Electromagnetic Radiation
Key Facts:
1. Whether
electrical effects were the cause of this phenomena or not is
difficult to determine due to the changeable operational
environment.
2. Human tissue has
no way of discriminating against electrical radiation whether
sourced from 50 Hz power or radio transmitters.
3. In the home &
workplace the sources are multiple & wide-ranging - from powerlines
to electrical appliances & mobiles, to microwave and satellite
installations etc. |
Nufer &
Associates consultancy services span
the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum with capabilities for measurement
and correlation with current legislation from ACMA, standards and
recommendations of ARPANSA, WHO, and other industry bodies such as
the ACIF.
The scope of our consultancy extends through the following aspects
of this technology and include –
For more information contact us on Phone 61(0)7 3273 1793,
Mobile 61(0)428 645 046, or Email
consult@nufer.com.au. |
ABC Toowong Studio Experience
The experiences
of employees as the ABC Studios in Toowong Queensland, have
highlighted the potential of the electrical environment impacting the
workplace in insidious ways. The debate continues on whether EMR is
a threat to life.
As a service to residential home-owners
Nufer & Associates is happy to
carry out an on-site review for home-owners
for a fee of $80 + GST (conditions apply). |
EMR Due
Power Systems & ELF Sources
Key Facts:
1. All wires
carrying current radiate a field proportional to
the current being carried.
2. Common practice
is to run the to and from circuits in the same cable to enable field
cancellation so at distance the field is nullified at distance and
through aggregation of field components.
3. It is in the
interest of the power industry to contain transformer radiation
fields since these represent lost energy and therefore lost
revenues. |
As current flows through an electric wire, it
generates a magnetic field around itself. This is the field of
concern with regard to human health, and is usually contained by
running the to and from circuits in the same cable or in close
proximity.
In the case of appliances these conductors are
often separated for a number of reasons, resulting in quite high
fields in the immediate vicinity of the appliance as shown
below.
Electrical power is used for nearly everything we have in our home
and work environments and includes. For the most it is safe and
operates well below the limits set by the authorities. Typical
levels of radiation around the home include:
|
Appliance |
@ 3 cm |
@ 30 cm |
@ 1 metre |
|
Hair Dryer |
60 - 20,000 mG |
0.1 - 70 mG |
0.1 - 0.3 mG |
|
Shaver |
150 - 15,000 mG |
0.8 - 90 mG |
0.1 - 0.3 mG |
|
Desk Lamp |
400 mG |
5.6 mG |
2.6 mG |
|
Vacuum Cleaner |
2,000 -
8,000 mG |
20 - 200 mG |
1.3 - 20 mG |
|
Fluorescent Lamp |
400 - 4,000 mG |
|
|
|
Room Air conditioner |
400 mG |
38 mG |
|
|
Microwave Oven# |
730 - 2,000 mG |
40 - 80 mG |
2.5 - 6 mG |
# Some devices also produce
electromagnetic fields on radio frequencies.
1.
Radiation fields are cumulative in that working in a kitchen
where there are a number of active appliances may result in
field contributions from a number of appliances (including lighting) according to
its radiation characteristics and distance.
2.
In addition to 50 Hz emissions some appliances such as microwave ovens, televisions
(older CRT) produce electromagnetic fields at radio frequencies also.
These come under the a different set of measurement guidelines and
standards.
3.
Nufer & Associates provides the
following services in respect of electromagnetic
emissions from 50 Hz power infrastructure:
- Measurement of radiation from any 50 Hz mains
infrastructure;
- Correlation of data against Australian/overseas
standards;
- Compilation of data for evidentry purposes;
- Recommendations regarding mitigation
against 50Hz radiation;
- Management of implementation steps to limit
exposure;
- Ongoing monitoring services;
- Public information evenings (free).
4. A significant amount of work in this area concerns
the radiation from powerlines in new residential areas.
Whilst many of these installations are undertaken with
great care, there has recently been concerns of
secondary effects such as the breakdown of pollution
gasses by corona discharge into ions which then get
ingested by nearby residents and animals. For more information contact us on Phone 61(0)7 3273 1793,
Mobile 61(0)428 645 046, or Email
consult@nufer.com.au. |
Nufer & Associates Provides Design Assistance & Radiation
Measurements for a Variety of Applications Including New Residential
Developments and New Building Constructions. |
EMR Due
Mobile Radio
Microwave Radio
High Power RF
Transmitters
|
Nufer & Associates provides a range of
consulting services in the:
- Assessment;
- Analysis;
- Compliance;
- OH&S Training:
of non-Ionising or radio frequency (RF) radiation. Our services
leverage the guidelines of ACMA
(previously the ACA) and ARPANSA in the
delivery of reports and recommendation regarding acceptable
compliance, based around review of compliance folder information for
the site and/or actual measurements of radiation fields.
