In most cases, EMF is probably one of the simplest regulations to comply with. If it seems complicated, time consuming and expensive, you’re probably doing it wrong. We have a simple three-step approach to ensuring your risks due to EMF are addressed:
That’s it! It couldn’t be simpler. Many of our tools can be used by you without our engineers. However, when you need help, you know we will be there for you with simple solutions.
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) arise whenever electrical energy is used. For example, EMFs emanate from work processes such as RF heating, welding and around the world at large from radio, TV and telecoms equipment.
Since July 2016, countries that are members of the EEA have to comply with the European Commission’s Electromagnetic Field (EMF) directive. This is a regulation also in place here in the United Kingdom. Although the UK left the EU and EEA in 2020, the regulation has applied in our laws since then.
Does exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields produce adverse health consequences? That’s a question which has been posed since the late 1970s.
We know long-term exposure to high levels of EMFs can give rise to acute effects. The effects that can occur depend on the type of RF energy. At low frequencies, it affects the central nervous system of the body. At high frequencies, heating effects can occur much like they do from a microwave oven. This can lead to a rise in body temperature.
The European Union’s directive applies to all industries, with a great impact on those involving welding and consumer goods. RF, spot and other types of welding equipment generate significant magnetic fields. As an employer, you should assess your employees’ exposure to EMF.
Unfortunately, EMF is not something you can see, feel or touch so it is impossible to quantify the nature of that exposure without specific test equipment. After testing, if the exposure exceeds the limit values, you should develop methods to reduce the exposure. Those methods of controlling exposure may include employee information and training, health surveillance or shielding. The main processes likely to be affected are resistance welding, some arc welding processes, RF welding, induction heating and brazing.
MSCS can produce a plan for you and provide information, guidance and testing services. Simply put, we will look at your equipment and site layout and create a test plan on your behalf. Our strategy will consider including individual items of plant and perimeter surveys. We then carry out the testing, followed by advice and assistance on corrective measures. As always, we will match or beat any quote for equivalent services.
MSCS has invested heavily in test facilities and equipment. In 2014 we successfully opened our new Open Area Test Site (OATS). In addition to the comprehensive EMC test services, we also provide EMF measurements, site surveys and assessments for a wide range of industrial and commercial equipment. Our test and evaluation services cover most industry sectors including automotive manufacture, welding, household appliances and RF equipment. Assessment of electromagnetic fields (EMF) like EMC, can be an essential part of compliance for CE marking. We offer EMF-related testing and assessment following the EMF Directive (2013/35/EU) and European recommendation 1999/519/EEC for human protection from exposure to magnetic fields.
Our test equipment can be used for measurements under the following standards:
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz).
Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric and magnetic fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz).
Guidance on determining compliance of exposure to pulsed and complex non-sinusoidal waveforms below 100 kHz.
International Electrotechnical Commission
IEC 617860-1;
Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to 100 kHz concerning exposure of human beings- Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments.
IEC 62577;
Evaluation of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from a stand-alone broadcast transmitter (30 MHz – 40 GHz).
IEC 62311;
Assessment of electronic and electrical equipment related to human exposure restrictions for electromagnetic fields (0 Hz – 300 GHz).
IEC 62369;
Evaluation of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from short-range devices (SRDs) in various applications over the frequency range 0 GHz to 300 GHz – Part 1: Fields produced by devices used for electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification and similar systems.
IEC 60601;
Medical electrical equipment.
IEC 62369-1;
Evaluation of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from short-range devices (SRDs) in various applications over the frequency range 0 GHz to 300 GHz – Part 1: Fields produced by devices used for electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification and similar systems.
IEC 62110;
Magnetic field levels generated by AC power systems – measurement procedures concerning public exposure.
IEC 62233;
Measurement methods for electromagnetic fields of household appliances and similar apparatus regarding human exposure.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
EN 50400;
A basic standard to demonstrate the compliance of fixed equipment for radio transmission (110 MHz – 40 GHz) intended for use in wireless telecommunication networks with the basic restrictions or the reference levels related to general public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields when put into service.
EN 50401;
Product standard to demonstrate the compliance of fixed equipment for radio transmission (110 MHz – 40 GHz) intended for use in wireless telecommunication networks with the basic restrictions or the reference levels related to general public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, when put into service.
EN 50499;
Procedure for the assessment of the exposure of workers to electromagnetic fields.
EN 50496;
Determination of workers’ exposure to electromagnetic fields and assessment of risk at a broadcast site.
EN 50554;
Basic standard for the in-situ assessment of a broadcast site related to general public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.
EN 50475;
Basic standard for calculating and measuring of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from broadcasting service transmitters in the HF bands (3 MHz – 30 MHz).
EN 50476;
Product standard to demonstrate the compliance of broadcast station transmitters with the reference levels and the basic restrictions related to public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (3 MHz – 30 MHz).
EN 50492;
Basic standard for the in-situ measurement of electromagnetic field strength related to human exposure in the vicinity of base stations.
EN 50413;
Basic standard on measurement and calculation procedures for human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (0 Hz – 300 GHz).
EN50519;
Assessment of workers’ exposure to electric and magnetic fields of industrial induction heating equipment.
EN50444;
Basic standard for evaluating human exposure to electromagnetic fields from equipment for arc welding and allied processes.
EN50505;
Basic standard for evaluating human exposure to electromagnetic fields from equipment for resistance welding and allied processes.
EN50500;
Measurement procedures of magnetic field levels generated by electronic and electrical apparatus in the railway environment concerning human exposure.
EN 62311;
Assessment of electronic and electrical equipment related to human exposure restrictions for electromagnetic fields (0 Hz – 300 GHz).
EN 62369;
Evaluation of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from short-range devices (SRDs) in various applications over the frequency range 0 GHz to 300 GHz – Part 1: Fields produced by devices used for electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification and similar systems.
EN 62369-1;
Evaluation of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from short-range devices (SRDs) in various applications over the frequency range 0 GHz to 300 GHz – Part 1: Fields produced by devices used for electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification and similar systems.
EN 62110;
Magnetic field levels generated by AC power systems – measurement procedures concerning public exposure.
EN 62233;
Measurement methods for electromagnetic fields of household appliances and similar apparatus concerning human exposure.
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
ECC recommendation 02(04)
Measuring non-ionising electromagnetic radiation (9 kHz – 300 GHz).
IEEE Std 644 -1994 (R2008);
IEEE standard procedures for measuring power frequency electric and magnetic fields from AC power lines.
IEEE Std C95.1 – 2005;
IEEE standard for Safety Levels concerning human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (3 kHz to 300 GHz).
IEEE Std C95.1a – 2010;
Amendment 1: Specifies ceiling limits for induced and contact current; clarifies distinctions between localised exposure and spatial peak power density.
IEEE Std C95.6 – 2002 (R2007);
IEEE standard for safety levels concerning human exposure to electromagnetic fields (0–3 kHz).
