All uses of the radio spectrum generate electromagnetic fields (EMF) and there are internationally recognised guidelines to help ensure services operate in a way that will not adversely affect health. As I am a user of the radio spectrum, that also mean I am responsible.
Right at this point I acknowledge that this is a compulsory regulatory requirement (this means I MUST comply with), all I will add to that statement is that if requirements are dealt with correctly (this means the paperwork) and if all equipment and antennas are compliant (this means follows the rules) then there is virtually no risk to anyone’s health.
The regulatory requirements do not cover:
- exposure of the licensee and does not therefore require licensees to protect themselves from EMF (This means me); or
- exposure of workers and does not therefore require licensees to protect workers from EMF (This means the person who puts my antenna up)
Next major thing to remember is that if I transmit at an average radiated power of LESS THAN 10 Watts EIRP or 6.1 Watts ERP, then the regulatory requirements do not apply, as my transmission power will result in EMF below the natural levels
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are a combination of invisible electric and magnetic fields of force. They are generated by natural phenomena like the Earth's magnetic field but also by human activities, mainly through the use of electricity. Now, before people panic, everything that is alive emits EMF, everything that is electrical emits EMF, and this includes your own Heart and the PC/Laptop/tablet you are reading this on. It also means that every living thing is exposed to EMF, as you read this you are being exposed to EMF, what is key is the amount of exposure.
EMF has been known about almost since the discovery of radio, there is obscene amounts written about it, its math is high complex, it is highly understood, however, very few people understand it.
OK I am waffling here, but here is the RSGBs simplified guide specifically for radio amateurs "What you need to know as an amateur radio user" which should help most demonstrate compliance by using the RSGB calculator or pre-assessed equipment configurations.
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PUBLIC SAFE EXPOSURE LIMITS
Public Heath England, following guidance from ICNIRP have stated that the Public Safe Exposure limits are:
Magnetic Exposure 360 µT (360 microtesla)
Electrical Exposure 9 kV/m (9 kilovolt per meter)
These limits have been confirmed by the UK government
Licensees will be required to keep records that demonstrate how they have complied with the ICNIRP guidelines. Ofcom refers to Table-7 of the current 1998 guidelines (Page 511) which we note is different to the draft 2018 guidelines that are about to be finalised. If you comply with 1998 guidelines, you will also comply with the 2018 guidelines.
The ICNIRP Reference Levels given on Table 7 are given as Electric Field (V/m), Magnetic Field (A/m) or Power Density (W/m2). Compliance with one of these limits is sufficient – you do not have to prove all three.
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LICENCE STUFF
Definitions applicable to EMF Licence Condition
“dBi” means the ratio in dB (decibel) when comparing the gain of the antenna to the gain of an isotropic antenna. An isotropic antenna is a theoretical antenna which radiates power uniformly in all directions.
“EIRP” means equivalent isotropically radiated power which is the product of the power supplied to an antenna and the absolute or isotropic antenna gain in a given direction relative to an isotropic antenna.
“ERP” means effective radiated power which is the product of the power supplied to an antenna and its gain in a given direction relative to a half-wave dipole.
“general public” means any person who is not: (a) the Licensee, owner, operator or installer of the Relevant Radio Equipment; or (b) acting under a contract of employment or otherwise acting for purposes connected with their trade, business or profession or the performance by them of a public function.
“ICNIRP Guidelines” means the version of the Guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields which are identified in Ofcom’s “Guidance on EMF Compliance and Enforcement” that is in force at the relevant time.
“Licensee’s On-Site Radio Equipment” means the Relevant Radio Equipment and any other wireless telegraphy station(s) and wireless telegraphy apparatus on the same site which transmits at powers higher than 10 Watts EIRP or 6.1 Watts ERP.
“Relevant Radio Equipment” means all the Radio Equipment that is authorised by this Licence to transmit at powers higher than 10 Watts EIRP or 6.1 Watts ERP.
“Shared Site Exemption” means any of the following three situations apply on a shared site in relation to the Licensee’s or another licensee’s wireless telegraphy station(s) or wireless telegraphy apparatus that is authorised to transmit at powers higher than 10 Watts EIRP or 6.1 Watts ERP:
• The first situation is that all of the licensee’s wireless telegraphy station(s) or wireless telegraphy apparatus on a shared site do not transmit at a combined total radiated power in any particular direction that is higher than 100 Watts EIRP or 61 Watts ERP.
