What Startups Need to Know Before Selling Electronic Hardware Products

Products are the lifeblood of any business. They generate revenue (hopefully) that lets you pay employees, and yourself to keep going and build more products. Creating and developing these products is hard. Especially if it is an electronic device.

As a technical startup founder, it helps to know at least a little bit about the environment you’re developing in. Within the electronics domain, one big unknown not many have experience with is FCC certification. This post is an introduction to FCC Certification as it relates to developing a consumer hardware product.

What is the FCC?

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is a US government agency that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. They also regulate electronic products that emit radio frequency (RF) energy, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular data, and other wireless communication technologies.

With almost everything being connected to Wi-Fi these days, you can start to see the importance of FCC certification in product development.

The purpose of the FCC's regulations and rules is to ensure that these electronic products do not interfere with other devices and to protect the public from harmful radiation exposure.

What is FCC Certification?

FCC certification is the process of testing and certifying that your electronic product complies with the FCC's rules. The rules dictate devices that intentionally or unintentionally radiate RF energy must be tested according to the standard.

Intentional radiators are devices such as Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth headsets, and cellular phones. Unintentional radiators are products like personal computers, televisions, and even digital cameras that may not “intentionally” emit RF energy.

It is a legal requirement for any electronic device that emits RF energy, including intentional and unintentional radiators, to go through the certification or verification process.

Verification vs. Certification

The FCC certification process is broken down into two main categories: Verification and Certification. Verification is for devices that are similar to previously certified products, while Certification is required for products that are new or significantly different from previous models.

A product that utilizes a pre-certified radio module in its design, for example, would likely be eligible for verification. A product that needs a custom-built radio and more unique circuitry would need to go through the certification process and have a unique FCC ID associated with it.

In either case, the process involves testing and documentation to ensure that your product meets the FCC's regulations.

Determining Applicable Regulations

Before beginning the certification process, it's important to determine which FCC regulations apply to your product. This can vary depending on the type of product you are producing, the frequency range it operates in, and the intended use of the product.

Manufacturers will often hire a consultant or work directly with the test lab to dissect the designs of their products and determine the applicable FCC rules that apply to them. Once you've determined the applicable regulations, you can begin the certification process.

Testing and Documentation

The certification process typically involves a lot of testing and documentation. You'll need to work with an accredited lab to conduct the necessary tests on your product, which can include things like RF emissions testing, RF exposure testing, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing.

RF emissions testing involves measuring the amount of RF energy that your product emits and ensuring that it falls within acceptable limits. RF exposure testing involves measuring the amount of RF energy that a user is exposed to when using your product, and ensuring that it falls within acceptable limits. EMC testing involves ensuring that your product does not interfere with other electronic devices or networks.

Along with testing, you'll also need to prepare documentation that outlines your product's technical specifications and compliance with the regulations. This includes providing a detailed description of your product, a block diagram of its functional components, and test results from the lab. You'll also need to provide a user manual that includes information on how to use the product safely and effectively.

The complete list of required documents will be worked out between you and your test lab. After passing all the tests and gathering all the documents, you will be ready to submit your products FCC application.

Submitting Your Application

Once your product has been tested and you've compiled all of the necessary documentation, you can submit your application to the FCC. The FCC will review your application and may ask for additional information or clarification.

Once they're satisfied that your product meets their standards, they'll issue a grant of certification that you can keep in your records and show potential partners or customers.

Other Certifications

It's important to note that FCC certification is just one of several certifications that may be required to sell your product in the US or internationally.

You may also need to comply with other regulations, such as those related to safety or environmental impact. For example, if your product contains hazardous materials, you may need to comply with regulations such as RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).

Cost and Time

One important thing to keep in mind is that the certification process can be time-consuming and expensive. The cost of testing and certification can vary depending on the complexity of your product and the number of tests required. An average timeline for FCC certification can be about 6 weeks if you have no failures.

To mitigate this, It's important to plan and budget accordingly and work with experienced engineers. A good engineer can find problems before spending money at a test lab. Saving you this added cost and debugging time.

Conclusion

FCC certification is an important step in bringing electronic products to market in the United States. It ensures that your product complies with FCC regulations and does not interfere with other devices or pose a risk to public health.

The certification process can be complex and time-consuming, but working with experienced engineers and labs can help streamline the process and minimize costs.

It's important to remember that FCC certification is just one of several certifications that may be required to sell your product in the US or internationally. It's essential to research and make sure your product complies with all applicable regulations to ensure that your product is safe, effective, and legal to sell.

By taking the time to properly certify your electronic product, you can bring it to market with confidence and avoid costly penalties and delays down the road.