Facts worth knowing
How can it be determined whether the proposed products are really effective and provide sufficient protection against electrosmog?
What information is important? And finally, what should we pay attention to?
First and foremost, it should be stated whether the product has been tested and according to which standard.
Norm
For products for protection against electrosmog there are different specifications, e.g.: tested according to IEEE Std 299-2006
There are several national and international regulations for measuring the shielding effectiveness of materials. Material shielding attenuations are determined in accordance with military standards MIL – STD 285 or IEEE 299-1997 or IEEE Std 299-2006 (which supersedes IEEE Standard 299-1997).
To the details
of the norm
Uniform measurement procedures and techniques are provided for determining the effectiveness of electromagnetic shielding enclosures at frequencies from 9 kHz to 18 GHz (expandable to 50 Hz or 100 GHz) for enclosures with all dimensions greater than or equal to 2.0 m.
The owner of the shielding device shall specify the frequencies at which the shielding is tested and the shielding effectiveness (SE) pass/fail limits. This standard suggests a range of test frequencies that give very high confidence in the effectiveness of the shielding. This standard does not define the limits of shielding effectiveness that result in pass or fails.
Authentication of their shielding capabilities
Shielding enclosures must therefore meet specified performance to satisfy customers who require laboratory-certified/guaranteed high-grade shielding products for use in digital forensics, military, government, aerospace, security, health, privacy or construction applications.
Measurement of the effectiveness of the shielding
The material samples are placed in front of the opening of a room shielded against all electromagnetic fields and exposed from outside to a vertically polarized wave generated by a network analyzer and radiated by the transmitting antenna. Inside the shielded room, the transmitted wave impinges on a receiving antenna.
The measured signal finally returns to the network analyzer. Thus, by comparing the power flux densities radiated by the transmitting antenna and those measured by the receiving antenna, the effectiveness of the shielding can be determined.
This is important: For this reason, it is always preferable that the tests be performed by a laboratory rather than by the vendor or manufacturer of the product.
On the other hand, it is also important to read the information provided by the seller.
If it is stated that the measurement of electromagnetic wave attenuation was performed in close compliance with the IEEE Std 299-2006 standard, it simply means that the measurement was not performed in accordance with the standard. This statement is mainly made when the manufacturer or seller does the testing themselves.
However, people’s fear for their health attracts many profiteers and businessmen who often offer products that do not meet the needs and do not have the specified properties.
Tests
The tests are therefore performed according to a protocol used for measuring the effectiveness of shielding by Faraday cages,
where are defined
THE SHIELDING EFFECTIVENESS
different frequency ranges, depending on the measurement conditions, the measured quantities and the defined mathematical parameters.
THE METHOD OF CARRYING OUT THE MEASUREMENTS
Measurements are made at various accessible locations on the shield.
When measuring the attenuation of electromagnetic waves through a shielding material, the material is usually irradiated with radio frequency energy of a certain power flux density S¹ or with a certain power P¹. Behind the shielding material, the penetrating power flux density S² or power P² is measured.
The logarithmic quotient according to the following equations gives the shielding attenuation value in decibels (dB)
To interpret the measured values, it is useful to consult the following conversion table:
It allows the conversion of logarithmic values in decibels into percentage values, whereby the power or power flux density impinging on the protective screen is generally used to evaluate the shielding effect.
dB | Leistungsdurchlass in % | dB | Leistungsdurchlass in % |
|---|---|---|---|
0 | 100,00 | ||
1 | 81,00 | 21 | 0,78 |
2 | 62,80 | 22 | 0,78 |
3 | 50.00 | 23 | 0,50 |
4 | 40,00 | 24 | 0,39 |
5 | 31,60 | 25 | 0,31 |
6 | 25,00 | 26 | 0,25 |
7 | 20,00 | 27 | 0,20 |
8 | 16,00 | 28 | 0,18 |
9 | 12,50 | 29 | 0,12 |
10 | 10,00 | 30 | 0,10 |
11 | 7,90 | 31 | 0,08 |
12 | 6,25 | 32 | 0,06 |
13 | 5,00 | 33 | 0,05 |
14 | 4,00 | 34 | 0,04 |
15 | 3,13 | 35 | 0,03 |
16 | 2,50 | 36 | 0,02 |
17 | 2,00 | 37 | 0,02 |
18 | 1,56 | 38 | 0,02 |
19 | 1,20 | 39 | 0,02 |
20 | 1,00 | 40 | 0,01 |
50 | 0,001 | ||
60 | 0,0001 |
Example
When a test result shows
900 MHz 20 dB
1800 MHz 20 dB
5G 2000 MHz 25 dB
WLAN 3800 MHz 20 dB
This means that the attenuation of the shielding object under test has values of about 20 dB, so that only 1% of the radiated power incident on the object can pass through it. 99% of the radiation is eliminated by the shielding effect of the object.
For 5G, the shielding object has a value of 25 dB. This means that 0.31% can penetrate and the remaining 99.69% is blocked.
Composition of the shielding material
Another important point is the specification of the composition of the shielding material.
