Electromagnetic Radiation Field (EMF), Interference (EMI), and Compatibility (EMC) Consulting Services

Surveys, Inspections, Investigations, Assessments, Deep Measure Analysis and Diagnostics, Predictive Simulations and Advanced Design Modeling, EMF-EMI Mitigation and EMC Pre-Compliance Consulting Services

EMI-EMC-EMF Engineering for Compliance, Health, Safety, and Design Integrity

Princeton, New Jersey

Residential EMF-EMI Testing Solutions, Assessments, and Mitigation Consulting Services

Commercial EMF-EMI-EMC Site Surveys, Inspections, and Investigations

Residential and Commercial Low EMF-EMI ALARA New Construction Design Consulting Services

EMCpass.net


ELEXANA is an award-winning industry leader in EMF, EMI, and EMC Electromagnetic Consulting Services. Our international reputation began in 2018 when we quietly solved the ADAS, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, used in almost every new automobile. We are known for providing comprehensive on-site testing, survey assessments, root-cause identification and attenuation, investigations, inspections, and solving complex Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Electromagnetic Compliance (EMC) Designs, Electromagnetic Field Radiation (EMF), and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) problems.

ISO 17025-Certified Calibrated Surveys to National and International Standards

We are General Liability and Professional Liability Insured.

IEEE Member No. 97341915 of the New York Section

IEEE Member of the EMC Society

Certified Professional Electromagnetic Radiation Specialists™ EMRS

OSHA-Certified

Certified and Trained in Grounding and Bonding Testing per NFPA 70E®


ELEXANA supplies a diverse array of electromagnetic radiation consulting services.

Here are a few:

  • EMI/EMC/EMF Forensic Investigations identify and solve the causes of malfunctioning equipment in industrial, scientific research, and medical centers.

  • EMC Pre-Compliance Consulting includes testing on-site or in our Lab, EMI/RFI troubleshooting, EMC/EMI mitigation design, and EMI filter design for products in development.

  • New Construction Building Design EMI/EMC Consulting for IT & data centers, production studios, laboratories, airports, hospitals, medical centers, high-end residential, and community development projects.

  • EMF/EMI/EMC Surveys for Implanted Medical Devices, Electrical Power, and Telecom Installations; ISO-17025 and OSHA Certified. > We now have a dedicated electrical engineer, Phillip D., with thirty years of field experience, who worked for the company that makes our survey test equipment. He specializes in conducting this fieldwork for us and leads the ELEXANA Field Test Division.

  • Magnetic, RF Faraday, TEMPEST, and HEMP Shield Consulting, including shielding effectiveness testing, shielding design, and material effectiveness testing.

  • Ground System Consulting, including 4-Point Wenner Soil Resistivity Testing, Kelvin 3-Point Testing, energized ground testing, micro-ohmeter bond testing, and grounding design.

  • Electrical Power Consulting, including Three-Phase 5-wire and Single-Phase 4-wire I-V analysis, transient testing, SNR, THD, I-V Trend datalogging, infrared tests, wire tracing, deep measure, voltage drop (%), and conducted emissions.

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Image: Computers

Why Be Concerned About EMI?

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) causes latency, malfunction, and sluggish performance to fine electronics such as computers, medical devices and equipment, pacemakers, financial trading platforms, graphic software, recording equipment, etc.

With the exponential increase of wireless technologies in Nashville, EMI has become a common vernacular. Line noise, harmonic transients, dirty electricity, RFI (radio frequency interference), and electromagnetic coupling are synonyms.

How Do You Know It’s EMI?

An easy way to tell if you have an EMI issue is to observe the presence of any:

  • Overheating of any metal enclosures. Are enclosures very hot to the touch? (Inductive Heating)

  • Motor failures from overheating. (Voltage Drop)

  • Fuses blowing for no apparent reason (Inductive Heating and Overload)

  • Static or interference on sound or voice communication (Harmonic Line Noise)

  • Electronic equipment shutting down for no apparent reason (Voltage Distortion)

  • Computer malfunction or locking up. (Voltage Distortion)

  • Flickering fluorescent or LED lights (Transformer Saturation)

  • Blinking incandescent lights (Transformer Saturation)

What are the Additional Benefits Gained as a Result of Reducing EMI?

  • Reduced Electrical Consumption

  • Cooler Equipment

  • Longer Lifetime for Equipment

  • Lowered Utility Bill

  • EMF Reduction for a Safer and Healthier Environment

  • Surge Protection for Your Entire Facility

  • Improved Screen Quality

  • Improved Audio

  • Phase Correction Which Improves Efficiency and Performance

  • Cleaner Power Resulting from Transient Harmonic Attenuation

How Does EMI Occur?

