FCC notices in the user manual
Prepare and sign a Declaration of Conformity
2. Certification
Certification is an alternative route for those products requiring a Declaration of Conformity. Certain other products (e.g. scanning receiver, intentional radiators) always require certification. The manufacturer must:
Submit the test report, together with a proposed FCC ID Number to the FCC
If approval is granted, mark the product with the FCC ID number and compliance statement, and place the required FCC notices in the user manual.
3. Verification
For products for which Certification or Declaration of Conformity are not required, verification is the necessary procedure. The manufacturer must:
Get the product tested
Retain the verification records for possible review by the FCC
Mark the product with a compliance statement, and place the required FCC notices in the user manual
Markings and Documentation
Part 15
For a Class A digital device or peripheral, the user instructions shall include the following or similar statement, placed in a prominent location in the text of the manual:
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to operated the equipment under FCC rules.
For a Class B digital device or peripheral, the user instructions shall include the following or similar statement, placed in a prominent location in the text of the manual:
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to operated the equipment under FCC rules.
All other devices shall bear the following statement in a conspicuous location on the device:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Products which has been approved by the Certification process, must also have a label showing the FCC ID number. The label must contain this information in the form:
FCC ID: XXXYYYYYYY
where XXX is the manufacturer's FCC grantee code and YYYYYYY is the equipment code, consisting of between 1 and 14 characters and may be a combination of capital letter, numbers and may include a dash (-).
Products which have been approved by the Declaration of Conformity procedure must display a label similar to the the example given here.
In addition a declaration of the type shown below must be prepared, signed and kept with the product technical file.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Trade Name:
Product Name:
Product Model Number:
These devices comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules
Operation is subject to the following conditions:
The devices may not cause harmful interference, and
The devices must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation
RESPONSIBLE PARTY
Manufacturer (If outside USA):
Responsible Party's Name (Must be in USA):
Address:
Telephone:
Date: Signature: (Quality Assurance Manager of Manufacturer)
ch have been approved by the Declaration of Conformity procedure must display a label similar to the the example given here.