ETSI EN 300 330 V2.1.1 testing for inductive loop systems

ETSI EN 300 330 Inductive Loop Testing

Compatible Electronics provides accredited testing for NFC, LF and HF RFID, wireless charging, and other inductive devices requiring CE marking under the Radio Equipment Directive. ETSI EN 300 330 V2.1.1 testing available at Lake Forest/Silverado and Brea, with FCC Part 15.225 and ISED RSS-210 available at all three locations.

NVLAP Accredited FCC Listed Lab ISO/IEC 17025:2017 CE Marking Support

What is EN 300 330?

ETSI EN 300 330 V2.1.1 (2017-02) is the ETSI harmonized standard for short range devices operating in the frequency range 9 kHz to 25 MHz (radio equipment) and inductive loop systems operating up to 30 MHz. It specifies technical requirements and measurement methods and is the harmonized standard providing presumption of conformity with RED Article 3.2 for inductive devices. NFC devices, HF RFID readers at 13.56 MHz, LF RFID systems, and wireless charging pads operating in this frequency range are all evaluated under EN 300 330.

Frequency Bands Covered

LF Band

9–135 kHz

Animal identification, access control, and inductive power transfer applications.

HF Band

13.56 MHz

NFC, smart cards, HF RFID, and wireless charging compatible with inductive standards.

ISM Band

27.12 MHz

Industrial inductive applications within the 9 kHz to 30 MHz range.

Standards We Test To

EU / CE

ETSI EN 300 330 V2.1.1 (2017-02)

Short Range Devices: radio equipment 9 kHz to 25 MHz and inductive loop systems 9 kHz to 30 MHz; harmonized standard for RED Article 3.2 essential requirements. Accredited at Lake Forest/Silverado and Brea.

EU / EMC

ETSI EN 301 489-3 V2.1.1 (2019-03)

EMC standard for Short Range Devices 9 kHz to 246 GHz; covers RED Article 3.1(b) EMC essential requirements required alongside EN 300 330. Accredited at Lake Forest/Silverado and Brea.

EU / EMC

ETSI EN 301 489-1 V2.2.3 (2019-11)

Common EMC technical requirements for radio equipment; required alongside EN 301 489-3 for complete RED EMC compliance. Accredited at Brea.

USA

FCC Part 15.225

US equivalent for intentional radiators at 13.553–13.567 MHz; field strength limits at 30 meters. Applicable to NFC readers and HF RFID initiators in the US market.

Canada

RSS-210 Issue 10 (2019) + A1

Industry Canada Category I licence-exempt apparatus for NFC and inductive devices. Accredited at all three locations.

Note: ISO/IEC 14443 (NFC-A/B protocols) and ISO/IEC 15693 (vicinity cards) are air-interface protocol standards. Compatible Electronics tests the RF regulatory parameters required by EN 300 330 and FCC Part 15.225 — field strength, emissions, bandwidth, and frequency accuracy. Protocol interoperability conformance is outside the lab's accredited scope.

Testing Requirements & Measurement Methods

Measurements

Required Measurements

Magnetic field strength (H-field) at specified distances
Radiated field strength and antenna factor measurements
Frequency accuracy at the fundamental operating frequency
Occupied bandwidth verification
Spurious and harmonic emissions
Duty cycle verification
Large-loop and small-loop antenna measurement methods

Methods

Measurement Methods

Loop antenna measurements — large loop antenna for field strength calibration
Small loop antenna — near-field probe measurements
Field strength at specified distances per EN 300 330 measurement annex
Shielded room or open area test conditions per applicable test method
Spectrum analyzer measurements for harmonic and spurious identification

Products We Test

NFC & HF RFID

NFC readers and contactless payment terminals
HF RFID readers (13.56 MHz) — smart card and industrial
Smart card readers and NFC desktop terminals
Wireless charging pads using inductive coupling at 13.56 MHz

LF RFID & Access Control

LF RFID systems (125 kHz and 134.2 kHz) — access control and animal ID
Access control systems using inductive technology
Animal identification equipment per ISO 11784/11785

Specialty Inductive

Electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems
Inductive loop hearing assistance systems

Real-World Testing Examples

NFC Contactless Payment Reader — EN 300 330 + EN 301 489-3

A payment technology manufacturer required CE marking under RED for an NFC point-of-sale reader. Compatible Electronics performed EN 300 330 V2.1.1 testing using large-loop and small-loop antenna methods to measure the 13.56 MHz magnetic field strength at specified distances and verify harmonic emissions at 27.12 MHz and 40.68 MHz. EN 301 489-3 EMC testing confirmed Article 3.1(b) compliance. The complete RED test package supported the Declaration of Conformity for EU market entry.

LF Animal ID Reader — FCC + ISED

A livestock technology manufacturer needed FCC Part 15.225 and Industry Canada RSS-210 compliance for a handheld LF RFID reader operating at 134.2 kHz for cattle identification per ISO 11784/11785 protocols. Compatible Electronics measured inductive field strength at specified distances, conducted emissions on the battery charger port, and spurious emissions across the measurement frequency range. The parallel FCC and ISED test reports were delivered together for simultaneous North American market compliance.

Inductive Wireless Charging Pad — EN 300 330

A consumer electronics company required CE marking for a wireless charging pad operating at 13.56 MHz. Testing to EN 300 330 V2.1.1 confirmed the magnetic field strength at specified distances complied with the inductive loop system limits, and harmonic emissions at 27.12 MHz and 40.68 MHz were within the spurious limits. EN 301 489-3 immunity testing confirmed the charger's operation was not disrupted by external RF fields or ESD events. Pre-compliance testing identified a 27 MHz harmonic issue resolved through PCB layout adjustment before final testing.