IEC 61786-1:2013

Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to 100 kHz with regard to exposure of human beings - Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments

IEC 61786-1:2013 provides guidance for measuring instruments used to measure the field strength of quasi-static magnetic and electric fields that have a frequency content in the range 1 Hz to 100 kHz and with DC magnetic fields to evaluate the exposure levels of the human body to these fields. Sources of fields include devices that operate at power frequencies and produce power frequency and power frequency harmonic fields, as well as devices that produce fields within the frequency range of this document, including devices that produce static fields, and the earth's static magnetic field. The magnitude ranges covered by this standard are 0,1 μT to 200 mT in AC (1 μT to 10 T in DC) and 1 V/m to 50 kV/m for magnetic fields and electric fields, respectively. When measurements outside this range are performed, most of the provisions of this standard will still apply, but special attention should be paid to specified uncertainty and calibration procedures. The first editions of IEC 61786-1 and IEC 61786-2 replace IEC 61786:1998. Part 1 deals with measuring instruments, and Part 2 deals with measurement procedures. The content of the standard was revised in order to give up-to-date and practical information to the user.
It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

Mesure de champs magnétiques continus et de champs magnétiques et électriques alternatifs dans la plage de fréquences de 1 Hz à 100 kHz dans leur rapport à l'exposition humaine - Partie 1: Exigences applicables aux instruments de mesure

L'IEC 61786-1:2013 comporte des lignes directrices concernant les instruments de mesure utilisés pour la mesure des valeurs des champs magnétiques et électriques quasi-statiques avec des composantes fréquentielles comprises entre 1 Hz et 100 kHz ainsi que des champs magnétiques continus, permettant d'évaluer les niveaux d'exposition du corps humain à ces champs. Parmi les sources de champs figurent des dispositifs qui fonctionnent aux fréquences industrielles et qui produisent des champs à ces fréquences et aux fréquences harmoniques, ainsi que des dispositifs qui produisent des champs dans la plage de fréquence de ce document, incluant les dispositifs qui produisent des champs statiques, et le champ magnétique statique terrestre. Les plages d'amplitudes couvertes par la présente norme vont respectivement de 0,1 μT à 200 mT en alternatif (1 μT à 10 T en continu) et de 1 V/m à 50 kV/m pour les champs magnétiques et les champs électriques. Lorsque des mesures sont effectuées en dehors de cette plage, la plupart des dispositions de la présente norme restent applicables, mais il convient de prêter une attention toute particulière à l'incertitude et à la procédure d'étalonnage spécifiées. Les premières éditions de la IEC 61786-1 et la IEC 61786-2 remplacent la CEI 61786:1998. La Partie 1 concerne les instruments de mesure, et la Partie 2 concerne les procédures de mesure. Le contenu de la norme a été révisé afin de donner à l'utilisateur des informations à jour et pratiques.
Elle a le statut de norme horizontale conformément au Guide IEC 108.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Jul-2024
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 17.220.20 - Measurement of electrical and magnetic quantities
• ICS: 29.080.10 - Insulators
• ICS: 29.240.20 - Power transmission and distribution lines
• Technical Committee: TC 106 - Methods for the assessment of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields associated with human exposure
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 15-Jan-2014
• Completion Date: 12-Dec-2013

Relations

• Replaces: IEC 61786:1998 - Measurement of low-frequency magnetic and electric fields with regard to exposure of human beings - Special requirements for instruments and guidance for measurements
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Amended By: IEC 61786-1:2013/AMD1:2024 - Amendment 1 - Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to 100 kHz with regard to exposure of human beings - Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61786-1 ®
Edition 1.1 2024-07
CONSOLIDATED VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
HORIZONTAL PUBLICATION
Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to
100 kHz with regard to exposure of human beings –
Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
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copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
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IEC 61786-1 ®
Edition 1.1 2024-07
CONSOLIDATED VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
HORIZONTAL PUBLICATION
Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to
100 kHz with regard to exposure of human beings –
Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 17.220.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-9461-1

