FCC Part 15 testing for radio frequency devices

FCC Part 15 Testing Services

FCC Part 15 governs radio frequency devices in the United States, covering both unintentional radiators (digital devices that emit RF as a byproduct) and intentional radiators (wireless transmitters). Compatible Electronics provides comprehensive Part 15 testing across all subparts, with NVLAP accredited measurement methods and test reports accepted by all major Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs).

NVLAP Accredited FCC Listed Lab ISO/IEC 17025:2017 All Subparts Covered

What is FCC Part 15?

FCC Part 15 establishes technical standards for radio frequency devices that can be operated without an individual license. It covers devices ranging from laptop computers and LED drivers to WiFi routers, Bluetooth headsets, and LoRa sensors. Compliance is mandatory for any electronic device sold in the United States that generates or uses radio frequency energy, whether or not it is designed to transmit.

Part 15 Subparts We Test

Subpart B

Unintentional Radiators

Class A and Class B digital devices, computers, peripherals, power supplies, LED lighting
Measurement per ANSI C63.4 (2014)
Accredited at all three California locations

Subpart C

Intentional Radiators

All unlicensed wireless transmitters — WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LoRa, NFC, RFID, sub-GHz
Measurement per ANSI C63.10 (2013)
Accredited at all three locations

Subpart D

UPCS Devices

Unlicensed Personal Communications Service devices
Measurement per ANSI C63.17 (2013)
Accredited at Lake Forest/Silverado

Subpart E

U-NII Devices

5 GHz and 6 GHz WiFi (no DFS testing)
Measurement per ANSI C63.10 (2013)
Accredited at all three locations

Subpart F

Ultra-Wideband (UWB)

UWB devices
Measurement per ANSI C63.10 (2013)
Accredited at Lake Forest/Silverado and Brea

Subpart G / H

Access BPL & White Space

Subpart G: Access BPL — Lake Forest/Silverado
Subpart H: White Space devices — Lake Forest/Silverado
Measurement per ANSI C63.10 (2013)

Unintentional Radiator Testing (Subpart B)

Class A vs. Class B

Class A — commercial, industrial, or business environments
Class B — residential environments (~10 dB more stringent than Class A)
Consumer products sold to the general public require Class B compliance
Product marketing and intended use — not the design — determines classification
Peripheral devices default to Class B unless marketed exclusively for commercial use

Radiated Emissions

30 MHz to 1 GHz standard; extended above 1 GHz for clock frequencies above 108 MHz
3-meter and 10-meter measurement distances
Antenna height scan 1–4 meters; horizontal and vertical polarization
Quasi-peak and average detector measurements

Conducted Emissions & Authorization

150 kHz to 30 MHz on AC power ports via 50 µH/50 Ω LISN
Both line and neutral conductors measured
Quasi-peak and average detector limits
DC power port conducted emissions where applicable
Authorization: Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) — no FCC ID required

Intentional Radiator Testing (Subpart C)

Conducted output power at antenna port
Radiated field strength and EIRP
Peak and average power measurements
Power spectral density (PSD)
Occupied bandwidth (99% method)

Spurious and harmonic emissions
Band edge emissions
Frequency stability and accuracy
Frequency hopping and spread spectrum verification
Authorization: FCC Certification (FCC ID) required — issued by TCB

Equipment Classes

Class A Digital Device — commercial/industrial use; less stringent limits
Class B Digital Device — residential use; stricter limits to protect home radio/TV reception
Peripheral devices — tested to Class B limits unless marketed solely for commercial use

External switching power supplies — Class B limits apply for residential-market supplies
LED lighting products — unintentional radiator limits apply to driver circuits

Products We Test

Computing & Displays

Computers, laptops, tablets, and servers
Monitors, displays, and TVs
Printers, scanners, and peripherals
Networking equipment (routers, switches, access points)

Power & Industrial

Switching power supplies and AC adapters
LED lighting and drivers
Industrial controllers and PLCs

Connected & Wireless

Consumer electronics and smart home devices
IoT hubs, gateways, and connected devices
Wireless transmitters — WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LoRa, NFC, RFID

Real-World Testing Examples

Smart Home Hub — Part 15B + 15C Combined

A consumer electronics manufacturer needed FCC compliance for a smart home hub containing a multicore processor alongside WiFi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee radios. Compatible Electronics performed Part 15B per ANSI C63.4 for the digital device emissions and Part 15C per ANSI C63.10 for all three wireless radios — tested in worst-case simultaneous operation. The combined package covering both SDoC (Part 15B) and FCC ID (Part 15C) was delivered to the TCB in a single coordinated filing.

LED Driver — Class A Part 15B

A commercial lighting manufacturer needed Part 15B compliance for a high-power LED driver used in warehouse and industrial systems. Compatible Electronics performed radiated emissions from 30 MHz to 1 GHz and conducted emissions from 150 kHz to 30 MHz per ANSI C63.4 (2014), confirming Class A compliance across all operating modes. The accredited test report supported the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity filed with the FCC.

UWB Precision Location Device — Subpart F

A logistics technology company required Part 15F compliance for an ultra-wideband indoor positioning module. Compatible Electronics performed ANSI C63.10 measurements covering UWB emission mask limits across the 3.1–10.6 GHz band, spurious emissions outside the UWB band, and transmit power verification. The test report supported the FCC ID application filed through a TCB for the standalone positioning module.

Authorization Requirements

Subpart B — Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC); no FCC ID; accredited test report required
Subpart C — FCC Certification (FCC ID) required; test report submitted to TCB
Subpart E (U-NII) — FCC Certification required; software security requirements apply

Labeling: FCC compliance statement or FCC ID label required on device per applicable subpart
User manual: FCC interference statement required
Test report retention: records must be retained and available to FCC upon request