WiFi, Zigbee and other intentional radiators: FCC ID, RED, and the radio regulations that apply the moment your product transmits.
The moment a product transmits - WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, LoRa - it moves into a stricter regulatory category. In the US it needs FCC ID certification through a Telecommunication Certification Body rather than a self-declaration; in the EU it needs the Radio Equipment Directive rather than just EMC.
The most common delay in radio projects is undeclared radio behavior: a product that supports WiFi and Bluetooth but was quoted and tested for one mode, or firmware that enables a region band the report does not cover. Radio certification is mode- and band-specific.
| Market | Typical requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FCC Part 15 Subpart C - certification with FCC ID issued via a TCB; RF exposure evaluation (MPE or SAR) where applicable; ISED Canada (RSS-247) often done alongside | Modular approval can be reused if the module grant covers the end product installation |
| European Union | RED 2014/53/EU: radio (EN 300 328 for 2.4 GHz; EN 301 893 for 5 GHz WLAN), EMC, health/EMF, plus safety; RoHS | Since August 2025, RED cybersecurity requirements (Articles 3.3 d/e/f, EN 18031) apply to connected radio products sold in the EU |
| United Kingdom | UKCA radio regime | Separate from EU RED declarations |
| Australia / New Zealand | RCM under the radio communications framework | Requires a recognized test report |
| South Korea | KC for radio equipment | Often requested together with KC 62133 when lithium batteries are included |
If your product datasheet and your test report do not describe the same radio behavior, send us both. We can review the gap before your next shipment or re-certification.
Products with intentional radiators (WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) require certification with an FCC ID through a TCB. SDoC only applies to non-radio electronics under Part 15 Subpart B.
It is one approval process per market, but both radio modes must be evaluated and appear in the test scope and documentation. Quoting based on one mode and discovering the second during testing is a common cause of cost increases.
For connected radio products placed on the EU market since August 2025, the RED's Articles 3.3(d)/(e)/(f) add requirements on network protection, privacy and fraud resistance, with EN 18031 as the relevant harmonized standard set. This is separate from safety and EMC testing.