July 2026 Brings Major EMC Standard Updates for Telecom and AV Engineering

The telecommunications and audio/video engineering sectors are seeing transformative changes this July with the release of two new international standards focused on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). These latest editions from IEC address critical challenges in DC power port immunity and provide authoritative guidance on evaluating measurement uncertainty for harmonic current emissions. For professionals and compliance teams, these standards not only raise the bar for product robustness and measurement rigor but enable better alignment with global requirements.

This article dives into both new standards, examining their scope, technical requirements, implications, and what organizations need to do to stay compliant and competitive in a rapidly evolving connectivity landscape.

Overview / Introduction

Telecommunications and audio/video engineering touch every aspect of connected modern life— from core network infrastructure to distributed edge devices, and from broadcast to consumer electronics. These industries demand uncompromising reliability and signal integrity, making electromagnetic compatibility a central design and compliance consideration.

International standards help organizations:

• Guarantee consistent product performance across global markets
• Protect systems from electrical disturbances and emissions
• Demonstrate compliance to regulators and customers
• Reduce risk, liability, and costly post-market modifications

This July 2026 release covers two essential standards:

• IEC 61000-4-29:2026 on immunity testing of DC input power ports
• IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024 on uncertainty evaluation for harmonic current measurements

Read on for detailed breakdowns, implementation insights, and industry impact analysis.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 61000-4-29:2026 - EMC: Voltage Dips, Short Interruptions, and Voltage Variations on DC Input Power Ports

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-29: Testing and measurement techniques – Voltage dips, short interruptions and voltage variations on d.c. input power port immunity tests

Scope and Purpose:

IEC 61000-4-29:2026 standardizes the methods and test setup for assessing immunity of electrical and electronic equipment to voltage dips, short interruptions, and voltage variations occurring at DC input power ports. The focus is on devices intended for connection to low-voltage DC networks external to the equipment— increasingly common in telecom base stations, network edge devices, and AV transmitters/receivers.

The standard defines:

• The full test level range, including voltage dips, interruptions, and variations
• Test generator specifications (for both low and high impedance conditions)
• Detailed procedures for setting up, conducting, and evaluating immunity tests
• Criteria for test result assessment and reporting

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Reproducible, common test methodology ensures comparable immunity results across labs and products
• Upgrades to test generator voltage to reflect new DC network levels, vital for modern installations
• Precise tolerances on the duration of voltage changes
• Limits on current for low-impedance short interruptions, aligning with real-world network protection behaviors
• Clarified requirements for inrush current and switching characteristics of generators
• Expanded guidance on DC network environments
• Assistance for product committees on adapting severity levels and test selection

Target Industries and Applications: This standard is aimed at manufacturers and integrators of:

• Telecom infrastructure (base stations, routers, gateways)
• Professional audio/video systems powered via DC
• Industrial controls and automation electronics
• Power conversion and supply modules

Practical Implications: For designers, test engineers, and quality assurance teams, adopting IEC 61000-4-29:2026 means:

• More rigorous demonstration of product resilience in actual DC power scenarios
• Streamlined market access where DC immunity testing is required
• Improved transparency and confidence in test outcomes and reports

Notable Changes from Prior Edition (2000):

• Increased generator output voltage to support higher DC network voltages
• Current limitation features for enhanced safety and realism
• Clearer test result evaluation methods and requirements for reporting

Key highlights:

• Covers immunity testing for voltage dips, interruptions, and variations on DC ports
• Reflects modern DC grid realities and distributed power scenarios
• Facilitates harmonized, reproducible immunity assessment for compliance and product committees

Access the full standard:View IEC 61000-4-29:2026 on iTeh Standards

IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024 - EMC: Evaluation of Uncertainty for Harmonic Current Emissions Measurement

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 1-9: General – Evaluation of uncertainty for the measurement of harmonic current emissions

Scope and Purpose:

IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024 (Technical Report) delivers foundational guidance for evaluating the measurement uncertainty in tests for harmonic current emissions. These tests, as specified by IEC 61000-3-2 (for currents ≤16 A) and IEC 61000-3-12 (for 16–75 A), are critical for both regulatory conformity and product assessment in telecom and AV systems with AC power supplies.

