Standards

The standards world is a very large maze. This page aims to give an “aerial view” identifying some key areas. The IABM can’t keep tabs on all of it – not even all the bits that are relevant to member companies; however, we do provide reports of current activity in a number of areas.

Classification of standards

It is usually a matter of choice for a manufacturer to comply or not to comply with the requirements of a particular standard, however some standards are virtually mandatory because they provide a means of complying with more general legal requirements: such as European Community Directives. So we have made a division between these “quasi-mandatory” standards, and the rest.

“Voluntary” Standards

Generally these concern performance and inter-operability issues. Important sources for these standards are:

• SMPTE 
  The SMPTE writes standards for video and film and associated audio matters. The IABM reports regularly on developments. 

• AES
  The AES writes standards for audio matters. The IABM reports regularly on developments.

• IEC
  The IEC covers the whole field of electrical technology. Its “Multimedia” technical committee (TC100) deals with professional and consumer audio and video standards. The IABM reports on developments that are of interest to the professional audio and video community. Many SMPTE and AES standards are developed into IEC standards.

• ITU/R
  The ITU/R (formerly the CCIR) writes standards on performance and interoperability.

• EBU
  The EBU publishes recommendations which have often later been developed into SMPTE or other standards.

“Quasi-Mandatory” Standards

These are the standards for EMC, Safety, Environmental Protection and certain aspects of telecommunications equipment.

• EMC
  EMC includes both high-frequency effects and effects related to mains power distribution.  It includes standards for:

  • Emission i.e. limits on the interference generated by equipment
    
  • Immunity i.e. specified levels of interference which equipment must tolerate

  EMC standards are written by IEC, and by CENELEC, the European regional standards body. CENELEC liaises with the European Commission and tries to ensure that the right standards are in place for the European EMC Directive.  The IABM reports on developments in this area. In Europe, professional-user broadcast equipment (without radio or telecommunications) interfaces should conform to EN 55103-1 (for emissions) and EN 55103-2 (for immunity).
  

• Safety
  Safety standards for electrical equipment are written by IEC, by CENELEC, the European regional standards body, and by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The CENELEC standards are relevant to the European Low-Voltage Directive which governs the safety of electrical products. EN 60950 is widely applied to professional-user broadcast products; EN 60065 is also used. The IABM reports on developments in this area.

• Telecommunication Equipment
  Equipment with radio or telecommunications interfaces is covered by standards written by ETSI. View the complete list of standards that can be used to comply with the European Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (RTTE). 
  

• Hazardous Substances
  In the EU this is controlled by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, 2002/95/EC, which aims to ensure that new electrical and electronic equipment supplied within the Community does not contain any lead (Pb), mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated diphenyl ether after 1 July 2006. IABM reports on this topic.

• Waste
  In the EU this is controlled by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), 2002/96/EC. There is some information on this topic from the link on Hazardous Substances section above.

Simon Auty, TTG Chairman