EMI Mitigation: How and Why are Electric Fields Measured?

One reason an engineer can fail to solve an EMI issue is that she or he does not consider the potential impact of capacitive coupling attributed by E-Fields (electric fields.)

When we assess E-Fields, we are referring to measuring the electron particle component of electromagnetism in terms of voltage separated from the perpendicular, or vector, magnetic flux "lines-of-force" component of A.C. (alternating current.) The standard frequencies of electrical power are 50 Hertz (European) or 60 Hertz (North American), 5 Hertz (European Railways), 25 Hertz for the Traction Power Grid for New Jersey Transit and Amtrak (60 Hz for the New Haven Line), and the Siemen’s Sitras Brand which uses AC and DC.

Most think that electricity travels within the electrical cabling and is wholly contained within these metal conductors, whether they be transmission lines, distribution lines, facility wiring, or equipment and appliance electrical cords. However, an electrical conductor functions merely as a guide. The larger the load on this conductor, the more spread the field. The girth of the electric field around the conductor will depend on how well the overall electrical system is contained and grounded, as well as the resistance of the soil of Earth's ground.

There are four possible relationships between the electric and magnetic aspects of electricity. You can have: 

1. a strong electrical component with a weak magnetic flux, or 

2. a weak electric component with a strong magnetic flux, or 

3. both relatively weak, or 

4. both relatively strong. 

   We identify and measure these aspects separately because the remedial solutions are very different.

 We mitigate E-Fields by proper Earth grounding versus Magnetic Fields which need to be either:

1. canceled by bringing the hot wire (phase conductor) and the neutral return conductor closer together, or 

2. create a literal distance by moving further from the source-point, or 

3. create distance from a source-point via shielding because the magnetic waves have the travel around the shielding thereby weakening. More on all of this later.

If a consultant speaks about EMF as lines of force, and they only show up with a gauss meter and not any tool to measure the E-Fields, then the EMI assessment will be incomplete, and thereby incorrect, if not accounting for the potential of capacitive coupling. E.P.R. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and the Stark Effect will disrupt superconductors and more.

Human-made alternating current has only been in our world since George Westinghouse began mass-producing electricity. In 1893, Westinghouse Corporation applied massive magnetic transformers to step-up electricity generated by turbines placed at Niagara Falls. With the first installation of its kind, New York State was officially on the power grid. 

Perhaps one of the most insidious forms of non-ionizing radiation resides within our very own home or office walls. Unshielded electrical cabling (Romex) emits an E-Field that is about 6-8 feet. Romex is also an excellent antenna for radiofrequency emissions (RF.) A factory is required to have industrial electrical cable in the walls, however as I just witnessed recently, an outside vendor had installed lighting that was not to code. Unless an electrician has experience working in manufacturing facilities, then they may not know the necessary codes.

A slight digression: Once RF couples on to active wiring, both line, and airborne electromagnetic interference (EMI) results. EMI causes high-frequency harmonic transients or signal-to-noise (S/N) beyond the fundamental 60 Hertz of our electrical supply. Using oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers, we measure electromagnetic interference. The more RF wireless devices in the facility, and the more conductive surfaces, then the more EMI will be introduced onto our systems.

Depending on the voltage (V/m), then the more potential impact the EMI will have on equipment.

1. Using an NFA 1000, we measure the potential-free voltage in the air. This tool utilizes a proprietary technology developed by Gigahertz Solutions in Germany, measuring airborne voltage using a triaxial X, Y, and Z pattern sensor array without the need for a ground reference. This method allows us to measure V/m quite efficiently. 

2. A second way is to drive a ground stake into the Earth-ground and take a relative to Earth's ground E-Field measurement.

3. A third method is to measure the actual voltage coupling to the skin. Using a reference ground and grasping a brass bar in the palm, we measure the average potential on the epidermis. The epidermis reacts to the size and strength of the E-Field. This measuring technique is a direct way to evaluate occupational exposure.

At Elexana, we incorporate a third: Using a 3-D sensor array that picks up electrical particles down to 9 kHz, which is the VLF (very low frequency) range; just above the ELF range of our 60 Hertz electricity. With this, we measure the upper harmonic transients of the electrical supply and the electrical aspect of radio frequencies.

Before the NFA 1000, I would go from room to room, measuring my epidermal voltage to determine the size and strength of the E-Fields and determine the level of success of remediation. It was time-consuming but effective. 

EMI Diagnostic work requires a passion for thoroughness, relentless attention to detail, and spontaneous on-demand creativity. It's not for everyone, but if you think that you have these qualities, then with the proper knowledge and training, you could become a talented EMI Consultant.

Know Your EMI Tolerance and EMF Safety Levels Before Hiring an EMF Testing Company

You could need EMI Compliance or EMF Safety tests for all sorts of reasons. Before you jump into the internet search rabbit hole, do some homework based on your needs. 

If you need to know if a new piece of equipment will function properly at a new location, then check the manual for EMI tolerance specs. We even had one piece of equipment that required a specific meter be used for the compliance test, or the manufacturer’s guarantee would not be applicable.

