R&TTE & Wireless Communications

 

Electronic equipment generates an electromagnetic field and these radio waves can be utilised for wireless communication. Such radio equipment is covered by the R&TTE (Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment and the Mutual Recognition of their Conformity) Directive (1999/5/EC) and is required to be CE Marked.

The R&TTE Directive came into force on the 7th April 2000 and applies to apparatus that falls within one of two categories; ‘Radio Equipment’ and ‘Telecommunications Terminal Equipment.’ These two categories are defined as follows:

–‘radio equipment’ – a product, or relevant component thereof, capable of communication by means of the emission and/or reception of radio waves utilising the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radiocommunication; productive

–‘telecommunications terminal equipment’ – a product enabling communication or a relevant component thereof which is intended to be connected directly or indirectly by any means whatsoever to interfaces of public telecommunications networks (that is to say, telecommunications networks used wholly or partly for the provision of publicly available telecommunications services);

The Directive is also subject to some exclusions that are set out in Annex I of the Directive:

• Radio equipment used by radio amateurs within Article 1, definition 53, of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) radio regulations unless the equipment is available commercially;
• Marine equipment (within the scope of 96/98/EC, as amended);
• Cabling and wiring;
• Receive only radio equipment intended to be used solely for the reception of TV and sound broadcasting services;
• Products, appliances and components within the meaning of Article 2 of EC Regulation No 3922/91 (as amended) on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation;
• Air-traffic-management equipment and systems (within the meaning of Article 1 of 93/65/EEC (as amended) on the definition and use of compatible technical specifications for the procurement of air-traffic-management equipment and systems).

Some text may have been abbreviated. Always refer to the Directive for exact wording.

Conformity Requirements

Equipment within scope of the R&TTE must fulfill and demonstrate conformity to the essential requirements set out in Article 3 of the Directive. The Directive requires manufacturers to follow the Safety Objectives of the Low Voltage Directive, the Protection Requirements of the EMC Directive and to use the EM spectrum effectively to avoid harmful interference.

The routes to conformity for are given in Chapter II, Article 10 and the procedures for radio equipment are summarised below:

Further Assistance

If you require your products to be tested or need support with conformity, then please call us on 01564 792349 or please complete our online enquiry form.