Accurate EMR assessment requires sophisticated instrumentation and understanding of measurement principles.
Types of Meters
Broadband Meters measure total EMR across a wide frequency range. They're portable and user-friendly but cannot distinguish between sources.
Spectrum Analyzers provide frequency-specific measurements, allowing precise source identification. Essential for professional assessments.
Key Units
- RF Radiation: Electric field strength (V/m) or power density (µW/m², mW/m²)
- Magnetic Fields: milliGauss (mG) or microTesla (µT). 1 mG = 0.1 µT
- Electric Fields: Volts per meter (V/m)
Peak vs. Average
Modern digital signals (Wi-Fi, cellular) are pulsed. Average readings can mask high-intensity peaks that may be biologically significant. Peak power matters for biology.
Building Biology Standards (SBM-2015)
Unlike government limits based on thermal effects, the German Building Biology guidelines use precautionary thresholds:
RF Radiation (sleeping areas):
- No Anomaly: < 0.1 µW/m²
- Slight: 0.1 - 10 µW/m²
- Severe: 10 - 1000 µW/m²
- Extreme: > 1000 µW/m²
- No Anomaly: < 0.2 mG (20 nT)
- Extreme: > 5 mG (500 nT)
These precautionary values are orders of magnitude lower than ICNIRP limits.