• The second situation is that the total electromagnetic field exposure levels produced by the licensee’s wireless telegraphy station(s) or wireless telegraphy apparatus in any area where a member of the general public is or can be expected to be present when transmissions are taking place is no more than 5% of the basic restrictions or 5% of the reference levels in the relevant tables for general public exposure identified in the ICNIRP Guidelines.
• The third situation is where the licensee’s wireless telegraphy station or wireless telegraphy apparatus has an antenna gain that is equal to or higher than 29 dBi and has a fixed beam.
“shared site” means a site that is shared by the Licensee and at least one other licensee for the purposes of establishing, installing, modifying or using wireless telegraphy stations or wireless telegraphy apparatus.
“site” means a physical structure, building, vehicle or moving platform.
“wireless telegraphy apparatus” has the meaning given to it in section 117 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
“wireless telegraphy station” has the meaning given to it in section 117 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
Licence Condition
Sites which are not shared with another licensee
1. The Licensee shall only establish, install, modify or use Relevant Radio Equipment if the total electromagnetic field exposure levels produced by the Licensee’s On-Site Radio Equipment do not exceed the basic restrictions in the relevant tables for general public exposure identified in the ICNIRP Guidelines in any area where a member of the general public is or can be expected to be present when transmissions are taking place.
Sites which are shared with another licensee
2. In the case of a shared site where the Shared Site Exemption applies to the Licensee, the Licensee shall comply with paragraph 1 above.
3. In the case of a shared site where the Shared Site Exemption does not apply to the Licensee, the Licensee shall only establish, install, modify or use the Relevant Radio Equipment if:
a) the total electromagnetic field exposure levels produced by the Licensee’s On-Site Radio Equipment, together with
b) the total electromagnetic field exposure levels produced by all other wireless telegraphy stations and wireless telegraphy apparatus operated by another licensee on the same site for which the Licensee can reasonably assume that a Shared Site Exemption does not apply,
do not exceed the basic restrictions in the relevant tables for general public exposure identified in the ICNIRP Guidelines22 in any area where a member of the general public is or can be expected to be present when transmissions are taking place.
Emergency Situations
4. The obligations in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above will not apply if the Relevant Radio Equipment is being used for the purpose of seeking emergency assistance or reporting and responding to an emergency situation (in the vicinity of that situation) including for search and rescue activities and maritime emergency communications.
Relationship with authorised transmission levels
5. The Licensee shall comply with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above notwithstanding the maximum transmission levels authorised in the Licence.
Records.
6. The Licensee shall keep, or shall procure that a third party shall keep, and shall make available to Ofcom on request, records (including the type of records identified in Ofcom’s “Guidance on EMF Compliance and Enforcement”) that demonstrate how it has complied with when Relevant Radio Equipment is established, installed, modified or used.
Ofcom’s “Guidance on EMF Compliance and Enforcement”
7. When evaluating its compliance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above, the Licensee shall take into account Ofcom’s “Guidance on EMF Compliance and Enforcement” that is in force at the relevant time.
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Flow Charts
EMF compliance flowchart (PDF, 241.5 KB)
Shared Site compliance flowchart (PDF, 124.6 KB)
Calculators
OfCOMS Web Based
OfCOMS Downloadable Excel
RSGB Web Based
RSGB Downladable Excel
Pre-Assessed Equipment Configuration (PAECs)
These Pre-Assessed Equipment Configuration guidance document (PAEC-1 and PAEC-2) form part of the set of guidance provided by the RSGB on how radio amateurs can show that their station is compliant with the Ofcom UK amateur licence EMF condition with respect to the ICNIRP 2020 guidelines
They are intended for users who seek an alternative means to show compliance with fewer restrictions than achievable using the RSGB or Ofcom EMF Calculators that are intentionally biased to give conservative results.
PAEC-1: Half Wave Dipole 160 to 40m v1.0 (20-page/6.9MB PDF)
PAEC-2-1: Rotatable Beam Antennas for 50 MHz to 1.3 GHz (68-page/5.4MB PDF)
So you are really need help sleeping!
Here are links to information that you will either find extremely useful, will cure your insomnia, or will leave you feeling as if you are totally lost (If the later, then just visit the RSGB web site on EMF).
OfCOMS Page on Electromagnetic fields (EMF)
International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
Public Health Englands EMF Guidance BTW this is a good one as PHE acknowledge and accept that The World Health Organization (WHO) states that, to date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies.
ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz TO 300 GHz)
Radcom Article, March 2021 "New licence
regulations for
RF electromagnetic fields" (PDF)
K.52 : Guidance on complying with limits for human exposure to electromagnetic fields (PDF)
Updated 14 January 2022.