Metal, of course, is a conductor of electromagnetism. If you have a strong electromagnetic field near a metal wire with an electrical current and/or voltage, the nearby electromagnetic field will magnetically converge, couple, and ride along with the original current. Imagine a surfer hopping onto his surfboard to ride that perfect wave.

The interference that will occur on an electronic is relative to frequency, the V/m (Volts per meter), and the magnetic flux of the intruding EMF.

Here is an example of a sine wave from a PSU made jagged by RFI, radio frequency interference.

Photo: Screenshot from Oscilloscope. Here is an example of a sine wave from a PSU made jagged by RFI, radio frequency interference.

The analogy of wind and water wonderfully illustrates the concept of EMI.

If there is a slow and easy breeze moving across the surface of a lake, you will see ripples or small mercurial waves in the water.

When wind velocity and force increase, you will see more turbulent water. This resembles EMI.

The concern for EMI is the reason your airline pilot calmly orders you to place your phone on “airplane mode.” Accumulative electromagnetism from the many cell phones reflecting off hard surfaces inside the cabin could intrude onto the computer’s circuitry that controls the landing gear.

EMI is why particular hospital wings will have cell phone-restricted areas.

If you think your fine electronics may be affected by EMI, you are on your way to having your problem solved. We’re here for you Monday through Friday.

What is EMF Testing?

EMF Testing, also called an EMF Measurement Survey, is a noninvasive assessment of the electromagnetic fields within a residential or commercial property. It involves a systematic method of measuring and recording non-ionic radiation emanating from the Earth and various human-made technologies. Measurements are monitored and recorded during a relatively brief period or data-logged over a longer designated period.

An EMF survey includes a full assessment of the frequency bandwidth, size, shape, strength (measured as power density in watts per square meter, voltage per cubic meter, or flux density in nanoTeslas or milliGauss), behavior (is the field moving or is it relatively stationary), quality (are there other fields coupled onto the targeted, measured field and what are their characteristics), and the identification of the source-point(s) of each particular EMF field.

An EMF survey is an assessment of the defining characteristics of each electromagnetic field on a property and should include the following:

  • Frequency bandwidth within the electromagnetic spectrum. This helps determine attributable effects, aspects, and applications.

  • Size dimensions.

  • Shape. Rarely is an EMF field in the shape of a box.

  • Strength is determined by the relative power density divided by the distance from the source point. The strength of a field is measured, in a unit appropriate to the particular field, in either watt per square meter, voltage per cubic meter, or flux density in nanoTeslas or milliGauss

  • Action: determination of the field’s movement or lack thereof.

  • Quality: Is the field unadulterated or coupled with other electromagnetic fields from the same or different source points. (Assess each of the coupling fields.)

  • Identification of the source point (s) of each particular EMF field.


What is the Purpose of an EMF Measurement Survey?

  • Assess a property to develop solutions for the health and safety of its occupants

  • Assess the environment for remediating electromagnetic interference causing electronic malfunction

  • Assess property to design shielding or other mitigation solutions

  • Assess a building or new construction for the potential of geopathic structural damage

  • Help educate the client and answer all EMF-related questions in layman’s terminology

What is an EMF Consultation?

An EMF Consultation is either:

  1. an on-site service that includes an EMF Measurement Survey at your residence or business, identification and documentation of all electromagnetic radiation issues which could affect any occupants’ health, identifying the source points with instructions on how to fix these issues, and if possible: fixing the issues at the time of identification (with the client’s permission.) If a licensed electrician, power company service technician, plumber, or cable provider is required, then we provide instructions on how they can fix these problems in a separate report. Yes, this is in our unique training and why you only want an EMRS. This consultation service could include an extended remediation discount sheet and a phone consultation follow-up.

  2. a Phone Service (Telephone, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom) includes listening to all the client’s concerns, providing clear and concise education, asking troubleshooting questions, and proposing remediation solutions. These sessions may include photos, emails, Zoom drawing shares, live videos, links, etc. This service could include an extended remediation discount sheet and a phone consultation follow-up.

EMI Survey

Definition: An electromagnetic interference EMI survey is a scientific assessment of the unintended conductive and radiative emissions that may interfere with the functioning of electronic equipment or systems.

