IEC 61000-4-36:2014

Overview

IEC 61000-4-36:2014 - "Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-36: Testing and measurement techniques - IEMI immunity test methods for equipment and systems" specifies methods to determine test levels for assessing the immunity of equipment and systems to intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI). The standard introduces the general IEMI problem, defines IEMI source parameters, explains how to derive test limits and summarizes practical IEMI immunity test methods for both radiated and conducted threats.

Keywords: IEC 61000-4-36, IEMI, EMC, electromagnetic compatibility, immunity testing, radiated tests, conducted tests.

Key topics and technical requirements

• IEMI environments and interaction: classification of IEMI deployment scenarios and technical capability groups; summaries of radiated and conducted IEMI environments and how they couple to buildings and systems.
• Test methods: guidance on selecting and applying test techniques such as:
  • Radiated tests using IEMI simulators
  • Reverberation chamber testing
  • Complex waveform injection (CWI)
  • Damped sinusoidal injection (DSI)
  • Antenna-port injection and port-specific coupling methods
  • Related fast transient and ESD considerations
• Derivation tools: procedures for deriving transfer functions and tailored test levels from environment and coupling data.
• Test parameters: structured approach to defining radiated test categories (e.g., hyperband, mesoband, hypoband/narrowband) and generic conducted IEMI parameters including generator characteristics.
• Failure mechanisms and performance criteria: informative annex on noise, parameter drift, system upset, component destruction and how pulse width affects susceptibility.
• Supporting material: annexes on building interaction, reverberation chamber relations, prediction and construction of CWI test setups, margins and risk considerations.

Practical applications

IEC 61000-4-36 is intended to support:

• Design and validation of electromagnetic protection for critical infrastructure (power, transport, communications).
• Laboratory and field immunity testing of industrial control systems, telecom equipment, medical devices and other safety‑critical systems.
• Development of risk assessments and mitigation strategies against deliberate electromagnetic threats (IEMI).

Who should use this standard

• EMC/test engineers and test houses performing immunity assessments
• Product designers and system integrators targeting resilient electromagnetic designs
• Security and risk managers for critical infrastructure
• Regulators and certification bodies defining IEMI-related compliance or assurance criteria

Related standards

• IEC 61000-2-13 (referenced IEMI environment data)
• MIL‑STD‑464C and relevant ITU publications (for comparative environment and test guidance)

Use IEC 61000-4-36 when you need a structured, standards‑based approach to define IEMI immunity test levels, select appropriate test methods, and interpret susceptibility risks for equipment and systems in realistic intentional‑EMI environments.