Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range from 3 KHZ to 300 GHZ - Safety Code 6

Preface

This document is one of a series of Safety Codes prepared by the Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada. These Safety Codes specify the requirements for the safe use of radiation emitting devices. This Code replaces the previous Safety Code 6, EHD-TR-160, published in 1991 and reprinted in 1994 as 93-EHD-160. The rationale for changes to the previous Safety Code is given in Appendix VII. The aim of this Code is to set out safety requirements for the installation and use of radiofrequency (RF) and microwave devices that operate in the frequency range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz. The exposure criteria in this Code are not intended to apply to the deliberate exposure for treatment purposes of patients by, or under the direction of, practitioners in the healing arts. The safety procedures and installation guidelines given in this Code are for instructing and guiding employees of federal government departments and agencies. These guidelines may be adopted by the provinces, industry or other interested parties. The Department of National Defence shall conform to the requirements of this Safety Code, except in such cases where it considers such compliance would have a detrimental effect on its activities in support of training and operations of the Canadian Forces. The objective of this Code is to establish guidelines for limiting RF and microwave exposure. As such, the document does not describe techniques for product performance evaluation. However, some basic principles and methods for evaluation of exposure levels are included in order to assist readers who are not familiar with RF measurements and evaluation. The Bureau recommends that organizations which adopt this Code develop their own procedures for compliance and exposure evaluation. In a field where technology is advancing rapidly and where unexpected and unique problems may occur, this Code cannot cover all possible situations and blind adherence to rules cannot substitute for the exercise of sound judgement. Consequently, specifications and recommendations in this Code may require some modifications under certain circumstances. This, however, should be done in consultation with experts competent in the field of RF radiation protection. This Code will be reviewed and revised periodically and a particular requirement may be reconsidered at any time if it is found necessary. Interpretation or elaboration on any point can be obtained from the Non-Ionizing Radiation Section of the Radiation Protection Bureau (RPB) in Ottawa. The draft of the revision of this Code was prepared by Dr. A. Thansandote with the assistance of Mr. D.W. Lecuyer,Mr. G.B. Gajda and Dr. J. P. McNamee, all of whom are with the Consumer and Clinical Radiation Hazards Division, RPB. The draft is based on the previous versions of this Safety Code as well as the most current scientific information. This draft was reviewed by P.J.Waight, M.D., S. Vlahovich, M.D., Mr. P. Dvorak, Mr.W.J.Welsh, Mr. H.P. Maharaj and Dr. J.R.N. McLean of RPB, and by Dr. O.P. Gandhi of the University of Utah and Dr. M.A. Stuchly of the University ofVictoria. Dr. K.S. Tan of the Medical Devices Bureau provided comments for Section 3.4 (Medical Devices and Electromagnetic Interference). The reviews and comments of the following are gratefully acknowledged:

1. Federal Departments and Agencies
   
   
   1. Health Canada, Occupational Health and Safety Agency
   2. Transport Canada
   3. Industry Canada, Spectrum Engineering Branch
   4. Canadian Coast Guard
   5. National Defence, Quality Engineering Test Establishment
   6. Communications Research Centre, Radio Communications and Broadcast Research
      
      
2. Provinces
   
   
   1. British Columbia Ministry of Health, Radiation Protection Branch
   2. The Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, Department of Medical Physics
   3. Ontario Ministry of Labour, Occupational Health and Safety Branch, Radiation Protection Service
   4. Alberta Labour (Represented by d.r. Novitsky Enterprises)
      
      
3. Industry
   
   
   1. Motorola, Florida Corporate Electromagnetics Research Laboratory
   2. NAV Canada, Flight Inspection and Radiocommunications Engineering
   3. Radio Advisory Board of Canada
      
      
4. Other Interested Parties
   
   
   1. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
   2. McMaster University, St. Joseph's Hospital