Brutal Electrosmog from Smart Heating Film? No – It Can Even Be Zero
Author: Tóth Tamás · 4 min read
How strong an electric field did we measure on bare heating film, under a Rigidur board and at 20 cm height, and how does it compare with household appliances and the Hungarian limit? Our own measurement, with videos.
No: according to our own measurement, the electric field of heating film used for electric underfloor heating is a fraction of the public health limit, and the floor covering, distance and an EMF foil reduce it further. Below we show what and how we measured, what we compared it with, and where the limits of such a measurement lie.
Several contradictory measurement results circulate online about heating films and heating foils. So we measured too – with the same instrument on the film and on the everyday electrical appliances of a home, so that the values can be compared.
What is electrosmog?
Electrosmog is the everyday name for the electric and magnetic fields, or electromagnetic radiation, that form around electrical equipment. It is used by those who fear a harmful effect on health and regard it as a hazard to be guarded against, much like air pollution. The harmful effect of weak fields on health is in most cases disputed or unproven (for more on the concept: Wikipedia).
We are also surrounded by fields of natural origin: the Earth's magnetic field, radiation from space, lightning. Artificial sources are the TV, radio, mobile phone, microwave oven and wifi router – in everyday speech these are what we call electrosmog.
Health limits for electrosmog
In Hungary, the health limit values for the public are set by Decree 63/2004 (VII. 26.) ESzCsM. At the 50 Hz frequency of mains electricity:
- electric field strength: 5,000 V/m,
- magnetic flux density: 100 microtesla.
All the measurements below refer to electric field strength (V/m).
How did we measure the heating film?
For a heating system it is worth examining not the individual elements separately but the finished, installed electric underfloor heating, since that is what the family lives with after moving in. Still, we started with the bare film, because most of the concern relates to it.
Step 1: bare heating film
We energised a 220 W/m² heating film and placed the instrument directly on its surface. The measured value was 345 V/m – less than a tenth of the 5,000 V/m limit.
Step 2: 2 cm Rigidur board on the film
Next we began modelling the layer structure after installation: we placed a 2 cm Rigidur gypsum fibre board on the film, which is used instead of concrete in dry construction. This single layer already reduced the value: we measured 273 V/m, although only part of the full layer structure was in place.
Step 3: distance from the floor
The values above were measured directly at floor level. As we moved the instrument away, the field strength dropped quickly: at a height of 20 cm above the floor the instrument already showed zero.
How can it be reduced further at installation?
The most important thing is the right layer structure and professional installation. For those who worry even about a small value, we recommend an anti-electrosmog EMF foil: it goes over the full surface of the heating film, as the top layer during installation, and can be laid quickly and easily. In the measurement shown in the next video, the instrument showed practically no electric field above the EMF foil.
How much electrosmog do household appliances emit?
With the same KMOON GM3120 electrosmog meter, in direct contact, we measured the following values in the home:
- power strip: 157 V/m
- light switch: 214 V/m
- microwave oven: 333 V/m
- kettle: 340 V/m
- mobile phone while charging: 190 V/m
- double power strip: 342 V/m
- hi-fi equipment: 168 V/m
- floor lamp cable: 101 V/m
- floor lamp body: 430 V/m
- laptop adapter: 525 V/m
- laptop adapter in a double power strip: 949 V/m
The value measured on covered heating film is therefore of a similar order of magnitude to everyday appliances, and all are below the Hungarian limit. We have also summarised the values in a table, together with the magnetic field measurement, on our electrosmog page.
Measurement videos of household appliances
Electric kettle:
Laptop adapter:
Light switch:
Microwave oven:
Mobile phone while charging:
What does this measurement show, and what does it not?
The figures above are the results of our own 2020 measurement with a commercially available handheld instrument, not an accredited laboratory test. They are suitable for comparing the electric field of heating film, on the same instrument, with household appliances and with the legal limit. The exact value depends on the measuring point, the distance and the layer structure.
Summary
An electric and magnetic field forms around every electrical device, and for everyday appliances these in most cases stay below the Hungarian health limit. According to our measurement, infrared heating – electric underfloor heating with heating film – with the right layer structure and professional installation is also well below the limit, and can be reduced further with an EMF foil.
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