Purpose:

  1. Check background EMI/EMF levels.

  2. Verify compliance with environmental standards.

  3. Identify hotspots or areas at risk of interference.

  4. It is often done proactively as part of site qualification, especially in sensitive environments like hospitals, labs, or data centers.

Scope:

  1. Wide area or whole system.

  2. Focused on characterizing the environment, not necessarily finding the cause of a specific problem.

  3. May involve long-term monitoring or periodic checks.

Key Features of an EMI Survey

1. Detailed Measurement of Electromagnetic Fields.

  • Uses calibrated instruments (spectrum analyzers, EMI receivers, near-field probes, antennas, field strength meters) to quantify electromagnetic emissions across defined frequency ranges.

  • Captures both radiated and conducted emissions.

2. Baseline EMI Environment Assessment.

  • Maps out the existing electromagnetic environment in a site (facility, lab, data center, hospital, etc.).

  • Identifies background EMI sources (external: like nearby radio transmitters; internal: like industrial machinery or IT equipment).

3. Compliance Verification.

  • Compares measured emissions and susceptibility levels to relevant EMC standards (FCC Part 15, IEC 61000, MIL-STD-461, CISPR standards, etc.).

  • Ensures systems are within acceptable EMI limits.

4. Identification of Potential Risks.

  • Highlight equipment or locations vulnerable to EMI problems.

  • Identifies EMI “hot spots” where emissions may exceed thresholds or pose interference risks.

5. Comprehensive Site or System Coverage.

  • Includes multiple locations across a site (rooms, floors, equipment racks, shielded enclosures).

  • Often includes airborne (radiated) and line-bound (conducted) interference checks.

6. Use of Specialized Measurement Techniques.

  • Near-field vs. far-field probing.

  • Broadband vs. narrowband scans.

  • Time-domain or frequency-domain analysis.

7. Reporting and Documentation.

  • Provides detailed measurement data, spectral plots, field maps, and tables.

  • Includes a written summary of findings, risk assessment, and recommendations for mitigation (if needed).

8. Support for Further Investigation or Design Improvement.

  • Acts as the foundation for:

    • EMC design improvements.

    • Shielding or filtering upgrades.

    • Root-cause investigations are conducted if specific EMI problems are uncovered.

Where Are EMI Surveys Used?

  • Hospitals (to protect sensitive medical devices).

  • Data centers (to ensure reliable IT performance).

  • Manufacturing facilities (to safeguard automated systems and robotics).

  • Research labs (where precision measurements are EMI-sensitive).

  • Military or aerospace sites (where strict EMC standards apply).

  • Office or residential towers (especially near strong RF emitters).

EMI Investigations

Definition: An EMI investigation is a targeted diagnostic process triggered by a specific problem or suspected interference. It aims to identify, isolate, and resolve the root cause.

Purpose:

  1. Understand why a device or system is malfunctioning or failing EMC tests.

  2. Trace the specific interference source (which could be internal or external).

  3. Recommend solutions (shielding, grounding, filtering, redesign, etc.).

Scope:

  1. Narrowed to the system or components involved in the failure.

  2. Involves deeper, often more technical, analysis (including circuit-level reviews or near-field probing).

EMI Investigation: Required Skills & Knowledge

Deep Technical Knowledge of EMC Principles

  • Understanding of coupling mechanisms (conducted, radiated, common-mode, differential-mode)

  • Familiarity with shielding, filtering, and grounding techniques

Advanced Measurement & Diagnostic Tools

  • Skilled use of near-field probes, current clamps, LISNs (line impedance stabilization networks), oscilloscopes, time-domain tools

  • Ability to interpret detailed measurement data, not just record it

Circuit-Level & System-Level Understanding

  • Ability to trace interference paths through PCBs, wiring, enclosures

  • Knowledge of how system design choices affect EMI performance

Knowledge of Compliance & Regulatory Requirements

  • Familiarity with specific test standards (FCC Part 15, CISPR 22, MIL-STD-461, RTCA/DO-160, etc.)

  • Understanding pre-compliance vs. full compliance testing requirements

Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

  • Ability to hypothesize, isolate, and test root causes

  • Experience applying design fixes or mitigation solutions

Hands-On Engineering Skills

  • Sometimes requires circuit rework, adding ferrites, redesigning layouts, or modifying enclosures.

    Main Steps Involved in an EMI Investigation

    Define the Problem Clearly

    • Identify and document:

      • The observed issue (e.g., system malfunction, data loss, communication failure, equipment reset).

      • When and where it occurs (specific times, locations, conditions).

      • The systems or devices are affected.

