Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
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RF Cafe website visitor David Burger (VK2CZ / K3HZ) sent me a great Excel spreadsheet titled, "Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields." As amateur radio operators learn when studying to earn a license, you are required to perform a calculation to verify that the transmitted effective power radiating from your antenna does not exceed a specified maximum value in areas where humans have access. David's spreadsheet takes system parameter inputs and calculates, along with various other values, the minimum required separation distance for both controlled and uncontrolled human access. If your antenna is mounted up higher than the limit distance, then no action is required to keep people away. Otherwise, you must either erect physical barriers or reduce power output to comply with the maximum RF exposure limit. Separate worksheets are provided for U.S. (Federal Communications Commission, FCC), Australia (Australian Communications and Media Authority - ACMA), and New Zealand (New Zealand Standards - NZS) requirements.

I performed a cross-check using the online Amateur Radio RF Safety Calculator that is recommended by the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) on the RF Exposure webpage, and the results agreed within the accuracy of the precision of numbers that were input. David's version allows you to enter system parameters in more discrete stages; i.e., transmitter power, transmission line loss, and antenna gain whereas the ARRL's version takes just final values. I did not attempt to verify the ACMA or NZS calculations.

Says David, "It is based on electrical field theory math, which goes way beyond what conventional hams are capable of solving. Hence I figured I'd do my bit with my skills. I originally wrote it back in 2004, with minor tweaks since. It replicates all the FCC, ACMA and EMC safe working distances calculations around transmitting antennas. It is not a thesis, and simply replicates the published standards, which comprise hundreds of graphs. It is a spreadsheet, with no protections at all, and each worksheet is a wholly contained page, with visible formulas. The FCC rules don't quite align with EM theory, but the spreadsheet follows the FCC rules to the letter."

Some nice user-friendly features are used like drop-down selection boxes. David Burger is graciously making it available free of charge and can be downloaded HERE. BTW, is K3HZ a great call sign or what?

Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields

Worksheet Tab: "FCC Sup B to OET B65 Ed97-01" ----- Amateur Radio RF Safety Calculator

ACMA - Human Exposure to EMR: Assessment of Amateur Radio Compliance. V6, Sep2017

Worksheet Tab: "Australia - ACMA 2005"

New Zealand - Amateur Radio Service: Self Assessment of Compliance with NZS2772:Part 1: 1999

Worksheet Tab: "New Zealand NZS2772-1999"

NOTES (for all three worksheets) 

Worksheet Tab: "NOTES"

Posted July 31, 2018