Certifications can be intimidating, especially when tackling markets with strict regulations like the EU or the U.S. But here’s the good news: with the right knowledge and preparation, you can turn compliance from a roadblock into an opportunity to build trust, expand your market, and ensure product excellence.
At Systec Dizainas, we’ve worked on products requiring CE, FCC, and UL certifications, overcoming regulatory challenges and meeting their standards. This guide offers a practical overview of these certifications and actionable steps to help you prepare effectively.

CE Certification: The Foundation for the EU Market

CE certification is focused on ensuring safety—for humans, devices, and the environment—not guaranteeing a product will function flawlessly for decades. While the process can be self-certified, we highly recommend conducting pre-compliance testing.

Understanding Directives and Standards

Before diving into the details, it’s important to understand the distinction between Directives and Standards, as this will make the certification process smoother:
Directives set out the legal requirements that a product must meet to be sold in the EU. For example, the Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU) applies to products with wireless communication, covering safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and other essential requirements. These are mandatory obligations for market access.
Standards, or harmonized standards, provide technical specifications that help ensure your product meets those legal obligations. While not mandatory, using the relevant standards, like EN 301 489-1 for general EMC requirements, is the simplest and most widely accepted way to demonstrate compliance. If you choose not to use these standards, you must still prove compliance in another way, often through more complex and costly methods.

Radio performance and EMC testing using a Broadband horn antenna

Tips for CE Certification

1. Review the Directive and Relevant Standards: Start by examining the Directive and standards listed in the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) of similar devices on the market. The DoC is a key document that confirms a product’s compliance with the relevant EU legislation. For instance, wireless communication products are governed by the Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU), which outlines requirements for RF use, EMC, and safety.
2. Follow Harmonized Standards: Use harmonized standards like EN 55032 (for emissions) and EN 61000-3-2 (for power grid disturbances) to guide your pre-compliance testing. These standards provide the technical details needed to meet the legal requirements.
3. Assess Testing Methods and Documentation: Research the testing procedures, necessary documentation, and potential design adjustments that may be needed to ensure your product meets certification standards.
4. Test in Controlled Environments: Accurate testing requires proper equipment and setup. For large or immovable devices, such as EV chargers or industrial equipment, the good news is that testing for conducted and radiated emissions can be performed directly at your site. This eliminates costly transportation, speeds up the process, and ensures your equipment is tested under real-world conditions for reliable results.

By following these steps and understanding the distinction between Directives and Standards, you’ll be well-prepared to achieve CE certification. Check out how we helped Pulsetto successfully obtain its CE mark and the steps we took to ensure compliance.

FCC Certification: Non-Negotiable for the U.S. Market

Unlike CE, FCC certification isn’t a self-declared process—it requires accredited testing and an issued FCC ID, which must be registered with the Federal Communications Commission. Without these, your product cannot legally be sold in the United States.

Here are the key considerations to keep in mind when preparing for FCC certification:

1. RF and EMC Compliance: FCC tests focus heavily on RF and EMC, ensuring your device won’t interfere with other products or critical systems. This includes compliance with specific frequency bands, such as the UNII bands for Wi-Fi and wireless communication. Devices operating in these bands, especially the UNII-4 band (5.850–5.925 GHz), must meet stricter regulations. Additionally, products in the UNII-3 band (5.725–5.850 GHz) may require wider bandwidths for high-speed applications like Wi-Fi 6E. Meeting these requirements is essential for approval.
2. Be prepared for costs: FCC certification costs can range from $8,000 to $20,000, depending on the complexity of your device. For simpler products, such as those requiring a DoC, the cost can be lower, typically around $1,000–$2,000. To help manage these costs, consider using pre-compliance testing services, which allow you to identify potential issues early and avoid unexpected expenses later in the process.
3. Penalties for Non-Compliance: Non-compliance can result in wallet-busting fines of up to $47,350 per violation per day, with total penalties exceeding $473,000. Avoid these penalties by ensuring compliance before selling your product.

To learn more about the intricacies of the certification process, we’ve written a blog post on Navigating the FCC Jungle—be sure to check it out.

Modular Approach: A Faster Path to FCC Certification

The modular approach is an excellent option as it helps bypass the complexities, costs, and paperwork of FCC emission testing early in your product development. Many companies offer modules for BLE, Wi-Fi, LoRa, GSM, and other wireless technologies.

Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons of the modular approach:

By focusing on RF and EMC compliance as well as understanding the costs involved, you’ll be well-prepared for FCC certification. The modular approach can help streamline the process, but it’s important to consider the trade-offs.

Pre-compliance testing services can provide an early check on your device’s readiness, saving time and costs down the line.

UL Certification: Building Trust and Credibility

While FCC certification is mandatory for products sold in the U.S., UL certification is optional but widely recognized, particularly in North America. It’s a mark of safety that assures buyers your product meets high industry standards, boosting its reliability and consumer trust.

Obtaining UL certification involves assessing various aspects of your product to confirm its safety and performance. Here are some key areas UL tests to ensure compliance with regulatory standards:

1. Electrical Safety: UL evaluates whether your product can operate safely in various environments, focusing on risks like electrical shock, short circuits, and arc flashes. These assessments ensure your device remains safe for everyday use, even in challenging conditions.
2. Fire Safety: Products are tested for flammability and resistance to fire hazards. This helps prevent accidents caused by overheating or component failure, enhancing overall safety for end users.
3. Material Safety: UL certifies the safety of materials such as plastics, engineered materials, and recycled plastics. Through tests like tensile strength, bending resistance, and impact resistance, UL evaluates material durability and reliability.

UL certification demonstrates your commitment to safety and quality, helping your product stand out in a competitive market. While not mandatory, it opens doors to new markets and builds trust with buyers who value safety, making your product more competitive and appealing.

Practical Tips for Certification Success

Certifications—whether for CE, FCC, or UL—require careful planning to meet all requirements and avoid costly delays. By integrating certification preparation early in product development, you can make this process less complicated. Below we share tips to guide you through:

1. Start Early with Preparation: Certifications affect more than compliance—they shape product design, time-to-market, and your company’s reputation. Engineers who plan ahead and integrate testing early gain a competitive edge.
2. Learn From Competitors: Study the DoC (Declaration of Conformity) of similar products to understand which directives and standards apply.
3. Design for Compliance: Align your RF, EMC, and material choices with certification requirements from the start.
4. Invest in Pre-Compliance Testing: Catch potential issues early with pre-compliance testing. Using professional tools like spectrum analyzers and LISNs helps you identify and resolve problems before they lead to delays or costly fixes.

At Systec Dizainas, we’ve walked the path of certifications ourselves and guided clients through RF testing, pre-compliance, and industry regulations.

If you are preparing to bring your product to market, let’s chat and navigate CE, FCC, and UL certifications together.

Looking for more guidance? Check out our insights on product development and see how we can support your every step of the way.