A complete guide to certifications for industrial computers

A complete guide to certifications for industrial computers
Certifications, rather than performance, are the first factor to consider for industrial computers deployed across different vertical sectors. International standards and industry certifications are the guarantee of reliable operation over long periods in harsh environments. This article provides an overview of the basic and advanced international certifications for industrial computers in various vertical markets, enabling more accurate feasibility assessments during product deployment or system design.

Basic certifications: a common language for global markets
Before obtaining industry-specific certifications, industrial computers must pass these certifications to ensure compliance with the basic safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for electronic and electrical products. The most representative are CE certification for the European market and FCC certification for North America. Although they are regional, many countries use these standards as a reference point for their own local requirements, sometimes with additional provisions.

• CE
  CE certification (Conformité Européenne) is a requirement for placing electronic and electrical products on the European Union market. It certifies that products comply with EU regulations, such as safety and EMC standards, throughout the design and production phases.

• FCC
  The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) of the United States mainly regulates the levels of radio frequency (RF) radiation and electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated during the operation of electronic and communication equipment. Any product sold on the US market that can generate RF energy, such as computers, communication equipment or industrial controllers, must comply with the applicable FCC technical specifications.

Advanced industry certifications: stricter requirements for specific vertical markets
Compliance with CE and FCC regulations is generally the bare minimum. System integrators place greater importance on industry-specific certifications. These certifications address the unique environmental and operational requirements of each sector, often becoming critical factors for project deployment.

Manufacturing
In manufacturing, industrial computers are usually installed in production line equipment, control cabinets or machine enclosures, where they must operate and run applications continuously in environments with complex electromagnetic interference (EMI). As a result, electromagnetic stability and product safety are key selection criteria, and the IEC/EN 61000 standards and UL certification are the most representative standards.

• IEC/EN 61000-6-2/4
  IEC/EN 61000 is the EMC standard for industrial environments, which covers emission and immunity testing, including ESD, EFT, surge, radiated immunity and conducted immunity parameters. Its immunity requirements are significantly stricter 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 environments with high electromagnetic interference.

• UL
  UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is a major safety certification standard in North America and is widely adopted worldwide. Unlike CE and FCC certifications, which are mainly based on self-declaration, UL certification requires independent laboratory testing and follow-up 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. These rigorous tests prevent potential hazards, 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 cabinets or equipment rooms. They must withstand prolonged vibration, shock and power fluctuations, as well as meet fire safety requirements to protect passengers. EN 50155 and EN 45545-2 are the two key standards in this field.

• EN 50155
  EN 50155, established by CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), is the standard for electronic and control equipment in railway vehicles and is a crucial threshold for industrial computers entering the railway market. This standard addresses the operating environment of trains, requiring equipment to withstand a wide temperature range (short-term peaks up to 85 °C), high humidity and condensation, and to pass vibration and shock tests IEC 61373, while maintaining stable operation under conditions such as power dips, surges and interruptions. As for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), industrial computers must comply with EN 50121-3-2, which imposes stricter immunity requirements than CE EMC standards, such as raising electrostatic discharge (ESD) resistance from 4 kV to 6 kV, electrical fast transient (EFT) resistance from 1 kV to 2 kV and radiated susceptibility (RS) from 3 V/m to 20 V/m.

• EN 45545-2
  EN 45545-2 is the main European standard for the fire resistance of materials and components in railway applications. Its purpose is to reduce flame spread, smoke density and toxic gas generation during fires, protecting passengers and staff. The standard classifies materials into categories R1 to R28 according to their intended use and divides fire hazard levels into HL1 to HL3 based on the results of flammability, smoke and toxicity tests, with HL3 being the strictest, typically applied to tunnels or high-risk railway lines. Industrial computers installed inside passenger compartments or in accessible areas must be made of materials that meet the relevant requirements, such as R24, R25 or R26.

In-vehicle computers
In-vehicle industrial computers are typically installed on trucks, buses and special vehicles, where they must withstand vibration, temperature changes and power fluctuations. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is particularly critical in this context. Equipment must avoid interfering with the vehicle’s electronic systems and demonstrate strong immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI). E-Mark provides the most comprehensive regulatory framework for the EMC performance of automotive electronics and has become a requirement for most system integrators.

• E-Mark
  E-Mark is a compliance mark for vehicle components and on-board electronic equipment, established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and EU regulations, which ensures that equipment meets the EMC requirements of the European market. The numbers in the mark indicate the issuing country (for example, E1 for Germany, E4 for the Netherlands). Testing focuses on electromagnetic emissions and immunity, including radiated emissions, radiated immunity, bulk current injection (BCI), stripline immunity and power transient tests, to verify stable equipment operation in automotive electromagnetic environments.

Marine applications
Marine industrial computers are typically installed on bridges, engine rooms and navigation systems, where they must withstand prolonged exposure to high salinity and humidity, intense vibration and temperature swings, as well as cope with electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by navigation radars, communication antennas and high-power machinery. The IEC 60945 standard for marine electronic equipment and DNV classification certification are the two most important international standards in this sector.

• IEC 60945
  IEC 60945 is the fundamental environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standard for assessing the reliability and safety of marine equipment in ship navigation and communication systems, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The EMC specifications for industrial computers require a radiated susceptibility (RS) of at least 10 V/m, and radiated emissions (RE) must comply with EMI limits across all frequency ranges, with stricter control requirements for critical communication bands such as VHF. The standard also includes environmental tests specific to the maritime sector, including salt spray corrosion, high-humidity condensation, vibration and shock, as well as water/dust resistance tests, to ensure stable equipment operation in maritime environments.

• DNV
  DNV is a globally recognized classification society and third-party verification body that serves as a key benchmark for the quality and reliability of marine equipment. Its tests cover vibration and shock, wide-temperature operation, high-humidity condensation, salt spray corrosion, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and power quality under key conditions, and also require equipment to have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the structural loads generated during prolonged ship operation. The main difference from IEC 60945 is that DNV goes beyond individual product tests and performance requirements to operate as part of a complete ship classification system that emphasizes the 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 placed on the market.