Very often it is stated that a shielding fabric contains, for example, 20% silver. This does not correspond to reality.
Textiles can contain 10 to 20% metal or even more. This metal is silver with about 2% silver content. Depending on the origin of the product, it may be pure silver or much less pure silver.
It is also important that it is not nano silver.
We have been working with European manufacturers of reinforcing fabrics for years and have the assurance that they only use pure silver with a purity level of at least 99.9% and that no harmful nano-silver is used in the products.
These products are guaranteed to be halogen-free. In addition, we have confirmation that the delivered goods (the product itself as well as the packaging) do not contain any of the substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction of categories 1 and 2 in the Annex of Directive 67/548/EEC in a proportion greater than 0.1% by mass (w/w), based on the currently available candidate list of SVHC substances (Substance of Very High Concern). The current list of candidates can be found at: echa.europa.eu/en/candidate-list-table.
We also have confirmation that no raw materials from conflict zones (Dodd Frank Act, § 1502) are used.
For shielding fabrics for clothing, we use cotton twill, cotton poplin or slightly elastic cotton jacquard.
A short video shows the performance of each fabric. You can find this video in the fabrics section of our store.
Study on the effectiveness of shielding clothing
You will find a study on clothing textiles with electromagnetic shielding effect (Thomas Mühl, Eric Kraus, Hermann J. Peifer, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Boris Obolenski, FEG Textiltechnik Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Aachen)
This study has shown that, with suitable textiles and appropriate production, it is possible to achieve a shielding effect in larger areas of the body, even if the body is not completely enveloped.
Shielding paint
The paint we offer is also a product that does not contain hazardous substances.
It has been tested by an accredited laboratory.
The plates were made on site, i.e. in the laboratory. Everything was documented and filmed. The tests were carried out with one panel with a dry weight of 100 g/m², a second panel with a double layer of paint with a dry weight of 208 g/m² and finally a third panel with three layers of paint with a dry weight of 316 g/m². The results prove the effectiveness of the paint.
Important: As mentioned above, the tests should be performed by an accredited laboratory and not by the seller or manufacturer. In addition, the dry weight of the paint applied to the panel should be specified and also confirmed by the laboratory. The indication of one or two coats is meaningless.
Origin of the product
The origin of the product is very important, as we know that many of the shielding products offered contain harmful substances.
Some sellers do not indicate the origin of their products or do so in a way that is unclear to the buyer. For example, somewhere in the product details you may find the following statement: COO: CN. This means that the product originates from China.
All of this information refers to the shielding products and the tests they undergo.
This has nothing to do with the electrosmog to which we are exposed.
Electromagnetic exposures
The sources of all electromagnetic fields around us are both natural (like the sun) and technical, from power lines in the home to high-frequency sources like radio and broadcast transmitters or cell phone systems, WLAN, etc., i.e. non-ionizing radiation.
Electrosmog not only causes electrical devices to interfere with each other, but also affects the human body. The body reacts to the electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields surrounding it, and the biological effects depend on their type, frequency and intensity.
Electric fields can be almost completely shielded by thin sheets or nets (Faraday cage), and trees or bushes also provide very effective protection. Low-frequency magnetic fields, on the other hand, can only be shielded incompletely and at great expense, e.g. with plates made of special alloys (“mu-metal”); it is better to take these precautions at the source.
The unit of electric field strength is the volt per meter (V/m), magnetic field strength is described by magnetic flux density (or magnetic induction) in the unit Tesla (T).
If these fields do not change over time, they are called static fields, otherwise they are called alternating fields. The intensities of these alternating fields no longer have a constant value, but change over time depending on the voltages and currents they cause. For this reason, another parameter has been introduced for them, namely the number of their oscillations per second, the frequency (f). This is given in Hertz units (Hz, oscillations per second), another possibility is to give the period 1/f.
Electromagnetic fields are no longer bound to a conductor, but can detach from it and propagate freely in space. For these freely propagating waves, the wavelength is often specified. It is calculated from the speed of propagation in the medium concerned divided by the frequency and has the unit meter (m). The propagation speed depends on the dielectric and magnetic properties of the medium and is highest in vacuum, where it is equal to the speed of light, i.e. about 300 000 km/s.
Exposure
“Exposure” is the technically correct term for the action of certain external influences on an organism, in this case electromagnetic fields. Other terms used for electromagnetic fields are “emission”, which describes the emission of fields, and “immission”, which describes their effect.
In everyday language, however, the term “radiation exposure” is often used.
The intensity of the electromagnetic field at a given location is always determined by a superposition of a wide variety of sources. In addition to mobile radio transmitters, this includes all other types of radio services, such as radio and TV transmitters, as well as all internal transmitters, e.g. cordless telephone systems (see DECT).
For an accurate statement, only a measurement in a wide frequency range is useful.
Radiation and propagation
The directional characteristics of transmitting antennas and the decrease in power flux density along the propagation path have a major influence on immissions in the private environment.
