IEC 61000-4-2:2025 (EN-FR)

IEC 61000-4-2: 2025 relates to the immunity requirements and test methods for electrical and electronic equipment subjected to static electricity discharges from operators directly and from personnel to adjacent objects. It additionally specifies ranges of test levels which relate to different environmental, and installation conditions and establishes test procedures. The objective of this document is to establish a common and reproducible basis for evaluating the performance of electrical and electronic equipment when subjected to electrostatic discharges. In addition, it includes electrostatic discharges which can occur from personnel to objects near the equipment. This document specifies:
- ideal waveform of the discharge current;
- range of test levels;
- test equipment;
- test setup;
- test procedure;
- calibration procedure;
- measurement uncertainty.
This document gives specifications for tests performed in laboratories and guidance to post-installation tests. This document is not intended to specify the tests to be applied to particular apparatus or systems. The main aim is to give a general basic reference to all concerned product committees. The product committees remain responsible for the appropriate choice of the tests and the severity level to be applied to their equipment. This document excludes tests intended to evaluate the ESD sensitivity of devices during handling and packaging. It is not intended for use in characterizing the performance of ESD protection circuit IEC Guide 107.
This document forms Part 4-2 of IEC 61000. It has the status of a basic EMC publication in accordance with IEC Guide 107. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2008. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) added a calibration requirement for ESD generators with air discharge tip;
b) added a normative annex for test setups for particular kind of equipment (see Annex I);
c) added an informative annex for wearable devices (see Annex J);
d) added an informative annex on how to select test points and give guidance on how to specify the number of pulses for direct contact discharges (see Annex E);
e) moved Clause 9 into a new informative annex (see Annex K);
f) improvement of the current calibration procedure;
g) improvement of the measurement uncertainty considerations with examples of uncertainty budgets;
h) because post-installation tests cannot be performed in a controlled environment, this test method has been moved into a new informative Annex G.

What IEC 61000-4-2 means for ESD immunity

IEC 61000-4-2 defines electrostatic discharge (ESD) immunity test methods for electronic equipment. It standardizes test levels, discharge methods, and performance criteria to ensure devices withstand real-world ESD events.

1. Ensures consistent ESD testing across laboratories.
2. Supports EMC compliance and CE marking.
3. Improves product robustness and reliability.

Video credit: EMC FastPass on YouTube.

Core building blocks of IEC 61000-4-2

1. ESD simulator: handheld ESD gun that produces standardized discharge waveforms.
2. Discharge methods: contact discharge and air discharge.
3. Test levels: defined voltage levels up to ±15 kV.
4. Test setup: grounding, horizontal and vertical coupling planes.
5. Performance criteria: classification of equipment behavior during and after ESD events.

Video credit: Rohde & Schwarz on YouTube.

Contact discharge vs air discharge

1. Contact discharge: preferred method due to better repeatability.
2. Air discharge: used where contact discharge is not possible.
3. Best practice: apply both methods for full ESD immunity evaluation.

Video credit: EMC FastPass on YouTube.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

1. Skipping contact discharge testing.
2. Improper grounding or incorrect test setup.
3. Testing too late in the product development cycle.
4. Misunderstanding performance criteria.
5. Over-reliance on protection components alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does IEC 61000-4-2 test?
It evaluates the immunity of electronic equipment to electrostatic discharge events.

2. What voltage levels are used in IEC 61000-4-2?
Typical test levels range from ±2 kV to ±15 kV depending on the intended environment.

3. Why is contact discharge preferred?
Contact discharge provides better repeatability and more consistent test results than air discharge.

4. Is IEC 61000-4-2 mandatory?
It is mandatory when referenced by EMC regulations, CE marking requirements, or customer specifications.

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