Nufer & Associates provides advice
to organisations and government concerning the
requirements to comply with EME (Electromagnetic
Emission) Guidelines as described by
ACMA on their
web site. A booklet explaining the government
framework can be downloaded
here. Nufer &
Associates consultancy services include:
- Theoretical prediction of EME power from site
configuration data;
- Field measurement, analysis and plotting of data
for evidentry purposes;
- Audit of site configuration details w.r.t.
licence information;
- Development of site radiation folders.
Nufer & Associates conducts desktop studies and
field measurement of high power radiation for other situations such
as electromagnetic impacts on fuel and fuel vapour, such as the case
with fuel loading and maintenance facilities.
In spite of media information to the contrary, fuel vapour at
handling facilities can be subject to accidental ignition from spark
energy. This can arise from poor battery connections on electrical
equipment through to spark jumps across resonant metal structures -
subject to high energy radio frequency emissions due to two-way
radios, mobile phones, and RADAR transmissions.
For more information contact us on Phone 61(0)7 3273 1793,
Mobile 61(0)428 645 046, or Email
consult@nufer.com.au. |
Microwave &
Radio
Frequency (RF) Radiation
Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel
Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel |
EMC/ EMI & Electro-magnetic Compatibility
|
Nufer & Associates offer clients
pre-compliance testing and assessment of their
products with the relevant Australian Standard through use of
shielded room and test resources at a number of universities
in SE Queensland.
This assists in managing the cost of resolving compliance with
the Australian Regulatory Framework by:
- Identifying shortcomings before finalisation of designs;
- Technology transfer to clients;
- Developing EMC mitigation;
- Minimising the need for formal lab re-testing.
Nufer & Associates' consultancy services include such elements as:
- EMC Test-Plan Preparation,
- Pre-compliance Laboratory Testing,
- Test Report
Development,
- Declaration Conformity Completion,
- Electronic Design
Considerations,
- EMC Design Processes Training.
|
Product
|
European
|
International
|
AS/NZS*
|
|
ISM equipment |
EN 55011 |
CISPR 11 |
CISPR 11# |
|
Spark ignition engines |
|
CISPR 12 |
CISPR 12 |
|
TV receivers and audio
equipment |
EN 55013 |
CISPR 13 |
CISPR 13 |
|
Electrical motor-operated &
thermal appliances, electric tools & similar apparatus |
EN 55014-1 |
CISPR 14-1 |
CISPR 14 |
|
Electrical lighting and similar
equipment |
EN 55015 |
CISPR 15 |
CISPR 15 |
|
Information Technology |
EN 55022 |
CISPR 22 |
CISPR 22 |
|
Generic (residential,
commercial and light industry) |
EN 50081.1 |
IEC 61000-6-3 |
4251.1 |
|
Generic (industrial
environments) |
EN 50081-2 |
IEC 61000-6-4 |
4251.2 |
|
Arc welding equipment |
EN 50199 |
|
3652 |
|
Signalling on low-voltage
electrical installations |
EN 50065-1 |
IEC 61000-3-8 |
|
|
Uninterruptible power systems
(UPS) |
EN 50091-2 |
IEC 62040-2 |
62040.2 |
With respect to the following standards:
* Prefix for Listed Australian Standards.
# Equipment operating between the frequencies 918 - 926 MHz must
comply with AS/NZS 2064 in Australia.
Useful EMC Links
Because these links are constantly changing if you find problems
please report any failed links to
webmaster@nufer.com.au.
For more information contact us on Phone 61(0)7 3273 1793,
Mobile 61(0)428 645 046, or Email
consult@nufer.com.au.
|
Electromagnetic Compatibility |
Electromagnetic Interference
|
Despite the implementation of new management strategies by
government and standards bodies the congestion of the RF (Radio
Frequency) environment through the use of ever increasing wireless
applications is becoming a major problem.
In addition, the problem
of earth-loops and stray noise pick-up is never too far away due to
the complexity and sensitivity of modern-day electronics in new
installations.
Nufer & Associates provides consulting services to designers, installation and
maintenance personnel who need to resolve these types of problems
quickly. Examples of client interference problems include:
- Robot and fire protection system malfunction due to variable
speed drives;
- RFID tag reader unreliability;
- Spurious bursting of Bit Error Rate on telecommunications
links.
For more information contact us on Phone 61(0)7 3273 1793,
Mobile 61(0)428 645 046, or Email
consult@nufer.com.au. |
Electromagnetic Interference |