Transmitters, such as radio, television and mobile radio transmitters, have to cover a large area. The directional characteristics are usually such that the power is radiated horizontally almost uniformly all around, but in the vertical direction only in a flat angular range With unobstructed wave propagation, subscribers in a radius of 15 to 20 km can be reached with such a station in the D network, and only from about 5 to 10 km in the E network. This coverage area is referred to as a “mobile communications cell,” the extent of which depends essentially on the transmission power. With UMTS, mobile communications cells are reduced to a radius of around 0.5 to 2 km.
Shielding effectiveness
For our purposes, it is the shielding that interests us. A measure of this – the shielding factor – is obtained by dividing the power flux density of the incident wave by that of the transmitted wave. Since these values can also be very large, experts usually express this quotient logarithmized in decades and multiplied by 10 in decibels (dB).
Shielding factor
This is the ratio between the power P¹ incident on the shield and the attenuated power P² passing through the shield. The same applies to the corresponding power flux densities.
For example, if the measurement for a particular material results in a shielding attenuation of 20 dB, the power flux density behind the shield has dropped to 1%.
The power flux then has a shielding effectiveness of 99 %. A shielding effectiveness of this magnitude can be classified as “good” to “very good” in a personal environment.
Shielding
If you want to perform shielding work, you must first determine the source of the electromagnetic waves. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves plays a very important role, as it influences the choice of the required shielding measures.
When an electromagnetic wave hits a building wall, its power flux density behind the wall is usually lower than in front of the wall.
This has two causes:
Part of the wave is reflected by the wall and/or
Part of the wave is absorbed by the wall, i.e. converted into heat.
Procedure
First of all, you should have a measurement of the electromagnetic waves in your personal environment carried out by a qualified measuring agency. You can then take remedial action based on the measurement results.
What are the easiest measures to take? In most cases, windows are the weakest point through which mobile phone waves penetrate. This only applies to windows without thermal insulation glazing. Here, for example, a 5G protective film can be applied to the panes. Metallic curtains and aluminum blinds can further reduce immissions.
Next, the exterior walls should be considered. Very good shielding can be achieved with 5G-outdoor shielding paint, taking into account water vapor permeability and other criteria relevant to the house.
The roof should also be shielded, because simple clay and concrete tiles are not enough.
If the measures are to be carried out only inside the house, interior painting or special wallpaper, for example, can be considered, and reinforcing fabric can be applied under the plaster.
How to reduce electromagnetic pollution at home?
It is relatively difficult to avoid outdoor pollution, but there are some precautions you can take to reduce the harmful effects in your home.
Here are the precautions to take:
- Use your cell phone properly.
- Avoid placing your cordless phone in areas such as bedrooms or living rooms. Move it a few feet away from you as soon as you no longer need it.
- Use your cell phone's speakerphone instead of holding the device directly to your ear.
- Don't sleep with it or let it charge near your bed.
- Turn it off at night.
- Prefer to make phone calls near a window to reduce wave concentration around your device.
- Give preference to corded devices.
- Reduce emissions at the source by turning off your Wi-Fi and cell phone.
- Restrict WLAN. Prefer wired connection of your devices to your box and program Wi-Fi shutdown times (especially at night) in the management interface.
- Also reduce your exposure by staying away from electrical devices like TVs as much as possible. If it's a Smart TV, it's also connected to the Internet in addition to the TV signal. Even when turned off, it remains a major source of radiation.
- If you have a cathode ray TV, keep it at least 150 cm away.
- Unplug unused electrical appliances.
- Install automatic field switches and double-pole switches in all rooms of your home. This device will interrupt all electrical voltages and magnetic fields in a circuit after a few seconds and restore power as quickly as necessary.
- Limit the use of certain electrical items such as razors, hair dryers and even electric recliners. If used for too long, they can cause severe electrosensitivity reactions in some people.
- Avoid electrical appliances in the bedroom.
- Keep baby monitors and alarm clocks away from your children's heads!
- Avoid halogen lighting and use LED bulbs for your bedside lamps
- Stay away from your microwave oven, it is not leak proof.
- Have your electrical installation renovated.
-
In some cases, only a complete electrical renovation can ensure good protection against electromagnetic waves. It may include:
-The installation of a grounding connection if it is missing;
-The embedding of electrical cables in the masonry;
-Replacing cables with highly shielded equivalents.
-Replacing electric radiators (which generate electromagnetic fields). - Avoid living too close to a high-voltage power line.
- It is also best to stay away from urban transformers and base stations.
A laptop or a smartphone is not a scientific measuring instrument !!!
No electronic telecommunication device has a sufficient precision and sensitivity scale to make an accurate measurement of pollution. The only feature smartphones have is extreme sensitivity to find the smallest WLAN network or cellular antenna base station, because they have to operate at levels as low as 0.000.001 V/m or even 0.000.000.001 (millionths of V/m and even billionths of V/m) to receive waves from a router if it is WLAN or from a telecom antenna if it is a smartphone, for example.
Don’t use smartphone apps or electromagnetic wave meters that cost a few dozen dollars. These are gadgets.
For your health and that of your family, trust quality products and professionals.