Goto Section: 2.1091 | 2.1201 | Table of Contents
FCC 2.1093
Revised as of October 2, 2015
Goto Year:2014 |
2016
§ 2.1093 Radiofrequency radiation exposure evaluation: portable devices.
(a) Requirements of this section are a consequence of Commission
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the
environmental significance of its actions. See subpart I of part 1 of this
chapter, in particular § 1.1307(b).
(b) For purposes of this section, a portable device is defined as a
transmitting device designed to be used so that the radiating structure(s)
of the device is/are within 20 centimeters of the body of the user.
(c)(1) Portable devices that operate in the Cellular Radiotelephone Service
pursuant to part 22 of this chapter; the Personal Communications Service
(PCS) pursuant to part 24 of this chapter; the Satellite Communications
Services pursuant to part 25 of this chapter; the Miscellaneous Wireless
Communications Services pursuant to part 27 of this chapter; the Maritime
Services (ship earth station devices only) pursuant to part 80 of this
chapter; the Specialized Mobile Radio Service, the 4.9 GHz Band Service, and
the 3650 MHz Wireless Broadband Service pursuant to part 90 of this chapter;
the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) and the Medical Device
Radiocommunication Service (MedRadio), pursuant to subparts H and I of part
95 of this chapter, respectively, unlicensed personal communication service,
unlicensed NII devices and millimeter wave devices authorized under
§ § 15.253(f), 15.255(g), 15.257(g), 15.319(i), and 15.407(f) of this chapter;
and the Citizens Broadband Radio Service pursuant to part 96 of this chapter
are subject to routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure prior to
equipment authorization or use.
(2) All other portable transmitting devices are categorically excluded from
routine environmental evaluation for RF exposure prior to equipment
authorization or use, except as specified in § § 1.1307(c) and 1.1307(d) of
this chapter.
(3) Applications for equipment authorization of portable transmitting
devices subject to routine environmental evaluation must contain a statement
confirming compliance with the limits specified in paragraph (d) of this
section. Technical information showing the basis for this statement must be
submitted to the Commission upon request.
(d) The limits to be used for evaluation are based generally on criteria
published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for localized
specific absorption rate (“SAR”) in Section 4.2 of “IEEE Standard for Safety
Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic
Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz,” ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992, Copyright 1992 by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., New York, New York
10017. These criteria for SAR evaluation are similar to those recommended by
the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) in
“Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic
Fields,” NCRP Report No. 86, Section 17.4.5. Copyright NCRP, 1986, Bethesda,
Maryland 20814. SAR is a measure of the rate of energy absorption due to
exposure to an RF transmitting source. SAR values have been related to
threshold levels for potential biological hazards. The criteria to be used
are specified in paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section and shall
apply for portable devices transmitting in the frequency range from 100 kHz
to 6 GHz. Portable devices that transmit at frequencies above 6 GHz are to
be evaluated in terms of the MPE limits specified in § 1.1310 of this
chapter. Measurements and calculations to demonstrate compliance with MPE
field strength or power density limits for devices operating above 6 GHz
should be made at a minimum distance of 5 cm from the radiating source.
(1) The SAR limits for occupational/controlled exposure are 0.4 W/kg, as
averaged over the whole body, and a peak spatial-average SAR of 8 W/kg,
averaged over any 1 gram of tissue (defined as a tissue volume in the shape
of a cube). Exceptions are the parts of the human body treated as
extremities, such as hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and pinnae, where the peak
spatial-average SAR limit for occupational/controlled exposure is 20 W/kg,
averaged over any 10 grams of tissue (defined as a tissue volume in the
shape of a cube). Exposure may be averaged over a time period not to exceed
6 minutes to determine compliance with occupational/controlled SAR limits.
(i) Occupational/Controlled limits apply when persons are exposed as a
consequence of their employment provided these persons are fully aware of
and exercise control over their exposure. Awareness of exposure can be
accomplished by use of visual advisories (such as labeling, embossing, or on
an equivalent electronic display) or by specific training or education
through appropriate means, such as an RF safety program in a work
environment.
