IEC 62311-2019 PDF

Full title and description

IEC 62311:2019 — Assessment of electronic and electrical equipment related to human exposure restrictions for electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz). This edition (2.0) is a technical revision that replaces the 2007 edition and provides assessment methods and criteria to evaluate equipment (intentional and unintentional radiators) against exposure limits for electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields across 0 Hz–300 GHz.

Abstract

This international standard gives a generic assessment framework for electronic and electrical equipment for which no dedicated product or product-family standard on human exposure to electromagnetic fields exists. It defines assessment procedures, considers non-uniform fields, improves treatment of uncertainty, and describes summation regimes for multiple sources. The document does not itself set exposure limits (these are taken from the applicable regional or national scheme).

General information

• Status: Active / current international standard.
• Publication date: 18 April 2019.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 97.030 (Domestic electrical appliances in general / EMF assessment).
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2019).
• Number of pages: 71 pages.

Key bibliographic and status details above are taken from the IEC publication record for IEC 62311:2019.

Scope

Applies to electronic and electrical equipment for which no dedicated product or product-family standard regarding human exposure to electromagnetic fields exists. Covers equipment with intentional radiators, unintentional radiators, and combinations thereof. Provides methods and criteria to assess compliance with basic restrictions or reference levels for general public or occupational exposure over the frequency range 0 Hz to 300 GHz; it does not itself mandate specific limit values, which depend on the applied exposure scheme.

Key topics and requirements

• Assessment procedures for electrical, magnetic and electromagnetic fields from 0 Hz to 300 GHz.
• Clear distinction and treatment of intentional versus unintentional radiators.
• Consideration of non-uniform (near‑field) exposures and when reference levels cannot be used to demonstrate compliance with basic restrictions.
• Improved treatment of measurement and modelling uncertainty in assessments.
• Summation regimes for combined exposure from multiple sources (guidance in annexes).
• Guidance for applying assessment methods against regionally applicable exposure limits (basic restrictions and/or reference levels).

These topics reflect the major technical changes and structure introduced in the 2019 revision.

Typical use and users

Used by product designers and manufacturers, EMC/EMF test laboratories, conformity assessment and certification bodies, regulatory authorities, safety and compliance engineers, and consultants performing human‑exposure evaluations. Typical applications include pre‑compliance checks, technical documentation for certification, safety assessments for installations and in‑situ evaluations where no product‑specific exposure standard exists.

Related standards

Commonly used alongside exposure limit and dosimetry documents such as the ICNIRP 2020 RF guidelines, IEEE C95.1 (human exposure limits), and IEC technical standards for measurement and evaluation (for example IEC 62209 series for SAR measurement of hand‑held devices and IEC 62232 for base station exposure assessment). The standard is also published/adopted in regional formats (for example EN IEC 62311:2020).

Keywords

EMF, human exposure, electromagnetic fields, 0 Hz–300 GHz, assessment methods, intentional radiators, unintentional radiators, SAR, reference levels, basic restrictions, uncertainty, summation regimes, near‑field, IEC TC 106.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 62311:2019 is an international standard that provides methods and criteria to assess electronic and electrical equipment with respect to human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields across 0 Hz to 300 GHz; it is a generic assessment standard used when no product‑specific exposure standard applies.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers assessment procedures for both intentional and unintentional radiators, treatment of non‑uniform fields and uncertainties, and approaches to combine (sum) exposures from multiple sources. It provides assessment rules but does not itself set exposure limit values—those are taken from the applicable regional/national scheme (e.g., ICNIRP, IEEE).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, compliance/test laboratories, certification bodies, regulators, consultants and safety engineers who need a generic, standardized method to evaluate human exposure when no product‑specific standard exists.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 62311:2019 is the current (2nd) edition published in April 2019 and it cancels and replaces IEC 62311:2007. Regional/adopted versions (for example EN IEC 62311:2020) exist. Consult national or regional standards bodies for local adoption status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the body of IEC and TC 106 work on methods for assessment of EMF exposure and is commonly used together with other IEC standards addressing measurement and evaluation (for example the IEC 62209 SAR series and IEC 62232 for base stations) as well as exposure limit guidance documents (ICNIRP, IEEE).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Electromagnetic fields, human exposure, EMF assessment, SAR, reference levels, basic restrictions, intentional radiators, unintentional radiators, uncertainty, summation regimes, 0 Hz–300 GHz.