IEC PAS 63446:2022

Overview

IEC PAS 63446:2022 defines a conservative, reproducible method to convert peak spatial-average specific absorption rate (psSAR) into peak spatial-average absorbed power density (psAPD) for assessing human exposure to radio‑frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields from wireless devices used close to the head and body. Applicable for the 6 GHz to 10 GHz frequency band, the PAS targets devices operated up to 200 mm from the body and covers single or multiple transmitters including mobile phones, radios in personal computers, desktop/laptop devices and body‑worn or garment‑embedded transmitters. The document includes conversion methods, uncertainty estimation, reporting requirements, and validation/system check procedures.

Key topics and requirements

• Conversion method (Clause 6): Procedure to convert measured or computed psSAR values into conservative psAPD values (area‑averaged absorbed power density entering tissue).
• Uncertainty estimation (Clause 7): Templates and guidance to quantify measurement and numerical uncertainties in psAPD assessments, including a suggested uncertainty budget.
• Reporting requirements (Clause 8): Minimum information to include in measurement and computational reports for reproducibility and regulatory review.
• Validation and system checks (Annex C): Normative reference dipoles, numerical models and target psAPD values for laboratory and simulation validation.
• Supplemental files (Annex D): Reference datasets and checksums to support validation and reproducibility.
• Physical basis and rationale (Annex A & B): Informative background on APD, penetration depth, and Poynting‑vector relationships used in the conversion.

Practical applications

• Demonstrating compliance with epithelial/absorbed power density limits in exposure guidelines (e.g., ICNIRP 2020; IEEE C95.1‑2019).
• Enabling conformity testing when device emissions are characterized as psSAR but comparison limits or basic restrictions are expressed as APD.
• Supporting product design, pre‑compliance testing, and regulatory submissions for wireless devices operating in the 6–10 GHz range.
• Providing standardized validation cases for EMC/RF test labs and computational RF safety groups.

Who should use this standard

• RF safety and compliance engineers
• Test laboratories and accreditation bodies
• Wireless device manufacturers (handheld, body‑worn, embedded)
• Regulatory agencies and certification bodies
• Computational dosimetry specialists

Related standards

• IEC/IEEE 62209‑1528 (psSAR measurement methods)
• IEC/IEEE 62704‑1 and 62704‑4 (computational SAR methods)
• IEC/IEEE 63195‑1 and 63195‑2 (incident power density methods; overlap 6–10 GHz)
• ICNIRP and IEEE exposure guidelines (limits and basic restrictions)

Keywords: IEC PAS 63446:2022, absorbed power density, APD, psSAR, psAPD, specific absorption rate, human exposure, 6 GHz to 10 GHz, wireless devices, RF safety, uncertainty estimation, validation.