UNE-EN 50647:2017

This European Standard provides a general procedure to assess workers exposure to electric and

magnetic fields (EMF) in work places associated with the production, transmission and distribution of

electric energy, and to demonstrate compliance with exposure limit values and action levels as stated in

the Council and European Parliament EMF Directive 2013/35/EU [10].

It has the role of a specific workplace standard. It takes into account the non-binding application guide for

implementing the EMF Directive [9] and it defines the assessment procedures and compliance criteria

applicable to the electric industry.

The frequency range of this standard covers from DC to 20 kHz, which is sufficient to include the power

frequency used for electric power supply systems throughout Europe (50 Hz) and the various harmonics

and inter-harmonics occurring in the supply system. In this extremely low frequency range, electric and

magnetic fields are independent and, therefore, they both have to be addressed in the exposure

assessment.

NOTE 1 Electrical companies also use radio frequency transmissions to operate and maintain their networks and

power plants. Similarly, other exposures to EMF may occur during maintenance operations, for instance, due to the

use of hand-held electrical tools. All these EMF sources are outside the scope of this standard.

NOTE 2 Regarding EMF in the low frequency range, the scientific basis of the EMF directive is the ICNIRP health

guidelines published in 2010 [12]. Reference is made to this scientific basis when necessary for justifying or clarifying

some of the technical statements of the present document.