Industrial Computing Starts with Compliance

Before pursuing industry-specific certifications, industrial computers must first pass these certifications to ensure compliance with basic safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for electronic and electrical products. The most representative of these are CE for the European market and FCC for North America. Although they are regional, many countries use these standards as a reference point for their local requirements, sometimes with additional local additions.

• CE - CE (Conformité Européenne) is a requirement for electronic and electrical products to enter the European Union market. It signifies that products comply with EU regulations, such as safety and EMC standards, during the design and manufacturing phases.
• FCC - The United States FCC (Federal Communications Commission), primarily regulates the radiofrequency (RF) radiation and electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels generated during the operation of electronic and communications equipment. Any product sold in the US market that may generate RF energy, such as computers, communications equipment, or industrial controllers, must comply with applicable FCC technical specifications.

CE and FCC compliance are typically the bare minimum. Systems integrators and end-users place greater emphasis on industry-specific certifications. These certifications address the unique environmental and operational requirements of each sector, often becoming critical factors in project implementation.

Manufacturing

In manufacturing, industrial computers are typically installed in production line equipment, control cabinets, or machine housings, where they must continuously operate and execute application tasks in complex EMI environments. Consequently, electromagnetic stability and product safety are critical selection criteria, with the IEC/EN 61000 series and UL certification being the most representative standards.

• IEC/EN 61000-6-2/4 - IEC/EN 61000 is the EMC standard for industrial environments, covering emissions and immunity testing, including ESD, EFT, Surge, radiated immunity, and conducted immunity parameters. Its immunity requirements are significantly more stringent than CE EMC standards. For example, IEC 61000-6-2 raises RS from 3 V/m to 10 V/m and CS from 3 V to 10 V, ensuring stable equipment operation in high-EMI environments.
• UL - UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is a prominent safety certification standard in North America and is widely adopted globally. Unlike CE and FCC, which rely primarily on self-declaration, UL certification requires independent laboratory testing and subsequent factory audits to ensure that mass-produced products continue to meet safety standards. UL certification for industrial computers validates electrical design, insulation, fire resistance, and other critical design aspects through third-party verification. This rigorous testing prevents potential hazards by ensuring that the equipment remains compliant with safety regulations even under conditions such as overheating, short circuits, or abnormal loads.

Railways

In railway applications, industrial computers are typically installed in carriages, electrical enclosures, or equipment compartments. They must endure prolonged vibration, shock, and power fluctuations, while also meeting fire safety requirements to protect passengers. EN 50155 and EN 45545-2 are the two critical standards in this domain.

• EN 50155 - EN 50155, established by CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), is the standard for electronic and control equipment in rail vehicles and serves as a crucial threshold for industrial computers entering the railway market. This standard addresses the train operating environment by requiring equipment to withstand wide temperature ranges (short-term peaks up to 85°C), high humidity and condensation, and to pass IEC 61373 vibration and shock tests, while maintaining stable operation under conditions such as power sags, surges, and interruptions. Regarding EMC, industrial computers must comply with EN 50121-3-2, which imposes stricter immunity requirements than CE EMC standards, such as increases of ESD from 4 kV to 6 kV, EFT from 1 kV to 2 kV, and RS from 3 V/m to 20 V/m.
• EN 45545-2- EN 45545-2 is the core European standard for fire resistance of materials and components in rail applications. Its purpose is to reduce flame spread, smoke density, and toxic gas generation during fires, protecting passengers and personnel. The standard categorizes materials into classifications R1 through R28 based on their intended use, and divides fire hazard levels into levels HL1 to HL3 based on flammability, smoke, and toxicity test results, with HL3 representing the most stringent standard typically applied to tunnels or high-risk routes. Industrial computers installed within passenger compartments or accessible areas must have materials complying with relevant requirements such as R24, R25, or R26.

In-vehicle Computing

In-vehicle industrial computers are typically installed in commercial trucks, buses, and special-purpose vehicles, where they must withstand vibration, temperature variations, and power fluctuations. EMC is particularly critical in this context. Equipment must avoid interfering with vehicle electronic systems and demonstrate strong EMI. Europe's E-mark provides the most comprehensive framework for regulating the EMC performance of automotive electronics and has become a requirement for most systems integrators.

• E-mark - E-mark is a conformity mark for vehicle components and on-board electronic equipment established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and EU regulations, ensuring equipment meets European market EMC requirements. The numbers in the mark indicate the country of issuance (e.g., E1 for Germany, E4 for the Netherlands). Testing focuses on electromagnetic emissions and immunity capabilities, including radiated emissions, radiated immunity, bulk current injection (BCI), stripline immunity, and power transient testing, to verify the equipment's stable operation in automotive electromagnetic environments.

Marine

Industrial computers in marine applications are typically deployed in ship bridges, engine rooms, and navigation systems, where they must endure prolonged exposure to high salinity and humidity, intense vibration, and temperature fluctuations, while also contending with EMI from navigation radar, communication antennas, and high-power machinery. The IEC 60945 marine electronics equipment standard and DNV classification certification are the two most prominent international standards in this domain.

• IEC 60945 - IEC 60945 is the core environmental and EMC standard for evaluating the reliability and safety of marine equipment in ship navigation and communication systems, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). EMC specifications for industrial computers require RS of at least 10 V/m, and radiated emission (RE) must comply with EMI limits across all frequency ranges, with stricter control requirements for critical communication bands such as VHF. The standard also encompasses maritime-specific environmental testing, including salt fog corrosion, high-humidity condensation, vibration and shock, and waterproof/dustproof testing, to ensure stable equipment operation in maritime environments.
• DNV - DNV is a globally recognized classification society and third-party verification organization that serves as a critical benchmark for the quality and reliability of marine equipment. Its testing covers vibration and shock, wide-temperature operation, high-humidity condensation, salt-fog corrosion, EMI, and power quality under key conditions, while also requiring that the equipment possess sufficient mechanical strength to withstand structural loads generated during prolonged ship operation. The principal distinction from IEC 60945 is that DNV extends beyond individual product testing and performance requirements to function as part of a comprehensive ship classification system that emphasizes long-term reliability of equipment within the integrated ship system, installation conditions, and operational validation. This typically involves documentation review, type approval, and factory audits, making it a crucial certification for marine equipment entering the market.

Knowing which certifications matter for your application is one thing. Finding a platform that meets them is another. ICI works with customers to match certified Cincoze hardware to specific deployment requirements, whether you're designing for a factory floor, a moving vehicle, or an offshore environment.

Cincoze industrial computing platforms are designed with these standards in mind from the ground up - helping you move from design to deployment with fewer surprises. Contact ICI's experts to explore our solutions.