Meaning
Harmonized European standards define the evaluation methods for wireless communication devices held close to the human body. The standard known as CENELEC EN 50566 specifies requirements for demonstrating compliance of radio frequency transmitters with basic restrictions and exposure limit values.
Product Scope
Mobile technologies operating in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 6 GHz fall under these regulations. Devices governed by CENELEC EN 50566 include mobile phones, tablets, and wearable equipment. Handsets operated in close contact with the ear are excluded because they are covered by separate standards.
Compliance Metric
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is the primary metric used to evaluate RF exposure in this context. To comply with CENELEC EN 50566, the localized SAR must be assessed in both the limbs and the trunk of the body. Head exposures are typically evaluated under different standards, leaving this framework focused on body-worn and hand-held positions.
Laboratory Assessment
Standardized phantom models and tissue-equivalent liquids are utilized to simulate human exposure. Testing according to CENELEC EN 50566 requires precise positioning of the device under test against the flat phantom. Automated robotic arms move an E-field probe through the liquid to measure the electric field strength, allowing the system to calculate the peak spatial-average SAR.
These measured values are then compared directly to the legal limits before the product can be cleared for sale in the European Economic Area.
