Electrosmog above heating film: what does the meter show?
In our own measurements (KMOON GM3120) the electric field strength of a 220 W/m² heating film is 345 V/m on the film's surface, 273 V/m under a 2 cm Rigidur board and 0 V/m at 20 cm height. The public exposure limit at 50 Hz is 5,000 V/m: the value measured on covered heating film is 5.5% of that.
In brief
- In our own measurements (KMOON GM3120) the electric field strength of a 220 W/m² heating film is 345 V/m on its surface, 273 V/m under a 2 cm Rigidur board and 0 V/m at 20 cm height.
- The public exposure limit at 50 Hz is 5,000 V/m for the electric field and 100 µT for the magnetic field (Hungarian Decree 63/2004 ESZCSM).
- The value measured on covered film is 5.5% of the limit; with the same meter we measured 525 V/m on a laptop adapter.
- The film's magnetic field in the measurement was 0.16–0.93 µT.
- Covered with EMF foil, 0–1 V/m can be measured even above the heating film. This is our own hand-held measurement, not a laboratory test.
Measured electric field strength in the home and above heating film
Measured with the same meter in direct contact, so the values of household appliances and heating film can be compared.
| Measuring point | Field strength (V/m) | As a share of the limit (5,000 V/m) |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop adapter in a double power strip | 949 | 19% |
| Laptop adapter | 525 | 10.5% |
| Floor lamp (body) | 430 | 8.6% |
| Heating film surface, uncovered (220 W/m²) | 345 | 6.9% |
| Double power strip | 342 | 6.8% |
| Electric kettle | 340 | 6.8% |
| Microwave oven | 333 | 6.7% |
| Heating film under a 2 cm Rigidur board | 273 | 5.5% |
| Light switch | 214 | 4.3% |
| Mobile phone while charging | 190 | 3.8% |
| Hi-fi system | 168 | 3.4% |
| Power strip | 157 | 3.1% |
| Floor lamp cable | 101 | 2% |
| Above heating film at 20 cm height | 0 | 0% |
| Heating film covered with EMF foil | 0–1 | 0–0.02% |
Our own measurement with a KMOON GM3120 meter in direct contact; the values fall quickly with distance. The EMF-foil value is the reading agreed on in the measurement video. The film's magnetic field in the measurement was 0.16–0.93 µT, against a limit of 100 µT. Limits: Hungarian Decree 63/2004 (VII. 26.) ESZCSM, 50 Hz.
What is electrosmog, and why measure the finished floor?
"Electrosmog" is the everyday name for the electric and magnetic fields that form around electrical equipment. We are also exposed to such effects from natural sources, such as the Earth's magnetic field and lightning; the artificial sources are household appliances, mobile phones and wifi routers. The health effects of weak fields are disputed or unproven.
In Hungary, the public health limits are set by Decree 63/2004 (VII. 26.) ESZCSM: at the 50 Hz mains frequency, 5,000 V/m for the electric field and 100 µT for the magnetic field.
For heating, what counts is not the product before installation but the finished, covered system, because that is what the family lives with. That is why we measured in several steps: on the bare film, under a Rigidur floor board, then at 20 cm height, and, where the smallest value is the goal, also covered with EMF foil.
Details of the measurement and the videos (Hungarian-language article)
Simple steps to reduce electrosmog
Speakerphone
Use the speakerphone when making calls, and do not keep the phone next to your head at night.
Switching off
Unplug electrical devices you are not using.
Distance
Move the wifi router away from where you spend a lot of time, and do not stand next to a running microwave oven.
EMF foil above the heating
If you want the lowest value with underfloor heating, we put EMF foil above the heating film: then 0–1 V/m can be measured above the film as well.
The measurement and the background on video (in Hungarian)
Questions about electrosmog
How much electrosmog is there above heating film?
According to our own measurement, the electrosmog above heating film is a fraction of the public exposure limit: the electric field strength is 345 V/m on the surface of the 220 W/m² film, 273 V/m under a 2 cm Rigidur board and 0 V/m at 20 cm height, against a limit of 5,000 V/m. With the same KMOON GM3120 meter we measured 340 V/m at an electric kettle and 525 V/m at a laptop adapter. The measurement with video: electrosmog measurement at heating film (Hungarian-language article).
What is the public exposure limit for electrosmog?
In Hungary the public exposure limit at the 50 Hz mains frequency is 5,000 V/m for the electric field and 100 µT for the magnetic field, according to Decree 63/2004 (VII. 26.) ESZCSM. The 345 V/m measured on uncovered 220 W/m² heating film is 6.9% of that, and the 273 V/m measured under a 2 cm Rigidur board is 5.5%; the film's magnetic field in the measurement was 0.16–0.93 µT. The measurement: electrosmog measurement at heating film.
Can the electrosmog of heating film be reduced to zero?
In our measurement the electrosmog of heating film was already 0 V/m at 20 cm height, and at the floor surface it can be reduced to the lowest value with EMF foil: if that is the goal, we put EMF foil above the heating film, and 0–1 V/m can then be measured directly above it. Video of the EMF-foil measurement: measurement with EMF foil on top.
Can heating film be installed in a child's room?
Heating film can be installed in a child's room as well: the 273 V/m measured under a 2 cm Rigidur board is far below the 5,000 V/m public limit, and at 20 cm height we measured 0 V/m. If you want an even lower value at the floor surface, we install the heating with EMF foil, so 0–1 V/m can be measured above the film. On the common concerns: Is infrared heating harmful?
What instrument was used to measure the electrosmog?
We measured the electrosmog values with a KMOON GM3120 electrosmog meter in direct contact; the values fall quickly with distance. Household appliances, such as a kettle, a microwave oven, a laptop adapter and a mobile phone while charging, were measured with the same instrument, so the values are comparable. This is our own hand-held measurement, not a laboratory test. Videos of the measurement: electrosmog measurement.
How can electrosmog be reduced at home?
Electrosmog at home can be reduced with a few simple steps: use the speakerphone when calling, and do not keep the phone next to your head at night; unplug devices you are not using; move the wifi router away from where you spend a lot of time, and do not stand next to a running microwave oven. With underfloor heating we can put EMF foil above the heating film. Layer build: electric underfloor heating.
Related pages
Infrared heating: the basics
How it works, and what to look out for before you decide.
Is there brutal electrosmog with heating film?
The measurement steps and videos (article).
Is infrared heating harmful?
The most common health question.
Myths about heating beneath the floor covering
Electrosmog and real efficiency (article).
Electric underfloor heating
Layer build by floor covering, price and consumption.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers and one-minute videos.
Request a quote — installation anywhere in Hungary
We survey, design and install heating film and infrared heating throughout Hungary. Tell us about your home and we will get back to you.
Sources
- futofolia.hu: Electrosmog (earlier page: household measurements, film at 345 and 273 V/m, 0 V/m at 20 cm, protection tips) (2020-04)
- futofolia.hu: Is there brutal electrosmog with the Intelligent Heating Film? (article, EMF-foil measurement, videos) (2021-12)
- Hungarian Decree 63/2004 (VII. 26.) ESZCSM on public exposure limits for electromagnetic fields between 0 Hz and 300 GHz
- Wikipedia: Electrosmog (Hungarian) (2026-09)