Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU Testing
Formerly Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (R&TTE) 1995/5/EC
The Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU replaced the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC on June 13th, 2016.
F2 Labs can assist you with your Radio Equipment Device (RED) evaluation and testing needs. “Radio equipment”, as defined in the new RED specifies: ‘radio equipment’ means an electrical or electronic product, which intentionally emits and/or receives radio waves for the purpose of radio communication and/or radiodetermination, or an electrical or electronic product which must be completed with an accessory, such as antenna, so as to intentionally emit and/or receive radio waves for the purpose of radio communication and/or radiodetermination;
The sole responsibility for conformity assessment now falls on the Manufacturers. The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and EMC Directive are not applicable for products that contain radio devices or receive radio signal, regardless if the wireless device(s) are preapproved. These products must now meet the requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) instead.
The new RED changes the Technical documentation (TF) requirements by increasing the amount and complexity of necessary information, including a statement by the manufacturer regarding the impact of the equipment on the radio spectrum in the locale of the end-user.
The new Radio Equipment Directive (RED) will have much the same technical content. Telecommunications devices will move into the EMC Directive, however, devices previously under the EMC Directive will move into the RED (such as broadcast receivers). Furthermore, the RED removes the low-frequency limit of 9kHz from its scope. Now any transmitting device from 0Hz to 300GHz will be subject to RED requirements. The RED additionally includes devices that previously were exempt from R&TTE Directives such as proximity field sensors that do not transmit data or information. These devices are now within the scope of the RED.
Documentation changes are numerous and require differing levels of responsibility to “economic operators” defined as manufacturers, authorized European representatives, importers, and distributors. These are indicated in Articles 11-15 in the text of RED.
Key changes from R&TTE Directive to Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU
- Article 5 (1) the commission is to set up a mandatory registry for some of this equipment by June 12, 2018.
- Article 10 (8) instructions and safety information must be translated
- Article 10 (2) – a statement regarding the impact of the equipment on the radio spectrum in the target market required in TF
- Article 10 (8.) – all manuals and instructions must be translated
- Article 18 (2.): DoC must be translated
- New Exclusion Annex I (4.) – Custom-built evaluation kits destined for professionals to be used solely at research and development facilities for such purposes.
F2 Labs can assist you in determining what directives are applicable to your product. We can provide the necessary Radio Equipment Directive (RED) evaluation and testing to determine whether your product is compliant and suitable for certification.
