More info
Description / Abstract:
This document describes equipment inspection and radio frequency
(rf) electromagnetic field measurement procedures for evaluation of
rf industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment installed in
the user's facility. The term, "ISM equipment," as used here,
includes equipment that generates rf energy for purposes other than
radio communications, to cause physical, chemical, or biological
changes; for example, industrial heaters (dielectric and
induction), medical diathermy, ultrasonic equipment, rf plasma
devices, and rf stabilized welders. These procedures are designed
to help ensure that the equipment does not interfere with radio
communications, navigation, and other essential radio services. The
engineer responsible for the measurements should take all
reasonable precautions to ensure that the maximum emission from the
ISM equipment under test (EUT) has been measured.
Radio frequency field-strength measurements of installed ISM
equipment may be required if any of the following conditions
exist:
1) The emission from the EUT was not measured by the
manufacturer.
2) Because of its size or special operating conditions, the EUT
could not be tested before installation.
3) Installed ISM equipment is suspected of causing
interference.
4) ISM equipment has been modified in a way that could affect
its rf emissions.
5) As the equipment ages, there is a question about its
continued compliance.
6) There is a question about the safety to nearby personnel
because of the emissions from the equipment.
Measurements should be made under the direction of an engineer
skilled in making and interpreting rf field-strength measurements.
These measurements are made after the equipment is installed and
ready for use at its place of use, and after it has been inspected
as described in 2.2. The measurement report should generally be
kept on file for at least three years after new measurements are
made or after the equipment is no longer in use.
There are significant differences between the "open field" or
anechoic chamber measurements common in electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) work and
the on-site measurements of installed ISM equipment. Some of these
differences are described below.
1) The measurement conditions are usually more difficult because
of crowded measurement locations, reflections from surrounding
walls and equipment, and signals from other sources.
2) It is reasonable to take advantage of the shielding provided
by walls and other equipment located between the ISM Equipment
Under Test (EUT) and the location at which field-strength
information is required. While the effect of a single wall may be
small, the total effect of other equipment and building structures
may be significant. In any case, it is not necessary to make
measurements in a way which eliminates the benefits of this
shielding. Some equipment is designed to be operated in a shielded
enclosure, either because of its own sensitivity to outside
interference, or because of its emission characteristics. When
measuring the emission from this equipment, take advantage of the
attenuation of the enclosure by making the measurements outside the
enclosure, with the equipment in its normal operating position.
3) Since the measurement equipment is disconnected, moved, and
reconnected many times during a set of measurements, its
calibration should be checked frequently.
4) ISM equipment may often be grouped for field-strength
measurements, taking one set of measurements for the entire
group.
5) Electromagnetic-emission measurements of installed ISM
equipment are usually significantly less accurate than laboratory
(open field or test chamber) measurements because of lack of
control of the measurement environment. The engineer responsible
for the measurements should ensure, to the extent practical, that
significant inaccuracies do not creep into the measurements from
controllable factors. The overall accuracy of the measurements
should be taken into account when reporting the results.
6) On-site measurements of installed ISM equipment are usually
unique to the particular site because of effects of local
shielding. However, they may apply to the same piece of equipment
or to identical equipment installed at other sites that provide
equivalent shielding and grounding.
7) The emission measured from the ISM equipment is a function of
the environment surrounding the equipment. In most industrial
locations, the environment is likely to change. Therefore, when
measuring emission, 1) make sure the environment is typical of its
usual operating condition, and, 2) determine, to the extent
possible, if probable environment changes will increase emission.
If so, the user should be warned. When measuring emission because
of suspected electromagnetic interference, the conditions existing
at the time of the suspected interference should be duplicated as
closely as possible.