Shielding Effectiveness Test

Test for Shielding Efficacy

Assessing a material’s enclosure’s ability to block RF and electromagnetic signals is done through shielding efficacy testing. A testing facility for shielding effectiveness like Infinita Lab may assess material samples, enclosures, and entire facilities.

What are the goals of assessing shielding effectiveness?

One of three objectives can be achieved by the shielding’s design.

The primary objective is to confine certain RF signals to the device’s container. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing is required for electrical equipment as part of the product certification process. With EMI testing, it is possible to ascertain whether any signals produced by the test object fall outside the permitted band and limit. These RF frequencies may have a significant impact on neighboring electrical devices. These consequences could include transmission glitches, data loss, and system problems.

Blocking external EMI from having an impact on the test object is the second objective of shielding efficacy testing. The device being tested is capable of experiencing all of the potential effects listed in the previous sentence if its container is not appropriately protected. Cables, inputs, outputs, fans, ports of entry, gaskets, seals, and controls can all be considered areas of risk.

A combination of the first two goals is the third goal. A device that has been adequately insulated will be able to keep all RF energy inside of its container and keep all external RF isolated. The purpose, functionality, and location of the device will all affect how much RF is allowed to enter or leave.

How are the shielding efficacy tests carried out?

The size and make-up of the sample will determine how the shielding efficacy test is conducted. Testing can be carried out on material samples, enclosed equipment, and complete facilities, as was before mentioned.

Using two EMC test chambers that are connected and share a wall, materials are tested for their effectiveness at shielding. The sample is safely positioned in the window on the common wall. An antenna for broadcasting will be placed in one chamber and an antenna for receiving in the shielding effectiveness test lab. A specified set of signals will start to be transmitted by the transmitting antenna. All signals received will be recorded by the receiving antenna. In essence, the substance will be seen as shielding all signals that are delivered but not received.

The final step in testing electronic gadgets is to put them inside an EMC test chamber. The gadget will be powered by the EMC test engineer, who will make sure that it is in operational mode. A receiving antenna records all of the EMI produced by the device for one part of the testing. After it is finished, signals will be sent to the gadget by a transmitting antenna to see if there are any unacceptably negative effects on how it operates. Depending on the technology, the term unacceptable will change. A blip on a child’s toy’s screen, for instance, would be fine, but one on a surgical instrument might not be. The test standard specifies what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behavior from the perspective of signals.

A facility’s ability to protect is tested in a manner very similar to how a material sample is tested. On either side of the building, an antenna is situated. Any physical barrier, such as a door, a wall, a window, a vent, etc., could serve as this. While the other antenna receives, the former sends. For several industries, including the military, aircraft, healthcare, and industrial facilities, the effectiveness of shielding is particularly crucial.

How does cable shielding fare?

Cables also have electromagnetic shielding, which is crucial. When there is shielding, the coupling of radio waves, electromagnetic fields, and electrostatic fields can all be reduced. The amount of decrease can vary depending on the material used, its thickness, the shielded volume’s size, and the frequency of the fields of interest. The efficiency of shielding also depends on the size, form, and orientation of apertures in a shield to an incident electromagnetic field. RF Shielding is another name for electromagnetic shielding that blocks radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.

What kinds of substances can be tested?

Infinita Lab, which is regarded as one of the greatest shielding effectiveness test labs in the world, has examined a variety of different sample types. Our engineers have evaluated various materials, including metal, glass, plastic, other resins, textiles, and material mixtures. We have evaluated everything from entire setups to particular rooms. We can test to any shielding effectiveness test standard thanks to our equipment. But, we can also create unique test programs in collaboration with businesses.

Laboratory Tests for Expert Shielding Efficiency

Infinita Lab works with engineers as a shielding effectiveness test lab to not only measure the shielding efficiency of their product but also to create and implement shielding effectiveness test enhancements. For more information on how Infinita Lab can help you determine and enhance the shielding efficacy test of your product, please get in touch with us.

Conventional benchmarks for shielding effectiveness:

• Standard Test Procedure for Evaluating the Electromagnetic Shielding Efficiency of Planar Materials (ASTM D 4935-10)
• Standard Test Procedure for Evaluating the Electromagnetic Shielding Efficiency of Planar Materials (ASTM D 4935-99)
• IEC 61000-5-7: Levels of Protection Against Electromagnetic Disturbances Provided by Enclosures (EM code)
• Testing The Performance Of Electromagnetic Shielding Enclosures, IEEE 299-2006
• General Specification for Conducting Shielding Gasket, Electronic, Elastomer, EMI/RFI Gasket, MIL-DTL-83528C
• MIL-G-83528: General Standard for Conducting Shielding Gasket for Electronic, Elastomer, EMI/RFI Gasketing Materials
• Measurement and Efficacy of Cable, Connector, and Weapon Enclosure Shielding and Filters in Preventing Risks of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (MIL-STD 1377)
• For ground-based C4I facilities carrying out critical, time-sensitive missions, MIL-STD-188-125-1: High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (Hemp) Protection (Transportable Systems)
• MIL-STD-188-125-2 (Transportable Systems) High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (Hemp) Protection for Ground-Based C4I Facilities Executing Critical, Time-Urgent Tasks
• Military Standard for Attenuation Measurements for Enclosures (MIL-STD-285)
• Engineering, Design, And Shielding Effectiveness Standards For Shelters (MIL-STD-907B) (Expandable & Non-Expandable)
• Assessing the Efficiency of Electromagnetic Shielding Enclosures, IEEE Std 299

Video 01: Shielding Effectiveness Test