Meaning
A section of the United States federal regulations defines the limits for human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. These rules establish maximum permissible exposure levels for both occupational and general population scenarios. Under fcc part 1.1310, devices must be evaluated for RF radiation safety, either through SAR measurements or by calculating minimum separation distances from the radiating antenna.
Compliance Limit
Exposure boundaries depend on the operating frequency of the transmitter because different frequencies deposit energy into human tissue at varying rates. The mandates of fcc part 1.1310 specify power density limits from 300 kilohertz to 100 gigahertz. Handheld and body-worn products operating below this threshold must demonstrate compliance through laboratory testing, where specialized probes measure the specific absorption rate in tissue-simulating liquid.
Evaluation Methodology
System integrators must document the assessment process to secure regulatory certification before marketing a wireless product. For fixed or mobile devices, engineers use fcc part 1.1310 to calculate the safe distance where power density drops below the regulated limit. This calculation takes into account the antenna gain, the cable losses, and the maximum duty cycle of the transmitter, which represents the worst-case continuous operation of the module.
If the calculated distance exceeds the typical use case of the product, physical shielding or software power back-off algorithms must be implemented to maintain compliance.
Certification Consequence
Failing to meet RF exposure limits prevents a device from receiving regulatory approval for commercial sale. When a module is submitted for testing, the evaluation report under fcc part 1.1310 must be uploaded to the regulatory filing database. This step is a prerequisite for the grant of equipment authorization, without which the product cannot be legally imported or distributed in the target market.
