CISPR 32 & EMC Immunity Tests Explained: Limits for Cameras, Audio-Video and IT Equipment

If you make cameras, speakers, TVs, set-top boxes, monitors or any IT product, two standards decide whether your product passes EMC: CISPR 32 for emissions and CISPR 35 for immunity. Together they replaced a patchwork of older standards and are now the reference for multimedia equipment worldwide.

This guide explains what each standard covers, how Class A and Class B work, which immunity tests apply and what affects lab time and cost.

What Is CISPR 32?

CISPR 32 sets limits for electromagnetic emissions from multimedia equipment (MME). MME includes:

• IT equipment: computers, monitors, printers, network equipment
• Audio equipment: speakers, amplifiers, soundbars
• Video equipment: TVs, cameras, projectors, set-top boxes
• Combinations, such as smart displays and video doorbells

It replaced CISPR 13 (broadcast receivers) and CISPR 22 (IT equipment). If your old reports cite those, they are out of date for most markets.

Class A vs Class B

	Class A	Class B
Intended environment	Commercial and industrial	Residential
Limits	Less strict	Stricter
Warning required	Yes, that the product may cause interference in a home	No
Examples	Server racks, industrial displays	Home cameras, speakers, TVs, laptops

Most consumer products must meet Class B. Do not choose Class A just because it is easier to pass, if the product will be used in homes.

What CISPR 32 Tests

• Conducted emissions on AC mains ports, from 150 kHz to 30 MHz
• Conducted emissions on wired network and telecom ports, such as Ethernet
• Radiated emissions from 30 MHz to 1 GHz, and above 1 GHz up to 6 GHz depending on the highest internal frequency

Common causes of failure are switching power supplies, unshielded cables, poor PCB grounding and high-speed clocks.

CISPR 35 and EMC Immunity Tests

CISPR 35 covers immunity of multimedia equipment and replaced CISPR 20 and CISPR 24. It uses the IEC 61000-4 series test methods:

Test	Standard	What it simulates
Electrostatic discharge	IEC 61000-4-2	A user touching the product
Radiated RF immunity	IEC 61000-4-3	Nearby radios and phones
Electrical fast transients	IEC 61000-4-4	Switching of loads on the same supply
Surge	IEC 61000-4-5	Lightning and large switching events
Conducted RF immunity	IEC 61000-4-6	RF picked up on cables
Power-frequency magnetic field	IEC 61000-4-8	Fields near transformers and power lines
Voltage dips and interruptions	IEC 61000-4-11	Brownouts and short power cuts

Our guide to IEC standards used in EMC immunity testing covers each test method in more detail.

CISPR 32 for Cameras, Audio and Video Systems

• CCTV and IP cameras: CISPR 32 for emissions and CISPR 35 for immunity. Cameras in alarm and security systems are often also tested to EN 50130-4.
• Audio equipment: CISPR 32 and CISPR 35. Immunity checks include whether audio output degrades during RF tests.
• Video systems and displays: CISPR 32 and CISPR 35. Picture disturbance is judged against the performance criteria in the standard.

Products with radios also need radio EMC standards such as the ETSI EN 301 489 series for Europe. See our wireless device testing guide.

Where CISPR 32 Is Required

• European Union and UK: EN 55032 and EN 55035 under the EMC Directive or UK EMC regulations
• United States: FCC Part 15B uses its own limits, closely aligned with CISPR 32 for many products
• India: TEC requirements for telecom equipment reference CISPR 32 for EMC, and buyers often ask for it
• Many other markets that adopt IEC and CISPR standards

Lab Time and Cost

EMC lab cost depends on:

• The number of ports (mains, Ethernet, USB, audio and video)
• Whether radiated emissions above 1 GHz are needed
• The number of modes the product must be tested in
• Pre-compliance and debugging time if the product fails

Testing a single product usually takes a few days. With booking and report writing, plan for one to three weeks. Pre-compliance scans early in design save the most time.

Common Mistakes

• Testing to CISPR 22 or CISPR 24. These are withdrawn for most markets.
• Wrong class. Home products must meet Class B.
• Unrepresentative cables. Test with the cables you ship.
• Skipping performance criteria. Define what "normal operation" means before immunity testing.

How Instacertify Helps

We plan EMC tests for your target markets, run pre-compliance, coordinate testing in accredited labs and help fix failures. See our CISPR 32 testing page and electronics and electrical testing services.