The report enables users to:

• Systematically assess and report uncertainty in harmonic emission measurements
• Apply consistent methodologies in line with ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM)
• Support accurate, defensible conformity decisions regarding harmonic limits

Key Requirements and Methodologies:

• Presents formulas and sample calculations for uncertainty budget construction (covering measurement equipment, voltage distortion, and more)
• Considers worst-case and real-world scenarios, with probability distributions, division factors, and calculation steps
• Applies directly to testing laboratories operating under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
• Advises on decision rules for conformity, referencing IEC Guide 115

The standard provides:

• Practical spreadsheet-based templates for uncertainty evaluation
• Guidance on instrument calibration, sensitivity coefficients, and error sources
• Examples for different equipment classes (A, C, D), including harmonics 3, 5, 6, 11, 15, and 40

Target Users and Applications:

• Test labs performing compliance measurements for telecom, broadcast, AV equipment
• Quality managers preparing technical documentation
• Certification bodies and product regulators

Practical Implications:

• Testing organizations must document and explain uncertainty budgets in line with ISO/IEC 17025
• Improved ability to interpret harmonic test results and make conformity assessments
• Harmonization of measurement procedures, decreasing variability across the industry

New Features/Updates:

• Incorporated methodology for both IEC 61000-3-2 and 3-12 harmonics
• Expanded uncertainty budgets for higher current equipment (16–75A)
• Decision-making guidance tailored for regulatory and self-assessment contexts

Key highlights:

• Detailed measurement uncertainty evaluation for harmonic emission tests
• Ready-to-use calculation examples and templates
• Critical for labs seeking ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in EMC testing

Access the full standard:View IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

These July 2026 releases mark a significant advance for the telecommunications and audio/video engineering sectors, particularly as:

• Product and infrastructure complexity increase: The shift towards decentralized, low-voltage DC power networks and tighter electromagnetic environments intensifies compliance requirements.
• Global market access depends on harmonized testing: International acceptance is easier with up-to-date, widely recognized EMC standards.
• Accreditation and competitive differentiation rely on robust processes: Clear uncertainty evaluation strengthens regulatory submissions and customer trust.

Compliance Considerations:

• Engineers and manufacturers must update their EMC test plans and certification strategies to reference these latest editions.
• Documentation, reporting, and risk management processes require update, especially for accredited labs or products destined for regulated markets.
• Implementation timelines will vary by regulatory jurisdiction and customer contract, but early adoption is advised to minimize costly redesigns or market delays.

Benefits of Adoption:

• Reduced incidents of field failures or unexpected interference
• Shorter, more predictable certification cycles
• Enhanced credibility and technical assurance
• Lower total cost of ownership for compliance

Risks of Non-compliance:

• Potential for market rejection or legal penalties
• Reputational damage from uncontrolled interference or system downtime
• Increased product recalls or costly field modifications

Technical Insights

Across both standards, key technical themes emerge:

• EMC Immunity and Robustness: Improvements to test generator requirements and inrush current assessment ensure equipment withstands real-world DC power disturbances — crucial for next-generation telecom/AV networks that rely on distributed energy systems.

• Measurement Integrity: By embedding uncertainty analysis using ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM) principles, measurement results become more transparent, reproducible, and comparable. This is essential when test reports are used for conformity assessment and product certification.

• Implementation Best Practices:

  1. Early Design Integration: Consider DC voltage dip/variation immunity at PCB, module, and complete system levels from the earliest design stages.
  2. Calibration and Traceability: Regular instrument calibration, incorporation of uncertainty budgets, and adherence to standardized decision rules (as provided in IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024) safeguard against test result ambiguities.
  3. Holistic Reporting: Document not just pass/fail, but include full uncertainty analysis and rationale per ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.

• Testing and Certification Considerations:

  • Align internal lab SOPs with the new generator requirements from IEC 61000-4-29:2026 (voltages, current limits, duration tolerance).
  • For harmonic emission conformity, ensure labs can calculate and communicate uncertainty budgets in line with guidance and spreadsheets from IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024.
  • Train staff on both standards to improve awareness and reduce the risk of non-compliance.

Conclusion / Next Steps

July 2026 brings two critical new tools for the telecommunications and audio/video engineering community:

• IEC 61000-4-29:2026 delivers detailed, updated procedures for DC input immunity testing — foundational for the reliability of connected infrastructure and electronics.
• IEC TR 61000-1-9:2024 empowers testing organizations to deliver robust, transparent, and accredited uncertainty evaluation in harmonic current measurement — sharpening the accuracy of conformity decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Early adoption is essential to remain competitive, compliant, and market-ready
• Incorporating these standards enables better design, reduced field failure risk, and clear documentation for audits and certification
• Cross-functional collaboration is required between technical, compliance, and procurement teams to update processes, supply chain requirements, and test lab capabilities

Recommendations:

1. Download and review the full texts of the new IEC standards from iTeh Standards using the links above.
2. Conduct an internal gap analysis against existing EMC and measurement processes.
3. Retrain engineering, QA, and testing staff on the new requirements and best practices.
4. Collaborate with certification and test labs to ensure readiness for updated procedures.

Stay ahead in telecommunications and AV compliance by exploring the standards and leveraging the expertise available at iTeh Standards. Subscribe to updates for emerging regulatory insights and future standards releases.