If you have a medical device, such as an anesthesia table, then know that there is a specific FDA compliance testing procedure that this little side table must undergo. Be sure that during your manufacturing process, you put the table under the rigors of pre-compliance testing to save you time and money.

Are you interested in RF emissions from an industrial dryer that emits 27-30 MHz of strong RF, then you need to know National IEEE, OSHA, and your particular state’s DEP safety regulations. We recommend also knowing international standards for occupational safety. If one day you wish to partner with a Chinese, Israeli, or European firm, then they may insist that their workers are operating within their own country’s guidelines.

If you wish to buy a new investment property, then you need to not only know the US safety levels, but you also need to know all of the international safety standards. A European or Israeli company is often not concerned with the US safety levels because the standards are so much lower than the rest of the world’s standards. For example, the US safety level for exposure to AC Magnetic Fields is 1,000 mG (milligauss) whereas the Israeli safety level is only 4 mG. Another example; the US/IEEE safety level for radio frequency exposure is 10,000,000 µW/m² whereas much of the world’s safety level including Israel, Germany, France, Russia, and China’s is 10,000 µW/m². Salzburg, Austria’s and Luxembourg’s limits are 1,000 µW/m².

If you wish to have your family residence tested, then you should do some research to know what AC Magnetic, AC Electric, and RF emission levels are acceptable to you. Elexana’s safety limits for residential work are in line with the Building Biology® Institute. We are certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialists (EMRS). 

Be sure that the EMF Company you are interviewing shares with you their EMF Safety Actionable Levels long before you hire them. If they believe that 10 mG is an acceptable level and 10 mG is what their shielding will leak, then any electron microscopes or scanners will be situated within a magnetic environment that may not meet manufacturer’s specifications.

Wiring error identification is a service that a trained and certified EMRS learns how to provide. It does NOT require an electrical license because it is non-invasive. Wall outlet receptacles or electrical panels do not need opening up to provide this service. 

Every trained EMRS works with an electrician who will then do the follow-up work. We can instruct an electrician on how to troubleshoot and identify problems in a mains or a sub-panel. Our affiliate licensed electricians continue the process we begin, making your home safe from potential electrical fires and AC Magnetic Fields, created by wiring errors, which can cause a possible fire. Often, we see that a more efficient electrical system will lower your monthly utility bill.  

Hand-Held Radio Frequency Meters: Pros vs. Cons

Pros:

Hand-held RF meters are cost-effective and easy to use. Those with a logarithmic periodic antenna are particularly good at identifying general source points, such as smart meters, cellular antenna ports and towers, wifi, cordless phones, BlueTooth, etc. For this reason, the Gigahertz Solutions HF59B and HF59D hand-held meters serve well the excellent work that an Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist, EMRS, provides you. 

The Gigahertz Solutions HF59B, one of the best hand-held RF analyzers (Made in Germany), is most responsive in the ‘Sensitive” setting and measures RF signal power to a resolution of a microwatt per square meter (µW/㎡) for power readings. Unfortunately, it does not take much to overload this setting, so the max settings that bump the measurement units up to a milliwatt per square meter (mW/㎡) are often required. It has a running RMS (Root-Mean-Squared Average) setting and a PEAK and PEAK-hold function that do not average but sum the three highest received peak frequencies. By the FCC, this mathematical method is acceptable as a viable calculation method.

The isotropic antenna (Isotropic is a “donut-shaped” pattern above the antenna) has a typical zero dBi (decibel-isotropic) gain. This means the measurements are relatively linear (consistently representative of the actual signal strength across all frequency bands) and do not require antenna factor calculations. (The logarithmic periodic antennas and all other log-per antennas require compensation calculations because the dipole antennas that make up a log-per antenna resonate with specific frequencies more than others. So, these resonating frequencies will be received better than others. The weaker resonating frequencies will be received as a weaker signal than in reality, so compensation for the signal as measured weaker than it is are needed for those specific frequencies. This compensation is termed the antenna factor, AF.)

Cons:

The typical hand-held meter is a scalar measuring instrument that can exaggerate the measured power density levels. It can also under-measure.

A Gigahertz Solutions RF Analyzer and most hand-held meters can under-record a cell tower measurement. Today’s 5G antenna ports emit five different frequency bands. So, if the analyzer is only summing three of the highest amplitudes, it will not account for the two bands with weaker signals. (The effect of RF on electronics and persons results from power density and other factors such as frequency, phase modulation, pulse amplitude variations, and distortion.)

In addition, because these meters cannot measure phase, any impedance mismatches and reflections can add in and out-of-phase distortion with the incident signal you are measuring, resulting in magnitude uncertainty. This typically occurs while measuring inside any room or on a New York City block because of multiple reflective surfaces. An EMRS is aware of this issue while measuring indoors and tries to account for this during the assessment.

Most hand-held RF meters are broadband and not frequency selective. As a result, all unwanted signals caused by the meter’s circuitry will get averaged into the measurement, often causing false or inaccurate readings. This is why we throw out spike readings that do not correspond to a smart meter’s demodulated audio signal.

