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 What are RF radiation exclusion zones?

An exclusion zone is a region around an RF transmitting antenna where the general public or occupational workers are not allowed to enter or remain for protracted periods of time because the regulated RF EMF exposure levels would be exceeded inside this zone.

The area within which the RF field values (power density) radiating from the antennae exceed the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection’s (ICNIRP) Public reference levels is referred to as the Public exclusion zone. Where it exceeds the ICNIRP Occupational reference levels is known as the Occupational exclusion zone.

The reference levels are the power density values time averaged over a 6min/30min cycle. (This hides spikes in power, and it is the spikes which also cause a stress response)

The guideline max Public exposure (power density) within the zones is supposed to be 61 v/m or 10 W/m2 (increases to 50W/m2 for Occupational)

Are ‘5G’ masts any different ?

A key feature of the 5G wireless standard is that it will use beam-forming technology, which allows for the RF signal to be focused to the region where it is needed (e.g. to a person using a mobile phone), rather than being spread out over a large area.

We are re-assured “…the ICNIRP (2020) restrictions have been set to ensure that the resultant peak spatial power will remain far lower than that required to adversely affect health. Accordingly, 5G exposures will not cause any harm providing that they adhere to the ICNIRP (2020) guidelines.”

https://www.icnirp.org/en/applications/5g/5g.html

The idea of having focused beams directed at you is not re-assuring, and remember Jevans paradox that will guarantee that all the space between your beams will be filled by other peoples beams since the technology boasts the ability to serve millions more devices than before!

Illustration examples

Typical exclusion zone map. This shows a radius of about 50m, but it can vary from 10-50m depending on the antenna type and specification. Average c.25m radius outwards. Typically you allow a vertical zone of 5m above and below the horizontal axis as well.

You need to ask the operator for their calculations for each site however. Indeed, the Council should be doing this to check the ICNIRP Compliance certificate produced under NPPF policy 117c.

5G MIMO antennas could/should have larger Zones as indicated here. They should always be mapped for maximum transmitted power. ICNIRP claim that 5G will not need larger zones, but Ericsson are suggesting that they will.

Councils have duties to protect public health under the 2012 Social Care Act, the NHS Act 2006, and the 2018 European Electronics Communications Code, which was transposed into UK law in December 2020  (Recitals 22, 105, 106, 110 and Article 45 2h)

They are facilitating the deployment of telecom infrastructure and are therefore liable for any harms arising. This liability was confirmed by PHE (UKHSA) solicitors in 2019. The guideline short term exposure level of 61 V/m (10W/m2) recommended by the ICNIRP is widely accepted by National and Local Government. Any public body relying on the guidance is liable for any harms arising – not ICNIRP nor PHE/UKHSA which issued the guidance, and they are uninsured.

Councils are recklessly accepting self certification from Telco applicants which declare that all radiation issuing from masts is ‘designed to be’ below the ICNIRP guideline safe levels (which are inadequate in any case). This is very different to ‘being’ below, at least in the longer term, and must be a definitive justifiable statement instead of a vague one.

These ‘ICNIRP certificates of conformity’ give no information about the assessments undertaken, the values and data used, the spec and power of the proposed antenna and built in upgrade possibilities etc.

Environmental and Health Impact Assessments should be provided as a matter of course with these certificates and Councils are not securing or assessing them.

There is of course abundant evidence of risk of harm from non-thermal effects at radiation levels well below the ICNIRP limits (which should be assessed as a Material Planning Consideration), but where new masts include 5G phased array antenna and hardware it is most likely that the legal limits will also be breached when operational. *

A freedom of information request as pinned below should invite truthful and accurate responses, which are desperately needed. Please serve this on your council.

There is a follow up Sample Letter available, depending what answers are received. (email us: query@rfinfo.co.uk) Your response could for example either be that the information provided is still incomplete, and that EIAs (Environmental Impact Assess) and RAs (Risk Assess) were not secured and Planning Law not followed, or that the data for the proposed mast clearly shows a breach of legal limits when operational.

This FOI is a parallel course of action to the Public Interest Request explained here.

• *the ICNIRP limits should be assessed as ‘favourable’ evidence in the weighing up of a Material Planning Consideration (MPC) such as incompatible and unacceptable use of land, against ‘unfavourable’ evidence of harm to health that is provided by local residents. This weighing up of an MPC is required under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The weighing up is congruent with the weighing up of ICNIRP as in the solicitors’ to PHE/UKHSA, DLA Piper’s advice for a public body to evaluate ICNIRP guidance and is also congruent with the local competent authority obligations of local planning authorities under the European Electronics Communications Code.