SAR Testing

Everything you never wanted to need to know about radio waves and the human body

The FCC regulates radio transmitters in the US and defines in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) limits on human body exposure to RF energy. For communications transmitters, this takes the form of two concepts that your radio device must comply with in order to be offered for sale. These are generally referred to as Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). CFR title 47 covers telecommunications and includes sections that cover fixed antennas on a structure (1.1307), mobile devices such as a cellular data router mounted in a vehicle (2.1091) and portable devices carried by or worn on a person (2.1093). To find out more about these specific requirements, head to those sections of the Code of Federal Regulations, title 47. You can find them online at https://www.ecfr.gov/. Another great resource is the FCC’s OET Bulletin 65 Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio frequency Electromagnetic Fields.

If your product contains an FCC approved radio transmitter, and you meet all other requirements to use that transmitter, you don’t need to do anything more. You don’t have to file anything with the FCC, you can just go sell your product. If your product is over the limit, then you need to do SAR testing.

To learn more check out our white paper, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and your product: Everything you never wanted to need to know about radio waves and the human body.

We’ve outlined:

  • Radio waves effects on the human body
  • Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) & SAR Testing
  • Device and Modular Certification Testing