Safety Code 6

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Overview

Canada's Safety Code 6 provides a two-tier set of RF exposure limits.  The higher tier is referred to as RF and Microwave Worker while the more restrictive tier is for persons not classified as an RF or Microwave Worker and for the General Public.  The limits for the electric field are similar to the limits in the 1997 FCC Regulations.   The difference occurs between 1 MHz and 30 MHz.  Safety Code 6 and the ICNIRP standard have variable limits from 1 MHz to 10 MHz for the electric field.  All the U.S. standards (IEEE, ANSI, FCC, ACGIH, and DOD) plus the NATO standard have variable limits from 3 MHz to 30 MHz.  Canada has relaxed limits for magnetic fields below 30 MHz.

The regulations also include limits for induced and contact currents.

Exposure Limits

 

Table 1

Exposure Limits for RF and Microwave Workers

 

RF Electromagnetic Fields

Frequency  Range (f)

Electric Field (E)

Magnetic Field (H)

Power Density (S) (E & H Fields)

 Averaging Time

(MHz)

(V/m)

(A/m)

(W/m2)

(min)

0.003 - 1.0

600

4.9

 - 6

1.0 - 10.0

600/f

4.9/f

 - 6

10 - 30

60

4.9/f

 - 6

30 - 300

60

0.163

10*

 6

300 - 1500

3.54f0.5

0.0094f0.5

f/30

 6

1,500 - 15,000

137

0.364

50

 6

15,000 - 150,000

137

0.364

50

616,000/f1.2

150,000 - 300,000

0.354f0.5

9.4 x 10-4f0.5

3.33 x 10-4f

 616,000/f1.2

* Power density values applicable at frequencies greater than 100 MHz.

 

Table 2

Exposure Limits for Persons Not Classified As RF and Microwave Workers (Including the General Public)

 

RF Electromagnetic Fields

 

Frequency  Range (f)

Electric Field (E)

Magnetic Field (H)

Power Density (S) (E & H Fields)

 Averaging Time

(MHz)

(V/m)

(A/m)

(W/m2)

(min)

0.003 - 1.0

280

2.19

 - 6

1.0 - 10.0

280/f

2.19/f

 - 6

10 - 30

28

2.19/f

 - 6

30 - 300

28

0.073

2*

 6

300 - 1500

1.585f0.5

0.0042f0.5

f/150

 6

1,500 - 15,000

61.4

0.163

10

 6

15,000 - 150,000

61.4

0.163

10

616,000/f1.2

150,000 - 300,000

0.158f0.5

4.21 x 10-4f0.5

6.67 x 10-5f

 616,000/f1.2

* Power density values applicable at frequencies greater than 100 MHz.

Table 3

Induced and Contact Current Limits for RF and Microwave Workers

 

Frequency  (MHz) Induced Current (ma rms)  Through Contact Current (ma rms)# Averaging Time
  Booth Feet Each Foot    
0.003 - 0.1 2000 f 1000 f 1000 f 1 second
0.1 - 110 200 100 100 6 minutes

Frequency (f) is in MHz

# Hand grip and through each foot

 

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