REDLINE VERSION – 2 – IEC 61786-1:2013+AMD1:2024 CSV
© IEC 2024
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 8
3.1 Meters . 8
3.2 Meter characteristics . 9
3.3 Field characteristics . 10
3.4 Measurements . 11
4 Symbols . 12
5 Instrumentation specifications . 13
5.1 General . 13
5.2 Measurement uncertainty . 13
5.3 Magnitude range . 14
5.4 Pass-band . 14
5.5 Operating temperature and humidity ranges . 14
5.6 Power supplies . 14
5.7 Readability of scale . 15
5.8 Instrument dimensions and choice of probe . 15
5.8.1 General schema schematic . 15
5.8.2 Magnetic field meter . 15
5.8.3 Electric field meter . 16
5.8.4 Support for electric field meter . 16
5.9 Electromagnetic compatibility . 16
5.9.1 Immunity . 16
5.9.2 Emissions . 17
5.10 Crest factor . 18
5.11 Durability . 18
5.12 Weight . 19
5.13 Instrumentation choice . 19
6 Calibration . 19
6.1 General . 19
6.2 Calibration procedure . 19
6.2.1 General . 19
6.2.2 Magnetic field calibration system . 19
6.2.3 Electric field calibration system . 20
6.2.4 Three-axis probes calibration . 20
6.2.5 Calibration values . 21
6.2.6 Calibration uncertainty . 21
6.3 Calibration documentation . 22
7 Verification . 23
Annex A (normative) Calibration methods . 24
A.1 Calibration of magnetic flux density meters . 24
A.1.1 Using magnetic field generation . 24
A.1.2 Voltage injection method . 28
A.1.3 Comparison with reference magnetic field meter . 29
A.2 Calibration of electric field strength meters . 30

© IEC 2024
A.2.1 Electric field generation method . 30
A.2.2 Current injection method . 34
A.2.3 Comparison with electric field reference . 34
Annex B (informative) Example of calibration uncertainty . 35
Annex C (informative) General characteristics of magnetic and electric fields . 37
C.1 General . 37
C.2 Polarisation . 37
C.3 Characteristics of magnetic field . 38
C.4 Characteristic of electric field . 39
Annex D (informative) Magnetic flux density meters (magnetic field meters) . 41
D.1 General characteristics of magnetic field meters . 41
D.2 Theory of operation (coil probes) . 42
D.3 Static magnetic field-measuring instrumentation . 44
Annex E (informative) Electric field strength meters (electric field meters) . 45
E.1 General characteristics of electric field meters . 45
E.2 Theory of operation . 45
E.2.1 Free-body meters . 45
E.2.2 Ground reference meters . 47
Annex F (informative) Influence of humidity on electric field measurement . 49
F.1 Measurement conditions . 49
F.2 Results . 49
Annex G (informative) Units . 51
G.1 Units . 51
G.2 SI units and SI derived units . 51
G.3 Useful physical constants . 51
Bibliography . 52

Figure 1 – Schema Schematic of a field meter . 15
Figure 2 – Insulating tripod and offset rod for an electric field probe (photograph RTE) . 16
Figure 3 – Electric field measurement using a hand-held stick (photograph RTE). 16
Figure A.1 – Deviation in percentage departure of calculated axial field [7] . 24
Figure A.2 – Coordinate system and geometry of rectangular loop of many turns of
wire (see Equation (A. 1)) . 25
Figure A.3 – Circular Helmholtz coils . 26
Figure A.4 – Deviation in percentage of calculated B from centre value (see Equation
z
(A.4)) . 27
Figure A.5 – Schematic view of a circuit for calibration of magnetic field meter using a
square loop to produce a known field . 27
Figure A.6 – Diagram for voltage injection technique . 29
Figure A.7 – Calculated normalized electric field at plate surfaces and midway between
plates as a function of the normalized distance from the edge of the plate . 30
Figure A.8 – Parallel plates system for calibrating free-body electric field meters . 32
Figure A.9 – Arrangement with parallel plates orientated perpendicular to the floor . 33
Figure A.10 – Diagram for current injection technique . 34
Figure C.1 – Oscillating and rotating field quantities for cases of elliptical polarization,
linear polarization, and circular polarization . 38
Figure C.2 – Magnetic field from current in straight and circular conductors . 39

REDLINE VERSION – 4 – IEC 61786-1:2013+AMD1:2024 CSV
© IEC 2024
Figure C.3 – Perturbation of electric field distribution by a person (from IEC 62226-3-1) . 40
Figure C.4 – Proximity effect with a 25 kV line and a building (from IEC 62110) . 40
Figure D.1 – Schematic view of simple magnetic field meter with coil-type probe . 41
Figure D.2 – Approximate equivalent circuit of a coil probe when connected to the
detector . 43
Figure E.1 – Single-axis free-body meter geometries . 46
Figure E.2 – Designs for flat plate probes used with ground-referenced electric field

met
...

