Nerve Stimulation (NS) RF Exposure Testing for Products Marketed in Canada
If your product includes a Radio Frequency (RF) source in the range of 3 kHz to 10 MHz and is marketed in Canada, it must comply with a particular requirement of RSS-102 Issue 6, commonly referred to as Nerve Stimulation (NS). Canada’s NS requirements are part of broader standards aimed at protecting the public. Unlike the averaging methods utilized in Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) assessment for mobile products or Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) assessment for portable products, NS requirements focus on maximum instantaneous fields.
Some products may be exempt from Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing based on factors like power output, distance, and duration of exposure. However, products that intentionally generate RF energy in the 3 kHz to 10 MHz range must undergo a NS assessment without regard to these factors. This applies to all intentional RF sources, not just “transmitters”—including RFID readers, Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems, and Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) equipment.
Most products must evaluate potential exposure levels at a 0 mm separation distance. In cases where safety mechanisms prevent exposure, such as disabling the RF source when a machine’s safety doors are open, NS assessment remains applicable but can be evaluated at the exterior of the safety devices when the source is active. This doesn’t exempt the product from testing; it only changes the distance at which the test is conducted. While RSS-102 includes some specific exemptions from NS testing for devices meeting certain criteria, a Nerve Stimulation assessment report (either a test or a demonstration of exemption) is still required.
CKC coordinates with ISED (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) for authorization of RSS-102 NS test reports.
Important Notice: No Grandfathering! Manufacturers marketing new products or continuing to market existing products which include a RF source in the range 3kHz to 10MHz are obligated to meet the new requirements of RSS-102 Issue 6 and RSS-102.NS.MEAS Issue 1. This includes products previously authorized under older standards. The final date of applicability is December 15, 2024 – so be sure to update product compliance now!