Intermodulation resultants are signals generated by nonlinear interactions within the transmitter components. For example, the internal mixer which processes the RF signal has a nonlinear behavior. The mixer outputs the sum and difference of three input signal frequencies via diode sensors, and then the output is isolated. Most high-end meters have an IF Filter (Intermediary Frequency Filter.) The higher frequency summation is a process known as up-conversion, meaning that the output frequency is higher than the second input frequency.

The problem with using any mixer within the circuitry path is that mixers can present signal combinations along with their harmonics and leakage of the input signals to the output. The frequency and amplitude of the intermodulation resultants will then change with a delta in the input signals, resulting in yet another way to get an incorrect measurement. Care and experience can minimize this effect in specific environments, but it is nearly impossible to avoid in a dense RF environment such as New York City.

We term any unwanted signal as a spurious event or spur. Spurs from internal circuitry leakage and external radiative coupling may occur at any frequency or power level. If you use any hand-held RF meter or hand-held spectrum analyzer, there is a good chance that your peak readings will have spurs. Therefore, we recommend monitoring the RMS (root-mean-squared) readings, taking extended-time measurements, and voiding any one-time spike readings.

Often, you can use your own eyes to locate RF sources unless you are in a big city or a rural area with dense foliage and do not have an FCC mapping of licensed antennas in your vicinity. Generally, a hand-held RF meter is not the correct tool to acquire data for scientific assessments of RF signals, except for a specific few makes and models. Still, meters such as the Gigahertz Solutions HF59B and HF59D will work for general residential work where you want to get a sense of the relative power levels entering your space.

Usually, if you want accurate isotropic broadband measurements for scientific purposes, then either ascertain an isotropic broadband antenna with a dedicated spectrum analyzer or find a hand-held meter that isolates the antenna from the electronics, has internal RF shielding with a built-in attenuator, and monitor the RF signals for a longer time-span.

Calibration and Professional Meters:

A professional meter, for most applications it is designed for, has an up-to-date ISO 17025 calibration certificate. This certification includes a detailed report of the +/- decibel (dB) error or percentage level of uncertainty for each frequency and measurement traceability to a specific up-to-date calibrated tool.

If the meter has a NIST (National Institute of Standards) traceable certification only, then it is helpful as a reference tool but not for taking critical high-risk measurements such as for the aviation industry, industrial safety, pacemakers, etc.

If your meter has a factory calibration, measurements are generally certified by the manufacturer at their stated accuracy for one year. Most measuring equipment used frequently will go out of calibration within one year.

Up-to-date calibration certificates should be included in your report. If you are a professional providing high-risk assessments, we recommend you use ISO 17025 certified-calibrated equipment.

© 2022. All rights are reserved.

Grounded vs. Ungrounded Electrical Devices

Please note: All persons using power tools on a new site should always use a power cord that has a GFCI, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. Outlet testers will not necessarily inform you if you are protected from a possible lethal shock.

This article pertains to equipment and electronics that are powered by either a battery or AC electrical power using a power cord that contains an internal ground wire connected to its third-prong grounding conductor pin. This ground conductor wire, which should actually be termed a bonding wire, inside the power cord is then bonded to some part of the equipment’s metal casing and connects to the ground conductor in the electrical wall outlet and then continues onto the ground bus bar in the electrical mains panel and ultimately to the Earth ground (soil) using a ground rod, ground grid, etc.

Any ungrounded device, termed “floating, that is plugged into a wall outlet receptacle is a possible shock hazard if shorted. Floating devices will also emit a 6-8 foot electric field (in theory, emanating to infinity) from their power cord and from the powered device itself, even when the device’s power switch is in the off position.

While standing within a 6-8 foot radius of any ungrounded electrical device (the reactive near-field), the corresponding E-Field emitted by this “floating” ungrounded device and its cord will couple onto any metallic objects within this radius. This coupling includes any metal enclosures, metal structures, and your epidermis. The closer proximity any of these conductive objects are to electrically floating equipment, the higher the capacitively coupled voltage will be to the receptor, you, also electrically termed the “victim.” 

Depending on the resistance of your skin’s natural insulators (usually between 1,000-100,000 ohms differing from one person to another) and the voltage frequency, your resistance to any nearby voltage will vary. However, common to all of us is that our natural insulation begins to break down once its frequency exceeds 1.7 kHz (Applied Bioelectricity, From Electrical Stimulation to Electropathology, by J. Patrick Reilly, Ph.D., MIT, Johns Hopkins University.)

Battery-powered devices emit DC electric fields. Devices that use an electrical cord emit AC electric fields. Most people do not know that DC static electricity can have a more interruptive effect on electrical equipment than an AC electric field. Anyone who uses an oscilloscope will eventually learn this fact, hopefully not the hard way.

If a third-pronged power cord is plugged into a wall outlet with “open” ground, meaning the ground conductor is not connected (wired incorrectly,) that tool is considered electrically floating.