(ii) Visual advisories on portable devices designed only for occupational
use can be used as part of an applicant's evidence of the device user's
awareness of occupational/controlled exposure limits.
(A) Such visual advisories shall be legible and clearly visible to the user
from the exterior of the device.
(B) Visual advisories must indicate that the device is for occupational use
only, refer the user to specific information on RF exposure, such as that
provided in a user manual and note that the advisory and its information is
required for FCC RF exposure compliance.
(C) Such instructional material must provide the user with information on
how to use the device in order to ensure compliance with the
occupational/controlled exposure limits.
(D) A sample of the visual advisory, illustrating its location on the
device, and any instructional material intended to accompany the device when
marketed, shall be filed with the Commission along with the application for
equipment authorization. Details of any special training requirements
pertinent to limiting RF exposure should also be submitted.
(E) Holders of grants for portable devices to be used in occupational
settings are encouraged, but not required, to coordinate with end-user
organizations to ensure appropriate RF safety training.
(2) The SAR limits for general population/uncontrolled exposure are 0.08
W/kg, as averaged over the whole body, and a peak spatial-average SAR of 1.6
W/kg, averaged over any 1 gram of tissue (defined as a tissue volume in the
shape of a cube). Exceptions are the parts of the human body treated as
extremities, such as hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and pinnae, where the peak
spatial-average SAR limit is 4 W/kg, averaged over any 10 grams of tissue
(defined as a tissue volume in the shape of a cube). Exposure may be
averaged over a time period not to exceed 30 minutes to determine compliance
with general population/uncontrolled SAR limits.
(i) General Population/Uncontrolled limits apply when the general public may
be exposed, or when persons that are exposed as a consequence of their
employment may not be fully aware of the potential for exposure or do not
exercise control over their exposure.
(ii) Visual advisories (such as labeling, embossing, or on an equivalent
electronic display) on consumer devices such as cellular telephones will not
be sufficient reason to allow these devices to be evaluated subject to
limits for occupational/controlled exposure in paragraph (d)(1) of this
section.
(3) Compliance with SAR limits can be demonstrated by either laboratory
measurement techniques or by computational modeling. The latter must be
supported by adequate documentation showing that the test device and
exposure conditions have been correctly modeled in accordance with the
operating configurations for normal use. Guidance regarding SAR measurement
techniques can be found in the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET)
Laboratory Division Knowledge Database (KDB). The staff guidance provided in
the KDB does not necessarily represent the only acceptable methods for
measuring RF exposure or emissions, and is not binding on the Commission or
any interested party.
(4) For purposes of analyzing portable transmitting devices under the
occupational/controlled criteria, the time-averaging provisions of the MPE
guidelines identified in § 1.1310 of this chapter can be used in conjunction
with typical maximum duty factors to determine maximum likely exposure
levels.
(5) Time-averaging provisions of the MPE guidelines identified in § 1.1310 of
this chapter may not be used in determining typical exposure levels for
portable devices intended for use by consumers, such as hand-held cellular
telephones, that are considered to operate in general
population/uncontrolled environments as defined above. However,
“source-based” time-averaging based on an inherent property or duty-cycle of
a device is allowed. An example of this would be the determination of
exposure from a device that uses digital technology such as a time-division
multiple-access (TDMA) scheme for transmission of a signal. In general,
maximum average power levels must be used to determine compliance.
[ 61 FR 41017 , Aug. 7, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 4655 , Jan. 31, 1997; 62 FR 9658 , Mar. 3, 1997; 62 FR 47967 , Sept. 12, 1997; 65 FR 44007 , July 17, 2000;
68 FR 38638 , June 30, 2003; 69 FR 3264 , Jan. 23, 2004; 70 FR 24725 , May 11,
2005; 74 FR 22704 , May 14, 2009; 76 FR 67607 , Nov. 2, 2011; 78 FR 21559 ,
Apr. 11, 2013; 78 FR 33652 , June 4, 2013; 80 FR 36221 , June 23, 2015]
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Subpart K—Importation of Devices Capable of Causing Harmful Interference
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Goto Section: 2.1091 | 2.1201
Goto Year: 2014 |
2016
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