The telecommunications market has grown in recent years, and specifically the production of devices used in close proximity to the human body for long periods of time. To ensure the protection of the users from exposure to EM fields, were approved in many countries, such as Europe, America, Japan, Australia and Canada harmonized standards that limit the maximum levels of exposure.
All devices used in the vicinity of the head or body, before being placed on the market, must be submitted for SAR testing that verify their compliance with such standards. The SAR is defined as the amount of EM energy absorbed by the human body per unit of mass and is measured in W / Kg.
The European Community requires that all devices used in the vicinity of the ear are checked in accordance with standard harmonized CENELEC EN 50360, which recalls the technical standard CENELEC EN 50361.
The devices used near the human body are tested in accordance with standard harmonized CENELEC EN 50385, which recalls the technical standard CENELEC EN 50383.
For devices that are used in the vicinity of persons, such as WiFi devices that are kept on the desk, the harmonized standard CENELEC EN 50385 applies and a measure in an anechoic chamber can be selected as a method for verifying compliance and to find the minimum distance for a safe use of the device.
For high power base stations placed at a distance, verification of compliance with the limits for human exposure is made through field measurement or simulation of wave propagation.
For low power devices, within certain condition, the testing can be avoided and a "Declaration of Exemption" can be written.
The International Committee for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has set guidelines for the limits of exposure to electromagnetic fields. These guidelines are widely regarded and has been accepted in many countries, but some countries such as America and Canada have put limits more conservative.
In Europe Recommendation 1999/519/EC of the European Council defines the limits for human exposure to electromagnetic fields up to 300 GHz.
Sicom can offer SAR testing on devices used in the vicinity of the ear and body and the other human exposure verification described above.
