Personal RF monitors are worn on the body to alarm users when electromagnetic radiation levels become dangerous. Designed to be lightweight, wearable and highly accurate, personal RF safety monitors indicate the non-ionizing radiation level with LEDs; the unit vibrates and sets off an alarm to alert the wearer when the level of exposure to the electromagnetic field exceeds preset percentages of the safety limit. A more severe alarm generally sounds when levels exceed 100%.
To fulfill safety standards, both occupational and for the general public, some personal RF devices have customizable sensors or alternate models devoted to specific requirements. The Narda Nardalert S3, for example, pairs with sensors that fulfill all of the following standards: ACGIH, ARPANSA -RP3, Brazil – ANATEL 303, Canada Safety Code 6 (2015), FCC, EU EMF Directive 2013/35/EU, IEEE C95.1 and Japan RCR-38. Other common features of personal RF monitors include data logging functionalities, waveguide leak detection and dual use as both wearable alarms and as probes and monitoring devices.
Employees working at broadcasting or telecommunications stations, radar installations or with industrial equipment are routinely exposed to electromagnetic fields that require monitoring to ensure their safety. For them, an RF safety meter could mean the difference between stepping into light RF exposure and wading into dangerous levels of radiation.
Personal RF Monitoring Test Standards:
- ACGIH | Occupational & Environmental Health
- ARPANSA - RP3 | Radiation Protection Standard for Max. Exposure Levels
- Brazil ANATEL 303 | Evaluation of the Human Exposure to EMF
- IEEE Std C95.1-2005 | Human Exposure Safety Levels, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
- Canada Safety Code 6 (2015) | Human Exposure Limits, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
- ICNIRP 1998 | Guidelines for Limiting Exposure, 0 kHz to 300 GHz
- EU Directive 2013/35/EU | Minimum Health & Safety Requirements for Worker Exposure
- FCC 1996 | Guideline for Evaluating Environmental Effects of RF Radiation
- Japan RCR STD-38 | Radiofrequency Exposure Protection