IEC TS 61587-3:1999

Mechanical structures for electronic equipment - Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 - Part 3: Electromagnetic shielding performance tests for cabinets, racks and subracks

Specifies the test of empty cabinets and subracks concerning electromagnetic shielding performance, in the frequency range of 30 MHz to 1 000 MHz. Stipulated attenuation values are chosen for the definition of the shielding performance level of cabinets and subracks as per the IEC 60297 and IEC 60917 series. The purpose is to ensure physical integrity and environmental performance in cabinets and subracks.

General Information

• Status: Replaced
• Publication Date: 12-Oct-1999
• ICS: 31.240 - Mechanical structures for electronic equipment
• Technical Committee: SC 48D - Mechanical structures for electrical and electronic equipment
• Drafting Committee: WG 2 - TC 48/SC 48D/WG 2
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 26-Jun-2006

Relations

• Replaced By: IEC 61587-3:2006 - Mechanical structures for electronic equipment - Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 - Part 3: Electromagnetic shielding performance tests for cabinets, racks and subracks
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL IEC
SPECIFICATION
TS 61587-3
First edition
1999-10
Mechanical structures for electronic equipment –
Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 –
Part 3:
Electromagnetic shielding performance tests
for cabinets, racks and subracks
Structures mécaniques pour équipement électronique –
Essais pour la CEI 60917 et la CEI 60297 –
Partie 3:
Essais de fonctionnement de blindage électromagnétique
pour baies, bâtis et bacs à cartes

Reference number
IEC/TS 61587-3:1999(E)
Numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the
60000 series.
Consolidated publications
Consolidated versions of some IEC publications including amendments are

available. For example, edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the
base publication, the base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base

publication incorporating amendments 1 and 2.

Validity of this publication
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC,
thus ensuring that the content reflects current technology.
Information relating to the date of the reconfirmation of the publication is available
in the IEC catalogue.
Information on the subjects under consideration and work in progress undertaken
by the technical committee which has prepared this publication, as well as the list
of publications issued, is to be found at the following IEC sources:
• IEC web site*
•
Catalogue of IEC publications
Published yearly with regular updates
(On-line catalogue)*
• IEC Bulletin
Available both at the IEC web site* and as a printed periodical
Terminology, graphical and letter symbols
For general terminology, readers are referred to IEC 60050: International
Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV).
For graphical symbols, and letter symbols and signs approved by the IEC for
general use, readers are referred to publications IEC 60027: Letter symbols to be
used in electrical technology, IEC 60417: Graphical symbols for use on equipment.
Index, survey and compilation of the single sheets and IEC 60617: Graphical symbols
for diagrams.
* See web site address on title page.

TECHNICAL IEC
SPECIFICATION
TS 61587-3
First edition
1999-10
Mechanical structures for electronic equipment –
Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 –
Part 3:
Electromagnetic shielding performance tests
for cabinets, racks and subracks
Structures mécaniques pour équipement électronique –
Essais pour la CEI 60917 et la CEI 60297 –
Partie 3:
Essais de fonctionnement de blindage électromagnétique
pour baies, bâtis et bacs à cartes

 IEC 1999  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission 3, rue de Varembé Geneva, Switzerland
Telefax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] IEC web site http://www.iec.ch
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
PRICE CODE
L
International Electrotechnical Commission
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – TS 61587-3 © IEC:1999(E)

CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . 3

Clause
1 Scope and object . 5

2 Normative references . 5

3 Electromagnetic shielding performance tests . 6
3.1 Electromagnetic shielding performance tests for cabinets and subracks. 6
3.2 Test conditions. 6
3.3 Test configuration . 6
3.4 Test requirements . 7
3.5 Test results. 8
Figure 1 – Typical test equipment configuration (as detailed in figures 3 to 8). 9
Figure 2 – Example of measurement data presentation (typical graph showing plot
from test results) . 9
Figure 3 – Set-up for measurement of reference field strength E1 . 10
Figure 4 – Set-up for measurement of leakage field strength E2 (cabinet) . 10
Figure 5 – Set-up for measurement of leakage field strength E2 (subrack) . 10
Figure 6 – Set-up for measurement of reference field strength E1 . 11
Figure 7 – Set-up for measurement of leakage field strength E2 (cabinet) . 11
Figure 8 – Set-up for measurement of leakage field strength E2 (subrack) . 11
Table 1 – Electric field attenuation requirements . 8

TS 61587-3 © IEC:1999(E) – 3 –

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –

TESTS FOR IEC 60917 AND IEC 60297 –

Part 3: Electromagnetic shielding performance tests

for cabinets, racks and subracks

FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation is
entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may
participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two
organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form
of standards, technical specifications, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National
Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this technical specification may be the subject
of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. In
exceptional circumstances, a technical committee may propose the publication of a technical
specification when
• the required support cannot be obtained for the publication of an International Standard,
despite repeated efforts, or
• the subject is still under technical development or where, for any other reason, there is the
future but no immediate possibility of an agreement on an International Standard.
Technical specifications are subject to review within three years of publication to decide
whether they can be transformed into International Standards.
IEC 61587-3, which is a technical specification, has been prepared by subcommittee 48D:
Mechanical structures for electronic equipment, of IEC technical committee 48: Electro-
mechanical components and mechanical structures for electronic equipment.