(Please, do NOT bend a ground pin so that your tool can plug into an ungrounded receptacle. And, again, always use an outlet tester to verify if the ground tail is connected.)

We occasionally find homes and offices with unconnected grounding ground tails, so it’s always good to have your electrician check that these are connected properly to avoid potential shock from a short circuit. While you are at it, check that your GFCIs (Ground fault Circuit Interrupters) are functioning correctly, too. You can easily find an outlet tested that has this function. Here is a good one: Sperry GFI6302 GFCI Outlet/Receptacle Tester

Please, know that an outlet tester will only inform you if the ground conductor is connected to the outlet receptacle via a mechanical ground. It will not indicate whether your electrical safety system EGC, Equipment Ground Conductor, is functioning correctly. You also need to be sure that your circuit breakers are in good working order. We recommend yearly electrical inspections by your licensed electrician and that you maintain all of your electrical equipment and panels. 

Schedule an annual checkup of your EGC, Equipment Ground Conductor, the Overcurrent Protection System, and all GFCIs. Elexana LLC can conduct these checks. Generally, electricians do not have the tools to measure ground resistance/impedance. Hopefully, someday, this will change.

©2020,©2021

Why Identifying Electrical Wiring Errors is Essential to EMF Testing

A Long Island client suffering from adrenal failure had unusually strong electric fields throughout her home, measured in Volts/meter. This E-Field coupled onto her skin causing her epidermal voltage to average 4,000 millivolts (mV), with peaks near 7,000 mV. (In a Manhattan apartment, normal epidermal voltage ranges from 30-40 mV. In nature, it is zero.) I tested the ground conductors with an electrical engineering monitor and found that there was a huge problem with the grounding system. It most likely very corroded and possibly not even connected. A simple Sperry outlet tester confirmed that there were “open grounds” in every room at the wall outlet receptacles. This meant that either the “pigtails” were not connected (the ground wire to the receptacle), or even worse; that perhaps there was no ground rod connected to the ground conductors. I went outside and confirmed a complete failure of the equipment ground rod, EGC, system. (See photo below.)

In nearly half the homes and businesses we test for EMF, we encounter wiring errors that cause severe to extreme AC Magnetic Fields. Using non-invasive techniques incorporating EMF meters, thermal imagers, wall scanners, and monitors, we can find wiring issues without turning a screw! Yes, we don’t have to open a wall outlet receptacle, take a mains panel off, or anything involving actual electrical work that requires an electrician’s license.

This is the REAL work you should expect from a professional EMF inspection and ELEXANA is the ONLY EMF services company in the New York City Tri-State area that has this training, offers this essential service, and has the partnered electricians to fix these issues.

I went outside to check the ground rod. You can see in this photo that not only is the rod completely rusted, but the ground wire is snipped/severed. Upon our recommendation, a new ground system was installed. Our client’s adrenals were repaired and her energy returned to normal.

How do we do this? Simply, this is accomplished with the skills and knowledge which all those who have passed the Building Biologist® IBE 312 Advanced Electromagnetic Radiation possess. These particular skills were taught in live practical workshops by electrical engineers and master electricians at the IBE 312 in Santa Fe, NM. Unfortunately, there are less than 100 people in America with this training.

How do wiring errors occur? Well, there are quite a few ways. Here are some:

This is the old ground wire. You can see the oxidative corrosion. We not only helped to facilitate our client’s healing process, but we also identified an electrical shock hazard that has been eliminated. This home had many EMF issues which were all fixed. Now, our client can live at home with peace of mind.

• If a critter gets into the walls and chews an electrical wire, then the resistance in the wire will change and may not be capable of bearing the voltage load.

• If a screw that holds down a wire to a connection loosens, then the gap creates a change in the current flow and also effects the resistance.

• If an electrician does not adhere to National Electric Code because he has not kept up-to-date with new code changes, or he’s in a hurry, then a wiring error can occur. Just because the lights go on does not prove that there’s not a wiring error. Unless we test, a client does not know, for sure, if they had a good electrician or a poor one.

Where there is electromagnetism, there’s heat.

Mitch, Ryan, and Jim have evolved to becoming experts at locating wiring errors.  Wiring errors are not only a potential fire hazard (48% of all fires are caused by these issues) but, they are also a common source of strong electromagnetic fields in the home.

Call us today for your professional EMF assessment. There’s no reason to live with this question unanswered.

(212) 706-1252 or 1-833-ELEXANA

Building a New Home: Why BX Cable is Best for Your Health

BX or MC metal-clad cable

…is better than Romex for your health.

Important Note: Before any new build, it is important to have your property tested for stray ground current and soil resistivity. For BX (metal-clad) wiring to be effective, you need a proper functioning ground system. If you do not have an adequate grounding connection to Earth, then metal-clad wiring will not improve your electromagnetic environment. It may even worsen your environment. So, if you already have metal-clad wiring, be sure to check the amperage and impedance on your ground rod.

The other day, I was consulting for a new home being built in Old Westbury, Long Island, New York. The home was recently framed and paneled, but the electrical was not yet installed.

