BS EN 61786-1 is the first part of an international multi-series standard that discusses the requirements for measuring instruments.
BS EN 61786-1 provides guidance for measuring instruments used to measure the field strength of quasi-static magnetic and electric fields that have frequency content in the range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz and with DC magnetic fields to evaluate the exposure levels of the human body to these fields.
Sources of fields include devices that operate at power frequencies and produce power frequency and power frequency harmonic fields, as well as devices that produce fields within the frequency range of BS EN 61786-1, including devices that produce static fields, and the earth’s static magnetic field. Sources of uncertainty during calibration are also identified.
BS EN 61786-1 covers the magnitude ranges from 0.1 μT to 200 mT in AC (1 μT to 10 T in DC) and 1 V/m to 50 kV/m for magnetic fields and electric fields, respectively. When measurements outside this range are performed, most of the provisions of BS EN 61786-1 will still apply, but special attention should be paid to specified uncertainty and calibration procedures.
BS EN 61786-1 considers only the measurement of the unperturbed electric field strength at a point in free space (i.e., the electric field prior to the introduction of the field meter and operator) or above conducting surfaces, regarding electric field measurements.
Note: Measurement methods that achieve defined goals pertaining to the assessment of human exposure are described in IEC 61786-2.
BS EN 61786-1 on requirements for measuring instruments is relevant to:
A measuring instrument is a device intended to be used to make measurements, alone or in conjunction with supplementary devices. Measurement systems are required to undergo calibration throughout their service life. The purpose of the formation of this series is to allow all calibrations to be traceable, to national and international standards through an unbroken chain of calibrations, all having stated uncertainties.
BS EN 61786-1 acts as a guide for you that is primarily intended for use by technical committees in the preparation of standards in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 108.
BS EN 61786-1 defines the terminology related to measuring instruments filters, helps the users to identify requirements on field meter specifications, and indicated the methods of calibration for the measuring instruments filters. This enables the users to evaluate the DC and AC magnetic as well as AC electric fields from 1 Hz to 100 kHz regarding exposure of human beings. BS EN 61786-1 also stipulates the requirements on instrumentation uncertainty, describes the widespread characteristics of fields and operational principles of instrumentation, that assists the users to verify the parameters, associated with the result of a calibration, that characterizes the dispersion of the values that could be attributed to the measurand.
BS EN 61786-1 covers the method of electric field calibration. It also presents you with three methods of magnetic field calibration:
(Following measurements of coil dimensions and current to the coil system)
Overall, BS EN 61786-1 is beneficial as it provides you with guidance on the magnetic and electric fields produced by power lines, appliances, and transportation systems that are characterized according to their magnitude, frequency, waveform (harmonic content), degree of polarization, spatial variation, and temporal variation.
EN 61786-1:2014
IEC 61786-1:2013