– 4 – TS 61587-3 © IEC:1999(E)

The text of this technical specification is based on the following documents:

Enquiry draft Report on voting

48D/151/CDV 48D/183/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this technical specification can be found in the

report on voting indicated in the above table.

This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.

The committee has decided that this publication remains valid until 2003.
At this date, in accordance with the committee’s decision, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this Technical Specification may be issued at a later date.

TS 61587-3 © IEC:1999(E) – 5 –

MECHANICAL STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –

TESTS FOR IEC 60917 AND IEC 60297 –

Part 3: Electromagnetic shielding performance tests

for cabinets, racks and subracks

1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 61587 specifies the test of empty cabinets and subracks concerning electro-
magnetic shielding performance, in the frequency range of 30 MHz to 1 000 MHz. Stipulated
attenuation values are chosen for the definition of the shielding performance level of cabinets
and subracks as per the IEC 60297 and IEC 60917 series. The shielding performance level
of the referenced product will support the measures to achieve electromagnetic compatibility of
the finished equipment but cannot replace final testing of compliance.
The purpose of this technical specification is to ensure physical integrity and environmental
performance in cabinets and subracks, taking into account the need for different levels
of performance in different applications. It is intended to give the user a level of confidence in
the selection of products to meet his specific needs. This specification, in whole or part, applies
only to the mechanical structures for electronic equipment practices according to IEC 60297
and IEC 60917, and does not apply to electronic equipment or systems.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this part of IEC 61587. For dated references, subsequent amendments
to, or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements
based on this part of IEC 61587 are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the
most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated references,
the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of IEC and ISO
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
IEC 60297-1:1986, Dimensions of mechanical structures of the 482,6 mm (19") series – Part 1:
Panels and racks
IEC 60297-2:1982, Dimensions of mechanical structures of the 482,6 mm (19") series – Part 2:
Cabinets and pitches of rack structures

IEC 60297-3:1984, Dimensions of mechanical structures of the 482,6 mm (19") series – Part 3:
Subracks and associated plug-in units
IEC 60297-4:1995, Mechanical structures for electronic equipment – Dimensions of mechanical
structures of the 482,6 mm (19") series – Part 4: Subracks and associated plug-in units –
Additional dimensions
IEC 60917-1:1998, Modular order for the development of mechanical structures for electronic
equipment practices – Part 1: Generic standard
IEC 60917-2:1992, Modular order for the development of mechanical structures for electronic
equipment practices – Part 2: Sectional specification – Interface co-ordination dimensions for
the 25 mm equipment practice
– 6 – TS 61587-3 © IEC:1999(E)

IEC 60917-2-1:1993, Modular order for the development of mechanical structures for electronic

equipment practices – Part 2: Sectional specification – Interface co-ordination dimensions

for the 25 mm equipment practice – Section 1: Detail specification – Dimensions for cabinets

and racks
IEC 60917-2-2:1994, Modular order for the development of mechanical structures for electronic
equipment practices – Part 2: Sectional specification – Interface co-ordination dimensions for

the 25 mm equipment practice – Section 2: Detail specification – Dimensions for subracks,

chassis, backplanes, front panels and plug-in units

IEC 61000-4-3:1995, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4: Testing and measurement

techniques – Section 3: Radiated, radio-frequency, electromagnetic field immunity test
CISPR 16-1:1993, Specification for radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus and
methods – Part 1: Radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus
3 Electromagnetic shielding performance tests
3.1 Electromagnetic shielding performance tests for cabinets and subracks
Various levels of shielding performance can be achieved depending upon the construction of
the cabinet or subrack. Although shielding performance measurements are of limited value in
predicting the final overall system performance, consistent measurement techniques are vital
to ensure any measure of repeatability. The test result is valid only for the measured cabinet or
subrack and the result cannot be used to compare different cabinets or subracks. The following
test technique shall be used for all shielding performance testing. The aim of this technical
specification is to provide comparable shielding performance testing results from one test
laboratory to another (see IEC 61000-4-3).
3.2 Test conditions
All testing shall be performed in a semi-anechoic or full anechoic chamber, or open field test
site as illustrated in the figures. When the semi-anechoic chamber or the open field test site is
used, the chamber shall meet the vertical and horizontal site attenuation test described
in CISPR
...