9.2.8 Standards Summary

The documents described above perform different but complementary functions. Table 9-1 provides a quick guide to their primary roles within an RF radiation safety system. Scientific guidelines define the protective framework; regional and national instruments determine the legally applicable limits; assessment standards define how compliance is demonstrated; and management, engineering, monitoring, and policy documents support continuing implementation. The Australian and New Zealand examples also show why shared assessment methods do not necessarily imply identical exposure-limit documents. No single source performs every function, so an effective program must identify the correct combination for its jurisdiction, equipment, exposure scenario, and organizational responsibilities.

Table 9-1. Summary of major RF radiation safety standards and guidelines.

Document	Primary purpose
ICNIRP Guidelines (2020)	International scientific exposure limits for 100 kHz to 300 GHz.
IEEE C95.1-2019	Independent IEEE exposure limits and dosimetric rationale for 0 Hz to 300 GHz.
IEEE C95.1-2345-2014	Military-workplace exposure criteria; revision status should be checked.
EU Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC	European framework for general-public exposure.
EU Directive 2013/35/EU	Legally implemented European occupational EMF requirements.
ARPANSA RPS S-1 (Rev. 1, 2021)	Australian RF exposure limits and regulatory framework.
NZS 2772.1:1999	New Zealand RF exposure limits for 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
Health Canada Safety Code 6 (2015)	Canadian controlled and uncontrolled RF exposure limits.
FCC RF exposure rules	Legally binding United States exposure and evaluation requirements.
AS/NZS 2772.2:2016	RF measurement and computation methods used in Australia and New Zealand.
IEEE C95.3-2021	Best-practice measurement and computation guidance for 0 Hz to 300 GHz.
EN 50499:2019	General European procedure for workplace EMF assessment.
IEC 62311:2019	Generic assessment of electrical and electronic equipment.
IEC 62479:2010	Simplified low-power equipment compliance assessment.
IEC 62232:2025	Base-station measurement, computation, and compliance assessment.
ITU-T K.52 (08/2024)	Telecommunications installation classification and compliance guidance.
IEC/IEEE 62209-1528:2020	SAR measurement for hand-held and body-mounted wireless devices.
IEC/IEEE 63195-1:2022	Measured power-density assessment above 6 GHz near the body.
IEC/IEEE 63195-2:2022	Computational power-density assessment above 6 GHz near the body.
IEEE C95.7-2022	Organizational electromagnetic-energy safety programs.
ITU-T K.70 (2020/2021)	Multi-source assessment and engineering mitigation.
ITU-T K.83 (08/2024)	Long-term environmental EMF monitoring and public reporting.
FCC OET Bulletin 65	Practical FCC compliance guidance for transmitting facilities.
WHO EHC 137 (1993)	Historical scientific review of RF and related EMF health evidence.
WHO Framework (2006)	Principles for developing science-based national EMF standards.
WHO Model Legislation (2006)	Template for national EMF protection legislation and regulation.

The remaining sections examine three representative documents in greater detail: the ICNIRP Guidelines, the ARPANSA RPS S-1 Standard, and AS/NZS 2772.2.