ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC FIELDS AT INDUSTRIAL FREQUENCY
BEShielding S.r.l. performs both assessments of electrical and magnetic fields generated by electrical infrastructure (lines, substations, industrial electrical equipment) and spatial monitoring aimed at verifying compliance with exposure limits and warning values. In many cases, the assessment of electrical and magnetic field levels is required by law.
Using three-dimensional and two-dimensional calculation codes, BEShielding S.r.l. performs electrical and magnetic field assessments and runs the related calculation of first and second approximation buffer zones for fields generated by electrical infrastructure such as:
- power lines (overhead and cable);
- electrical substations (primary and secondary);
- industrial electrical equipment (welding machines, induction heating, etc.).
The assessment of the electrical and magnetic field levels produced by electrical infrastructure is required by law, and the field level requirements are specified by the Council of Ministers Presidential Decree of 8 July 2003 (valid for Italy).
For the first approximation assessment of the buffer zone (First Approximation Distance or FAD), in Italy, reference can be made to the Ministerial Decree of 29/05/2008 (valid for Italy) “Approval of the method for the calculation of power line buffer zones” with particular reference to Article 5, paragraph 5.1.3 “Simplified procedure: calculation of the first approximation distance” which introduces the concept of First Approximation Distance (FAD) and the possibility of using the formulas reported in CEI 106-11 “Guide to the methods of calculation of power line buffer zones according to the Council of Ministers Presidential Decree of 8 July 2003 (Art. 6) Part 1: Overhead and Cable Power Lines” of April 1, 2006 (valid for Italy).
It should be pointed out that, according to the procedure indicated in the Decree of 29/05/2008, evaluation of FAD (first approximation distance) is difficult to apply to plant situations such as substations or electrical stations since their layout and composition do not relate well to the case under consideration.
The complexity of the source under consideration requires a more fine-tuned assessment that mainly takes into account the three-dimensionality of the individual sources and the effect their combination produces (superposition of effects).
BEShielding S.r.l. has therefore developed a three-dimensional software: MAGIC® which takes into account all these aspects, thus making possible environmental impact assessments that meet the indicated requirements.
MONITORING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF RADIO-FREQUENCY INSTALLATIONS
The activities performed by BEShielding S.r.l. in this area involve spatial monitoring aimed at verifying compliance with exposure limits and warning values for the prevention of short-term and possible long-term effects on the general population due to exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by fixed sources with frequencies between 100 kHz and 300 GHz, as required by the Council of Ministers Presidential Decree of July 8, 2003 (valid for Italy).
The type of verification to be adopted consists of broadband field measurements (as outlined in CEI 211-7) (valid for Italy) aimed at identifying critical points in an area containing systems or possible receivers.
OPERATIONAL STEPS
- Census of the radio-frequency sources.
- Evaluation of the information collected and definition of measurement points.
- Conducting of broadband electric field measurements (IEC 211-7).
- Entering measurement data on georeferenced maps.
- Evaluation of compliance with the limits indicated by Regional and National laws.
- Possible additional assessment of electrical field levels in the case of Radio Base Stations (CEI 211- 10/2002 “Guide to the construction of a Radio Base Station to comply with the limits of exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields”) (valid for Italy).