ISO 13766 Earthing and Construction Machinery - Compatibility of Machinery with Internal Electrical Power Supply (EMC)

The standard “ISO 13766 Earthing and grounding of construction machinery - Compatibility of machines with internal electrical power supply (EMC)” published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) consists of the following subsections published under the same title:

• The standard “ISO 13766-1 Part 1: General EMC requirements under typical climatic conditions” describes test methods and acceptance criteria for the assessment of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of construction machinery as defined in the ISO 6165 standard and the following building construction machinery as defined in the ISO/TR 12603 standard:
  • Drilling and foundation equipment
  • Equipment used for the preparation, transportation and compaction of concrete, mortar and reinforcement processing
  • Road construction and maintenance machinery and equipment.

This standard addresses general EMC requirements under typical electromagnetic environmental conditions (ISO 13766-2 specifically addresses EMC requirements related to functional safety).

Electrical/electronic subassemblies intended to be installed in machinery , as well as separate electrical/electronic subassemblies, are also within the scope of this standard. This standard evaluates the following electromagnetic disturbance events:

• Broadband and narrowband electromagnetic interference
• Electromagnetic field immunity
• Electrostatic discharge
• Conductive transitions.

The machine may have DC or AC, or a combination of both, as its internal electrical power supply system. This standard does not apply to machines designed to be powered from an external mains supply or to incidents arising from military applications. Mains-connected machines are covered by IEC 61000. Hybrid machines are covered by UN ECE R10.

• The standard “ISO 13766-2 Part 2: Additional EMC requirements for functional safety” describes test methods and acceptance criteria for assessing the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of construction machinery as defined in the ISO 6165 standard and the following building construction machinery as classified in the ISO/TR 12603 standard:
  • Drilling and foundation equipment
  • Equipment used in the preparation, transportation and compression of concrete, mortar and reinforcement
  • Road construction and maintenance machinery and equipment.

This standard addresses EMC requirements relating to the functional safety of machines, electrical/electronic subassemblies , and individual electrical/electronic subassemblies.

This standard relates only to safety-related parts of control systems using electrical/electronic components defined in ISO 13849-1 that meet design requirements equal to or higher than safety-related performance level PL b (medium risk control) as defined in ISO 13849-1. It also relates to electrical and electronic components, or separate electrical/electronic subassemblies, intended for installation in machines under the restriction of PL b.

In this standard, the following electromagnetic disturbance phenomena are evaluated:

• Electromagnetic fields emitted from extra-vehicular sources with various field strengths and frequencies
• Electromagnetic fields emitted from in-vehicle sources (internal / external antenna) with various field strengths and frequencies
• Electrostatic discharge
• Conductive and coupled electrical transitions.

The machine may have DC or AC, or a combination of both, as its internal electrical power supply system. This standard does not apply to machines designed to be powered by an external mains supply or to events arising from military applications. Mains-connected machines are covered by IEC 61000.

In the world of heavy construction and earthmoving equipment, reliability is paramount. These machines operate in harsh, dynamic environments where electrical systems must withstand vibrations, dust, and extreme temperatures. But there's another invisible challenge: electromagnetic interference (EMI). Radios, welding equipment, and even nearby power lines can disrupt electronic controls, leading to malfunctions or safety hazards. This is where ISO 13766 standards come into play.

The ISO 13766 standards provide a framework for testing and ensuring that earthmoving and construction machinery can operate without causing or being subject to undue electromagnetic disturbances. Since its initial publication, these standards have been updated to meet the increasing complexity of modern equipment, which requires increasingly sophisticated electronic devices for automation and safety features. This standard is vital for manufacturers, operators, and regulators aiming to minimize downtime and improve workplace safety.

The ISO 13766 standards address machines with internal electrical power supplies. These standards apply to:

• Soil processing machinery: Excavators, loaders, bulldozers and graders.
• Construction equipment: Including drilling and foundation tools, concrete processing equipment, and road maintenance vehicles.

These standards evaluate EMC under typical electromagnetic environmental conditions—that is, everyday construction site scenarios rather than extreme laboratory simulations. The first part addresses general interference, while the second addresses safety-critical issues, ensuring EMI doesn't cause dangerous malfunctions in systems like automatic braking or stability controls. Notably, its support for both DC and AC internal power systems, or hybrids, makes it versatile for a variety of equipment fleets.

The ISO 13766 standards essentially evaluate two-way EMC: emission (how much interference the machine generates) and immunity (how well it resists external interference):

• Emission test:
  • Broadband and narrowband interference: Measures radiated and conducted emissions from the machine's electronics, ensuring they do not interfere with nearby devices such as radios or other machinery.
  • Limits: Tight thresholds prevent excessive noise, especially in the frequency ranges used by communications systems (e.g., 30 MHz to 1 GHz).
• Immunity test:
  • Electromagnetic fields: Simulates exposure to fields emitted from sources such as mobile radios or power lines.
  • Electrostatic discharge (ESD): Tests operators' resistance to static shocks, which are common when working with equipment in dry conditions.
  • Conducted transients: Evaluates the response to voltage spikes or surges on power and signal lines, typically caused by switching loads.

Acceptance criteria are pass/fail based on performance degradation. No outages are permitted for critical functions, while only minor outages are permitted for non-essential features. Testing is conducted in controlled environments that mimic real-world use, such as anechoic chambers for radiation emissions.

Our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding the needs of its customers for years, providing them with the advanced testing services they need, and assisting them in establishing, implementing, and improving management systems. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the ISO 13766 "Grounding and construction machinery - Compatibility of machines with internal electrical power supplies (EMC)" standard.