This European Standard applies to equipment for resistance welding and allied processes designed
for use in industrial or domestic environments.
NOTE 1 Typical allied processes are resistance hard and soft soldering or resistance heating achieved by means comparable to resistance welding equipment.
This European Standard establishes a suitable evaluation method for determining the electromagnetic
fields in the space around the equipment and defines standardized operating conditions and
measuring distances. It provides a method to show conformity with guidelines or requirements
concerning human exposure to electromagnetic fields.
The Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and the Council [1], Article 2, stipulates that the Member States take all appropriate measures to ensure that electrical equipment may be placed on the market only if, having been constructed in accordance with good engineering practice in safety matters in force in the Community, it does not endanger the safety of persons, domestic animals or property when properly installed and maintained and used in applications for which is was made. The principal elements of those safety objectives are listed in Annex I Clause 2.b. This standard may be used in conjunction with EN 50445 for demonstration of conformity to the Council Directive with
reference to human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). There are additional requirements
covered by Article 2 and Annex I Clause 2.b, which are not included in this document.
The Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC [2] provides Basic Restrictions and Derived reference
levels for exposure of the general public. This standard may be used for demonstration of resistance
welding equipment conformity to the Council Recommendation on this basis, but there may be
additional specific national or international requirements which are not included.
The ICNIRP Guidelines [3], on limits of exposure to static magnetic fields as well as for limiting
exposure in time varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields, provide Basic restrictions and
Derived reference levels for both occupational and general exposure. This standard may be used for
demonstration of equipment conformity to ICNIRP Guidelines on this basis, but there may be
additional national or international requirements which are not included.
It is also possible to use this document as a basis to demonstrate conformity of resistance welding equipment to other national and international guidelines or requirements with regard to human exposure from EMF, for example Council Directive 2004/40/EC [4] on the minimum health and safety
requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risk arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields), or the requirements of the Directive 98/37/EC [5]. In these cases, other
restrictions and levels than those referenced above may be used.
Other standards may apply to equipment covered by this standard. In particular this standard can not
be used to demonstrate electromagnetic compatibility with other equipment; nor does it specify any
product safety requirements other than those specifically related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields.
The frequency range covered is 0 Hz to 300 GHz.
NOTE 2 Procedures to demonstrate conformity are not specified for the whole frequency range.