In an email, the owner asked for some clarity on one recommendation. Here was my email response.

Yes. Yesterday, I mentioned that my dream is to build our family's home someday and install BX cable and fiber-optic light-pipe into the walls.

First, because BX cabling provides a metal-clad covering for the electrical wires and is grounded, your electrical fields can be many times lower than the flux of the electrical fields emitted by unshielded Romex cable.

In NYC, my epidermal voltage at room-center is typically 35 mV. In the suburbs, it ranges from 1500-3500 mV. This difference is significant.

An elevated skin voltage has been proven to stimulate the fight or flight response, causing the adrenal glands to release cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. A persistently elevated skin voltage could cause a variety of issues.

Second, because BX provides a grounded metal sheath over the wiring, RF (radiofrequency or microwave radiation) will not couple onto the electrical wiring. This greatly reduces EMI (electromagnetic interference, A.K.A. dirty electricity) not only on the hot wire, the return neutral wire, but will also help prevent the ground wire from being corrupted. BX cable will not prevent EMI from forming on the hot wire completely because the power companies supply electricity between 200-700 mV of noise or harmonic transients.

Less EMI translates into a better function for all electronic devices, reduces the electric field size, and causes a minimal EMI coupled onto the indoor E and B fields.

The third is obvious: If any critters find themselves in the walls of your home (squirrels, field mice, etc.), they will not be able to bite through electrical cable because it is covered with metal-clad; helping to keep them from being electrocuted inside your walls, and preventing them from causing damage to the wiring which causes increased inductance and a potential fire.

BX cabling costs more to install, and some electricians may belly-ache about using it because it is heavier and slightly more cumbersome to work with, but if I were to build a new home, it would consider it essential. 

©2018 All rights reserved.

What Does a Residential EMF Testing Assessment Consultation Cost?

(We conduct commercial and institutional EMF surveys and assessments throughout the US. The pricing strategies in this article may not apply.)

As of April 2025, the average national rate for a residential EMF home testing panel by a certified EMRS has risen from $300 to $575 per hour, plus local travel costs of $100 - $225 per hour, depending on the travel time and your part of the country. For a one to two-thousand-square-foot home, you can expect to pay between $825 and $2,875 for the assessment. For a 2,000 square foot home, most EMRSs would require three to five hours, depending on the number of actionable issues they find that need to be properly documented. The time to write the report depends on the particular template used, the amount of time to analyze the data, document the actionable findings, and write up the next steps for remediation.

As in any other profession, there are varying degrees of professional competency due to each person’s evolutionary process, knowledge, creativity, experience, intuitive investigative abilities, tenacity, and understanding of the scientific method.

Across all professions, but especially with EMF Testing and Consulting, an “expert’s” years of experience do not always translate to excellence or the minimum level of competency. Try to hire a certified EMRS, an Electromagnetic Engineer, an Electrical Engineer with a background in Electromagnetic Radiation, or an electrician trained in electromagnetic radiation testing.

Some Residential EMF Consultants charge a flat fee, others set an hourly rate that reflects the going rate of their local electricians, and some charge by the home's square footage. (Hint: Anyone charging a rate commensurate with your local electrician will probably not provide a professional assessment, and a company that does not use ISO-17025-certified, calibrated equipment is also coming up somewhat short. - Anyone can purchase a manufacturer-calibrated meter on Amazon and build a website.)

Like most niche professions, the fee structure for this industry has evolved. The fee for each EMRS or any other EMF Consultant is what the market will bear for that individual. Just like doctors, some are better than others. Each company’s fee essentially comes down to their business cost, client demand, and schedule availability.

This fee typically includes a minimum testing of the AC Magnetic Fields, AC Electric Fields, Radio Frequency Power Densities, and Dirty Electricity with a plug-in broadband EMI meter or an oscilloscope.

Depending on the cost of living in your area, a technician will charge a minimum of $350-$950, plus travel, to come to your home to test for a single issue, such as emissions from a transmission line, substation, RF cellphone tower emission, or dirty electricity.

(Please note: There are only a handful of companies in the USA, such as Elexana, that can inspect and test the entire residential grounding system and electrical power system, identify specific wiring issues, identify NEC code violations, and detect nuclear radiation. We may be the only company to conduct thorough testing and analysis of three-phase systems.)

Note: Beware of the low-ball expert quote from someone not using an ISO-17025 certified-calibrated meter who then tries to convince you that you need expensive mitigation such as RF paint, magnetic shielding, “dirty electricity” filters, etc. Some price themselves below market value to get their foot in the door, and then make their money from talking you into mitigation you don’t need, like Y-shield paint or magnetic shielding, when it is the wrong call, to bankroll thousands in commissions. Others will lowball the market, go in with inferior equipment, rush through your home, and tell you everything “looks good.”

With life experience, we eventually learn that to truly “understand” a topic is to ask the right questions. When it comes to EMF Testing cost, the best first question is, “What will you receive for your hard-earned money? And then ask, what will the EMF assessment cost.