IEC 61786-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2013-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
HORIZONTAL STANDARD
NORME HORIZONTALE
Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to
100 kHz with regard to exposure of human beings –
Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments

Mesure de champs magnétiques continus et de champs magnétiques et
électriques alternatifs dans la plage de fréquences de 1 Hz à 100 kHz dans
leur rapport à l'exposition humaine –
Partie 1: Exigences applicables aux instruments de mesure

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IEC 61786-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2013-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
HORIZONTAL STANDARD
NORME HORIZONTALE
Measurement of DC magnetic, AC magnetic and AC electric fields from 1 Hz to

100 kHz with regard to exposure of human beings –

Part 1: Requirements for measuring instruments

Mesure de champs magnétiques continus et de champs magnétiques et

électriques alternatifs dans la plage de fréquences de 1 Hz à 100 kHz dans

leur rapport à l'exposition humaine –

Partie 1: Exigences applicables aux instruments de mesure

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX XA
ICS 17.220.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-1298-1

– 2 – 61786-1 © IEC:2013
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
3.1 Meters . 7
3.2 Meter characteristics . 8
3.3 Field characteristics . 9
3.4 Measurements . 10
4 Symbols . 11
5 Instrumentation specifications . 12
5.1 General . 12
5.2 Measurement uncertainty . 12
5.3 Magnitude range . 13
5.4 Pass-band . 13
5.5 Operating temperature and humidity ranges . 13
5.6 Power supplies . 13
5.7 Readability of scale . 14
5.8 Instrument dimensions and choice of probe . 14
5.8.1 General schema . 14
5.8.2 Magnetic field meter . 14
5.8.3 Electric field meter . 15
5.8.4 Support for electric field meter . 15
5.9 Electromagnetic compatibility . 15
5.9.1 Immunity . 15
5.9.2 Emissions . 16
5.10 Crest factor . 17
5.11 Durability . 17
5.12 Weight . 17
5.13 Instrumentation choice . 18
6 Calibration . 18
6.1 General . 18
6.2 Calibration procedure . 18
6.2.1 General . 18
6.2.2 Magnetic field calibration system . 18
6.2.3 Electric field calibration system . 19
6.2.4 Three-axis probes calibration . 19
6.2.5 Calibration values . 19
6.2.6 Calibration uncertainty . 20
6.3 Calibration documentation . 20
7 Verification . 21
Annex A (normative) Calibration methods . 22
Annex B (informative) Example of calibration uncertainty . 33
Annex C (informative) General characteristics of magnetic and electric fields . 35
Annex D (informative) Magnetic flux density meters (magnetic field meters) . 39

61786-1 © IEC:2013 – 3 –
Annex E (informative) Electric field strength meters (electric field meters) . 43
Annex F (informative) Influence of humidity on electric field measurement . 47
Annex G (informative) Units . 49
Bibliography . 50

Figure 1 – Schema of a field meter . 14
Figure 2 – Insulating tripod and offset rod for an electric field probe (photograph RTE) . 15
Figure 3 – Electric field measurement using a hand-held stick (photograph RTE). 15
Figure A.1 – Deviation in percentage departure of calculated axial field [7] . 22
Figure A.2 – Coordinate system and geometry of rectangular loop of many turns of
wire (see Equation (A. 1)) . 23
Figure A.3 – Circular Helmholtz coils . 24
Figure A.4 – Deviation in percentage of calculated B from centre value (see Equation
z
(A.4)) . 25
Figure A.5 – Schematic view of a circuit for calibration of magnetic field meter using a
square loop to produce a known field . 25
Figure A.6 – Diagram for voltage injection technique . 27
Figure A.7 – Calculated normalized electric field at plate surfaces and midway between
plates as a function of the normalized distance from the edge of the plate . 28
Figure A.8 – Parallel plates system for calibrating free-body electric field meters . 30
Figure A.9 – Arrangement with parallel plates orientated perpendicular to the floor . 31
Figure A.10 – Diagram for current injection technique . 32
Figure C.1 – Oscillating and rotating field quantities for cases of elliptical polarization,
linear polarization, and circular polarization . 36
Figure C.2 – Magnetic field from current in straight and circular conductors . 37
Figure C.3 – Perturbation of electric field distribution by a person (from IEC 62226-3-1) . 38
Figure C.4 – Proximity effect with a 25 kV line and a building (from IEC 62110) . 38
Figure D.1 – Schematic view of simple magnetic field meter with coil-type probe . 39
Figure D.2 – Approximate equivalent circuit of a coil probe when connected to the
detector . 41
Figure E.1 – Single-axis free-body meter geometries . 44
Figure E.2 – Designs for flat plate probes used with ground-referenced electric field
meters .
...