October 20, 2025
Guidance on test reduction for specific absorption rate (SAR) assessment
Through this Notice, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) clarifies its position on a particular SAR assessment test reduction in accordance with section 5.1 of RSS-102.SAR.MEAS.
For any device that has been tested at 5 mm or less for 1g body SAR, testing at 0 mm for 10g extremity / limb SAR becomes optional provided that all the following conditions are met:
- The operating frequencies are below 6 GHz
- The same power levels and tune-up tolerances are applicable for the body and extremity / limb use-cases
To apply this test reduction, the RF exposure technical brief shall include a description demonstrating how all the requirements above are satisfied.
It is important to note that the extremity / limb SAR test reduction is not applicable for:
- hand exposure during next-to-head voice calls as described in section 5.10 of RSS-102.SAR.MEAS.
- exposure above 6 GHz subject to absorbed power density (APD) limits.