The very first edition of this article was posted in September 2018. I intended to develop a national standard fee structure and also provide the general public with expectations of what they would pay and what level of service they should expect. This effort stems from the vast discrepancies between EMF consulting companies in their costs and competencies operating within the New York Tri-State area, where I reside and work.

Today, the closest to finding a technician with a homogeneous skill set in EMF testing and consulting skills is for you to hire a certified Building Biology® Institute Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist, EMRS. However, even within this group, there is a wide range of competencies, as in any other profession. (The Institute has attempted to address this discrepancy by holding monthly Zoom meetings to share knowledge and techniques.) But, alas, as in any other profession, there will constantly be varying degrees of professional competency due to each person’s specific evolutionary process, knowledge, creativity, experience, intuitive investigative abilities, tenacity, talent, and understanding of the scientific method.)

Like most niche professions, the fee structure has evolved. The fee for each EMRS or any other EMF Consultant is what the market will bear for that individual. Each person’s fee essentially comes down to their business cost, demand, and availability.

No two EMF Service companies are the same. Knowledge, experience, thoroughness, level of care, talent, and equipment are all distinguishing factors. A doctor goes to medical school, does an internship, and sets up a practice. We all know that there are good doctors and there are poor ones. If you hire an EMRS or a certified Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist, you will at least be in the ballpark to receive a competent assessment.

An EMF Testing & Consulting Company can provide a price quote for your residential EMF on-site services in several ways. Some companies use square-footage metrics, such as the number of rooms and floors, type of dwelling (apartment vs. a stand-alone house), hourly rate, or any variation.

To estimate the scope of work: 

• The number of rooms in the home, the number of bedrooms, and workstations. 

• The home's square footage and the property's size are often factors.

• The number of different types of EMF tests

(If you plan to fly an EMRS to your city or country, there are essential additions to cost, such as airline travel, car service, the estimated total hours of travel time, local hotel charges, and GSA meal per diem.

It would be helpful to have a checklist of the EMF tests that will be conducted. Someone telling you they test “everything” is not a good answer. At Elexana, we promise a thorough EMF assessment. Here is what you can expect: Professional Certified EMF Testing

A complete testing panel and consultation session usually requires 2.5 to 4 hours, depending on the number of specific tests conducted, the property's size and layout, the complexity of source identification, and the determination of good, better, and best solutions.

It would be best if your certified EMRS encouraged and welcomed you to be present during the entire assessment, participate with questions, learn helpful tips, and understand your mitigation choices.

Take your time when choosing someone to hire. You need to become an informed consumer.

After conducting hundreds of electromagnetic field EMF Testing assessments in the New York City Tri-State area, we have concluded that the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family is to hire a Professional Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist (EMRS) to assess your home and office.

*** Here is a listing of certified Building Biology Institute Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialists in your area. EMRS list

(Note: To be trained and certified means being adequately trained and certified by the Building Biology Institute® as a Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist, EMRS. Hiring someone who is not a certified EMRS is a poor decision.

(Sometimes, there may not be an EMRS available in your area, or because of the pandemic, you may be reluctant to have someone enter your home. In this case, we recommend our virtual remote EMF Residential Service.)

Travel beyond a one-hour round-trip needs to be compensated. This is whatever seems fair. Most use travel time plus mileage, gas, and tolls. Some use mileage or some combination of all of the above.

Know the consultant’s actionable safety limits.

An actionable EMF safety limit is the measured level at which the EMF expert considers the need to make recommendations for remediation and mitigation. If your consultant doesn’t believe that prolonged exposure to strong AC electric fields, AC magnetic fields, or RF (radiofrequency fields) can pose health issues, you would be wasting time and money hiring these consultants. Do your research and decide on your safety levels. An EMRS upholds the highest safety standards. 

Our practice is first to suggest the most practical, cost-effective solutions for EMF remediation. Often, the Law of Diminishing Returns applies to spending on EMF mitigation. Costs for remediation are analogous to buying stereo equipment; you could pay so much more for only a tiny increment of improvement. We will work with you to help determine what is best for your EMF situation and budget.

Remember that much of the EMF remediation you’ll need can happen at no cost during the EMF testing and consultation. 

Please get in touch with us, and we will provide you with a quote. It would be our pleasure to meet you and, hopefully, have the opportunity to offer our services.

There are Three Tiers of EMF Testing Surveys

Top-Tier

ELEXANA residential test surveys are EMRS-based and have additional features.

Middle-Tier

Building Biology Institute’s Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist residential test surveys.

Lower Tier

Standard Testing includes what most EMF Specialists will test for you.

Standard EMF Surveys

These include:

1. AC Magnetic and Radio Frequency testing. Sometimes, the “dirty electricity” can be detected with an inexpensive plug-in meter like a Greenwave, Stetzer, or Alpha Labs Broadband EMI Meter. This later test takes about one minute to perform.

2. There will be none to a few mitigation suggestions, such as “call your electrician,” “buy some shielding, “get some distance, or “turn things off.” Most of these technicians, or engineers, will advertise themselves as Professional EMF Testing Specialists, EMF Medical Experts, or just EMF Experts. (For all of you in the New York Tri-State area, where there are a few rascals, please know there is no state license for EMF Testing.)

