IEC 61000-6-4 is the generic electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emission standard for equipment used in industrial environments, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Where IEC 61000-6-2 sets immunity requirements (how well equipment resists interference from others), IEC 61000-6-4 sets emission limits (how much electromagnetic interference equipment is permitted to generate). Together they form the two halves of the generic EMC framework for industrial equipment, including battery energy storage systems and associated power electronics.
Published by: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Current edition: IEC 61000-6-4:2018
Adopted as: EN IEC 61000-6-4:2019 (Europe)
Companion standard: IEC 61000-6-2 (industrial immunity), IEC 61000-6-3 (residential emissions)
Scope
IEC 61000-6-4 applies to electrical and electronic equipment intended for use in industrial environments. It sets emission limits for both conducted emissions (interference injected back into the mains supply) and radiated emissions (electromagnetic fields radiated from the equipment). For battery systems, the primary emission concerns are switching noise from power converters, inverters, and DC-DC converters within BESS systems, and high-frequency conducted emissions from fast-switching transistors in chargers and BMS hardware.
Key Requirements
The standard defines conducted emission limits on power supply ports across the frequency range 150 kHz to 30 MHz, measured using a LISN (line impedance stabilisation network). Radiated emission limits are defined across 30 MHz to 1 GHz. Industrial emission limits under IEC 61000-6-4 are less stringent than the residential limits in IEC 61000-6-3, acknowledging that industrial environments are inherently noisier and that equipment is typically installed with greater separation from sensitive receivers.
Relevance to Battery Engineering
Compliance with IEC 61000-6-4 is required for CE marking of industrial battery equipment sold in Europe, and is referenced in most international market access frameworks for industrial power electronics. BESS inverters, fast chargers, and BMS power electronics are switching devices that generate significant conducted and radiated emissions, making EMC design a critical part of the development process. Meeting emission limits without excessive filtering adds cost and complexity, so EMC considerations should be integrated from the earliest stages of power electronics design rather than addressed as a last-minute compliance exercise.
References: IEC 61000-6-4:2018, IEC Webstore
Disclaimer: This is not a definitive guide, just an indication and it is important that you always go back to the source for legislation.
See also: 2014/30/EU (EMC Directive)