IEC 62236-2:2018

Overview

IEC 62236-2:2018 - "Railway applications - Electromagnetic compatibility - Part 2: Emission of the whole railway system to the outside world" defines how the electromagnetic emissions from an entire railway system (including urban mass transit and light rail) are quantified and limited at locations outside the railway. The standard specifies emission limits, measurement methods, and cartography values for commonly encountered electric and magnetic fields. It is part of the IEC 62236 series and is intended to be used together with IEC 62236-1 (general EMC provisions).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: emissions from moving trains, rolling stock and traction substations affecting the outside world (including zones 10 m from track centerlines or substation fences).
• Emission limits: defined for the whole railway system to the outside world; limits refer to specified measuring points and vertical planes 10 m from the railway or substation.
• Measurement methods: detailed procedures to verify compliance, including:
  • General measurement parameters and specific parameters for moving trains and substations.
  • Acquisition methods such as fixed-frequency and frequency-sweeping techniques.
  • Guidance on handling transients, multiple sources, weather and operational conditions (speed, traction power).
• Frequency ranges and cartography: includes radiated field considerations across the relevant spectrum (note: lower-frequency radiated H‑field values in the 9 kHz–150 kHz range are addressed in Annex C due to limited reproducibility).
• Antenna positions and conversion rules: defined positions for electric and magnetic field measurements and rules to convert results measured at other distances.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

IEC 62236-2 is used by professionals who design, operate, test or regulate railway electromagnetic compatibility:

• Railway infrastructure owners and operators (urban transit, regional and high‑speed lines) to ensure systems do not unduly disturb nearby equipment or services.
• Rolling stock and traction substation designers to verify emissions during design and commissioning.
• EMC engineers and test laboratories applying the specified measurement methods and report formats.
• Regulators and certification bodies assessing compliance of new or upgraded railway systems. Practical benefits include a common, international basis for setting emission requirements, planning mitigation measures, and producing EMC test plans for new systems.

Related standards

• IEC 62236-1 - General EMC provisions for railway applications
• IEC 62236-3-1 / 3-2 / 4 / 5 - Parts covering rolling stock, trackside equipment and other system elements
• CISPR 16-1-1 - Measurement apparatus and methods referenced for radio disturbance measurements

Keywords: IEC 62236-2, railway electromagnetic compatibility, emission limits, measurement method, traction substations, light rail EMC, railway EMC testing.