3. There is no consistency with persons conducting Standard EMF surveys, so you don’t know what level of competency you will receive. This is in contrast to the next Tier of EMF Survey providers.

Building Biology Institute Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist EMF Surveys

The advantage of hiring an EMRS is that all staff are trained and have learned testing procedures and protocols. The certification program is somewhat rigorous; however, it is not recognized by the IEEE, the US Government, or any state government.

Many training staff have an undergraduate B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering; a couple may have an M.S. degree. This organization also has other types of engineers, electricians, and medical practitioners.

Although the level of competency varies, as with any profession, the more experienced EMRSs are generous with their time to support and assist newer EMRSs with questions and on-the-job issues. So, if you hire an EMRS, you will get a modicum of consistency, depending on the integrity of the individual EMRS.

The tests you should expect from a certified EMRS are:

1. AC Magnetic Field, AC Electric Field, and DC Magnetic Field flux densities.

2. Radio Frequency Broadband Meter testing from 20 MHz to 8 GHz. (Some use inexpensive spectrum analyzers to identify frequencies. A few use more capable uncalibrated SAs.)

3. “Dirty Electricity”: Most use a plug-in EMI Broadband meter, but some also use an oscilloscope and an antenna.

4. Stray current tests on all utility services.

5. Some EMRSs will check the building’s grounding with a ground tester. Ask if they offer this service.

What distinguishes an EMRS from others is that they receive the training to work with electricians to detect and solve wiring errors that cause actionable EMF. They have a competent understanding of various shielding techniques.

Typical Limitations

1. Most EMRSs use inexpensive factory-calibrated equipment, so any reports they file would not stand the rigors of a court of law.

2. Because the equipment is not ISO certified as having been calibrated with accredited degrees of uncertainty, or +/- dB error, the actual levels measured are not replicable or verifiable by scientific standards.

3. Standard-issue equipment has frequency spectrum gaps. For example, RF from 1.0 to 20 MHz is not accounted for, even though thousands of FCC-licensed equipment emit RF in this range.

4. The typical EMRS uses EMF-sensitive persons to establish whether a mitigation protocol works. Although this is a very compassionate approach, it lacks scientific rigor.

ELEXANA EMF Surveys

Elexana’s James Finn is a voting member of the New York Section of the IEEE and a certified EMRS. The company also has an affiliate staff of fellow EMRSs, NYC local electrical engineers, and electricians.

What distinguishes Elexana from a typical EMRS and all others?

1. We conduct surveys using ISO 17025-certified, calibrated equipment with GPS coordinates and time stamps, measuring from Earth’s DC fields to RF up to 60 GHz, calibrated to 40 GHz. Every frequency from DC to 60 GHz is accounted for. (Please note: Even though few in this area of work can match the level of our equipment, a skilled consultant who has a strong working knowledge of the laws of physics involving electromagnetic radiation and a deep understanding of DC and AC power systems can help you and your family with even the most modest equipment.)

2. Every report is an official legal document and a scientific study that is replicable and verifiable.

3. Of course, we know the Building Biology threshold levels, but we do not use terminology like “severe” and “extreme.” We believe this is fear-mongering and skates the boundaries of conflict of interest, since most EMRSs profit by selling mitigation products. To keep our clients informed about contemporary science, we present various international standards and direct them to studies published by the Bio-Initiative.

4. Another difference between Elexana and the Building Biology Institute EMRS is that they like to make up terms like MEP, Microsurge Electromagnetic Pollution, DE, dirty electricity, and electrosmog. In contrast, we prefer terms used by electrical engineering for the last fifty years, such as EMI, electromagnetic interference, THD, total harmonic distortion, and SNR, Signal-to-Noise Ratio. This is because we work with third-party engineers and electricians every day.

5. We test primary grounds with a certified, calibrated meter and successfully design grounding systems using soil resistivity tests.

6. We can log and run multiple tests on your single-phase or three-phase electrical service panel's current and voltage for several days.

7. We can test the bonding integrity of every electrical bond in your home with a certified Micro-Ohmmeter. This is an unprecedented detail. (It is probably not necessary for 99.9% of homes.)

8. We measure epidermal voltage from DC to 3.0 GHz in real-time, covering every frequency.

9. We measure AC magnetic fields to 30 MHz.

10. We measure more than voltage noise that could yield “dirty electricity” (harmonic transients) on the electrical lines (hot, neutral, and ground); we measure the harmonic transients on the current. We also measure the frequencies in the air to determine if the electrical line's conductance translates to capacitive coupling. Line and capacitive noise sometimes do not correspond due to cancellation. This thoroughness helps us determine if line filters are needed for our client or if they would make their home environment worse. Yes, installing ”dirty electricity” filters sometimes worsens the home environment!

11. We do not sell mitigation products directly to our clients to avoid a conflict of interest.

12. Due to the placebo effect, we do not use EMF-sensitive clients as our metric for mitigation success. We strive to achieve the lowest feasible levels, given the budget constraints.

