Which CISPR standards govern emissions?

From RF Design Wiki · By the RF Design Wiki editorial team · Published October 21, 2026 · Last reviewed October 21, 2026 · How we research

CISPR 32 sets conducted and radiated emission limits for multimedia equipment (Class A and Class B) and is the basis for EN 55032 in Europe. CISPR 25 protects receivers on board vehicles with component and vehicle-level limits. CISPR 16 specifies measuring receivers, detectors (peak, quasi-peak, average, RMS-average), bandwidths and test sites used by these standards.^[1]^[2]^[3]

What detectors and bandwidths are used?

CISPR 16 defines resolution bandwidths of 200 Hz (band A, 9–150 kHz), 9 kHz (band B, 0.15–30 MHz), 120 kHz (bands C/D, 30–1000 MHz) and 1 MHz above 1 GHz. The quasi-peak detector weights signals by repetition rate to reflect annoyance to analog broadcast listeners.^[3]

What are CISPR 32 Class B radiated limits?

At 10 m: 30 dBµV/m quasi-peak from 30–230 MHz and 37 dBµV/m from 230–1000 MHz; above 1 GHz at 3 m, average/peak limits of 50/70 dBµV/m from 1–3 GHz and 54/74 dBµV/m from 3–6 GHz. Class A limits are 10 dB higher below 1 GHz. Check the current edition for exact tables and conditions.^[1]

Why is CISPR 25 so strict?

Vehicle receivers (AM/FM, DAB, GNSS, cellular) sit close to noisy electronics; CISPR 25 limits are set per receive band and often require levels in the single-digit to tens of dBµV, much lower than CISPR 32.^[2]

Frequently asked questions

What is quasi-peak?

A weighted detector with defined charge and discharge time constants that penalizes frequently repeated pulses.

Is CISPR 32 a law?

CISPR standards are adopted into national or regional regulations, such as EN 55032 under the EU EMC Directive.

What replaced CISPR 22?

CISPR 32 replaced CISPR 22 and CISPR 13.

References

Online sources accessed October 21, 2026; printed works cited by edition. See all sources.

“CISPR 32: Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment — Emission requirements”. IEC / CISPR. edition 2.0, 2015 and amendments.
“CISPR 25: Vehicles, boats and internal combustion engines — Radio disturbance characteristics — Limits and methods of measurement for the protection of on-board receivers”. IEC / CISPR. edition 5.0, 2021.
“CISPR 16-1-1: Specification for radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus and methods — Measuring apparatus”. IEC / CISPR. current edition.

Categories: EMC and EMI

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