Notice 2016-DRS001

September 20, 2016
Updated July 2020

Applicability of Latest FCC RF Exposure KDB Procedures and Other Procedures

Certain measurement procedures are not currently covered in the international standards referenced in Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada’s RSS-102 – RF exposure compliance of radiocommunication apparatus (All frequency Bands). Therefore, the Department accepts FCC RF exposure KDB procedures on an interim measure.

This notice provides guidance on the applicability of certain requirements currently published in the FCC RF exposure KDB procedures listed on the Department’s website, as well as guidance on the applicability of other procedures when seeking certification of a radiocommunication apparatus for the Canadian market.

  • If discrepancies exist between the FCC KDB versions listed on the Departments website with respect to the versions listed on the FCCs website, the Department must be consulted to determine the applicability of the newest version(s) available if differences do exist for the procedure being used.
  • The exemption limits for routine evaluation defined in RSS-102 are to be applied when determining if a routine evaluation is required.
  • The uncertainty budget will continue to be required in the RF exposure brief regardless of the SAR value measured.
  • Based on the IEEE1528 and IEC 62209 requirements, the low, mid and high frequency channels for the configuration with the highest SAR value must be tested regardless of the SAR value measured.
  • The SAR exemption limits outlined in clause 2.5.1 of RSS-102 have been derived based on an approximate SAR value of 0.4 W/kg using half-wave dipole antennasFootnote 1. As such, when simultaneous transmitter SAR evaluations include transmitters that have been exempt from routine SAR evaluation, the SAR must be estimating based on the ratio between the maximum tune-up tolerance limit of the transmitter that has been exempt and the exemption limit at the specific distance and frequency for that transmitter. This ratio must be multiplied by 0.4 W/kg(2.0 W/kg for controlled use and 1.0 W/kg for limb worn devices) in order to calculate the estimated SAR level.

    The estimate SAR value is calculated based the following equation:
     

    (maximum power level including tune-up tolerance for transmitter A / maximum power level of exemption at the same frequency and distance) * 0.4W/kg


    Example: transmitter A has a maximum output power of 3 mW and the power exemption threshold is 4 mW at that specific frequency and distance (i.e. 2.45 GHz at 5 mm).

    The estimated SAR = (3mW / 4mW) * 0.4W/kg = 0.3W/kg

  • The Department must be consulted prior to using a sensor array SAR measurement system for the purpose of SAR screening for devices that employ dynamic antenna tuning as outlined in section 5 of KDB 648474 D04.
  • The procedure defined in Section 4.4.2 of FCC KDB 447498 D01 V06 “Area scan based 1-g SAR estimation” is now accepted by the department.

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