13. ELEXANA also tests ionic radiation with a certified calibration pan-style Geiger counter for clients' homes built on landfills before 1980, or their homes are in an area known to have radiation. (Although we have a radon detector, we do not test for radon.)

14. We can also provide seismic studies, acoustics testing well beyond the range of human hearing capabilities, and vibration, again with state-of-the-art, certified, calibrated equipment. This work is helpful for people suffering from tinnitus. It helps determine whether the ringing is in the physical space or self-generated.

    ©2025. All rights are reserved.

Disclaimer: Although I have been certified as a Building Biology Institute EMRS (Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist), ELEXANA operates independently, with its own measurement procedures, preferred instrumentation, analysis methods, reporting tools, and technical interpretations. ELEXANA’s work is rooted in the scientific method, physics, and electromagnetic engineering.

ELEXANA does not diagnose medical conditions and does not establish medical “safe” vs. “unsafe” thresholds for human exposure. We do not use terms such as “severe”, “extreme”, or “of no concern.” Instead, we provide measurement data and technical consultation, and we reference relevant U.S. and international guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and field experience to help clients make informed decisions in consultation with qualified professionals.

To avoid conflicts of interest, ELEXANA does not sell, install, or receive commissions on products, nor does it provide electrical contracting services.

— Sincerely, James Finn

Registered, Certified, and Insured

Copyright © 2026 ELEXANA LLC. All Rights Are Reserved.

FCC Registration No. 0030966121

https://www.elexana.com/scope-licensing-emf-testing

I'm Looking For a New Home: Should I Buy an EMF Meter?

Every day, I get asked this question. Too often I encounter people causing themselves unnecessary stress and anxiety because they recently self-tested their home using an amateur meter and are consequently freaking out because of the high measured levels. 

Many EMF meters are so inaccurate that the readings are just ridiculous. If they would have used those precious funds to pay for a legitimate EMF home testing, then they would have avoided so much anxiety. 

Further, don't fall for these EMF online salespeople (and, just recently I learned of another EMF Consulting company, I dare not mention.) They'll sell you a grounding pad, harmonizer, phone sticker, pendant, RF blocking hat, or some other hoax waste of money without even flinching.

Some people we encounter are so sensitive to EMF that they ARE the meter. When they enter a powerful electromagnetic field they immediately begin to feel uncomfortable. He/she may feel tingling on their bodies, heat sensations, pain or pressure in the head or spine, nausea, vertigo, tinnitus, racing pulse, and more.

For EMF sensitive or just health-conscientious people who are about to start looking for a new place to live, just using one's own sensory abilities is not the best way to go. 

There is a big difference between having to remediate from ELF (an extremely low-frequency radiation field) and an RF (radio frequency or microwave field.)

Most who are sensitive to EMF cannot differentiate the fields. They just feel what they feel. For this reason, I recommend purchasing an Alpha Labs UH2S Gaussmeter and an EMFields Acoustimeter at www.slt.co

Use discount code: Elexana-SLT

These are accurate lower level meters that won't break the bank, have excellent sensors, and are very easy to learn how to use.

To have an EMF technician test every property you are interested in can be cost prohibitive. Via an EMF phone consultation, I can guide you in using these meters correctly, record the data, and report back to me. With this information, we can discuss and assess each property, together. It's not like having me with your testing, but it will suffice.

Remember, this would only be a basic testing. It is not nearly as in depth and thorough as a full home EMF testing such as the one you would receive from ELEXANA or from one of the few competent EMF testing consultants in North America.

If I were not an EMF Consultant myself and in the market for a new home, I would definitely buy those meters I mentioned previously and before flopping down that big down-payment and signing the contract, I would hire an EMF Consultant to do a complete examination of the property and home. Often, the electrical wiring mistakes alone which I find can be put back on the owner. These costs saved are oftentimes less than the EMF testing cost itself.

We have a small list of the few companies we can recommend to you which may be nearby your location.  

 ©2018 All rights reserved.

Cell Phone GPS on Airplane Mode

As a passenger in a truck or automobile, you are already receiving quite a bit of electromagnetism from the engine's electromagnetic field, especially if it's a hybrid vehicle. Most readers are already aware that reflective surfaces will increase your electromagnetic field radiation exposure, due to the ricochet effect, so why would you ever want your cell phone set on cellular and add to this electro-schmutz?

Not every vehicle has a built-in navigation GPS system. So, what do you do if you are lost while driving? Yes, you can use you phone's GPS if you have location services activated. Just set your phone on "airplane mode." 

In airplane mode, your phone is not sending/receiving electromagnetic particle-waves, benignly termed "signals," from the nearest microwave transmitters (A.K.A. Cell Towers). With location services enabled, your phone's location is being tracked by satellite and the GPS app will still work. There is still some increase to the already present EMF field, but less than when the phone is on the cellular setting.

This is all a compromise; using the lesser of evils in a pinch, but you will be able to calmly find your destination and avoid distractions that could cause an accident.