      • Any history of the problem or previous attempts to solve it.

    Review Background Information

    • Gather:

      • System designs, schematics, and prior EMI/EMC reports.

      • Equipment manuals and susceptibility specs.

      • Environmental conditions (e.g., nearby transmitters, power disturbances, machinery).

    Develop an Investigation Plan

    • Define:

      • What measurements are needed (radiated, conducted, near-field, time-domain).

      • The tools and instruments should be used (spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, TDRs, probes).

      • The test points and environmental factors to assess.

    Conduct Targeted Measurements

    • Perform on-site tests to:

      • Identify EMI sources (external or internal).

      • Map interference paths (how it couples into sensitive systems).

      • Measure EMI levels vs. system susceptibility thresholds.

    • Use advanced techniques:

      • Near-field scanning, source localization.

      • Time-domain analysis of transient events.

      • Monitoring under different operating conditions.

    Perform Root-Cause Analysis

    • Trace the exact mechanism causing the problem:

      • Is it radiated or conducted?

      • Common-mode or differential-mode coupling?

      • Ground loops, shielding failure, cable crosstalk, or parasitic coupling?

    • Correlate findings with system behavior.

    Recommend Mitigations

    • Propose practical solutions, such as:

      • Shielding improvements.

      • Filter or ferrite installations.

      • Grounding or bonding adjustments.

      • Cable rerouting or equipment relocation.

      • Design modifications (if needed).

    Validate Fixes (Optional but Ideal)

    • After applying fixes, re-measure and confirm that the interference problem is resolved.

    Document the Investigation

    • Provide a detailed report with:

      • Description of the problem.

      • Measurement data and analysis.

      • Root-cause findings.

      • Recommended solutions and their technical basis.

      • Confirmation of resolution (if tested).

    Where Are EMI Investigations Used?

    • Hospitals: When life-critical medical devices malfunction.

    • Data centers: When servers crash or communication links drop.

    • Industrial sites: When control systems or sensors behave unpredictably.

    • Military/aerospace: When mission-critical or safety-critical systems face unexplained disturbances.

    • Research labs: When precision instruments show unexplained noise or instability.

    What’s Special About EMI Investigations?

    • Highly targeted — focus on solving an active or suspected interference problem.

    • More advanced tools and techniques — beyond general surveys or inspections.

    • It requires deep expertise and is often handled by senior EMI/EMC engineers or specialists.

    • Outcome-driven — the goal is not just to measure, but to explain, solve, and verify.

EMI Inspections

Main Steps Involved in an EMI Inspection

Define Inspection Purpose and Scope

  • Clarify why the inspection is being done:

    • Pre-installation or pre-commissioning check.

    • Routine compliance or maintenance check.

    • Visual assessment for potential EMI risks.

  • Define which systems, equipment, or areas will be inspected.

Review Design and Documentation

  • Examine:

    • Grounding and bonding schematics.

    • Cable routing and shielding layouts.

    • Equipment placement relative to known EMI sources.

  • Check that installed systems match design specifications and applicable EMC/EMI standards.

Perform Visual and Physical Inspection

  • Inspect:

    • Physical integrity of shielding, gaskets, and enclosures.

    • Proper grounding and bonding connections.

    • Cable management — are signal and power lines properly separated? Are shield terminations correctly done?

    • Placement of sensitive equipment relative to known EMI emitters.

Conduct Spot Checks (If Needed)

  • Use portable meters or handheld EMI detectors to:

    • Check for obvious hot spots.

    • Verify grounding continuity.

    • Confirm shield effectiveness (simple checks, not full lab-grade measurements).

Assess Compliance and Best Practices

  • Evaluate:

    • Whether installations follow EMC design best practices.

    • Whether systems comply with applicable EMI standards or client-specific requirements.

  • Identify potential risks or vulnerabilities, even if no current EMI issue is reported.

Document Findings

  • Provide a report with:

    • Summary of visual and physical findings.

    • List of compliance issues or areas needing improvement.

    • Photos or diagrams showing key points.

    • Recommended corrective actions or improvements.

Recommend Next Steps (If Needed)

  • If problems or risks are found:

    • Recommend further testing (full EMI survey or investigation).

    • Suggest practical fixes (e.g., improving grounding, adding ferrites, improving cable shielding).

EMI Inspections Apply to:

  • New or renovated installations (before going live).

  • Hospitals, labs, data centers — ensuring environments are properly prepared for sensitive equipment.

  • Industrial or commercial sites — periodic compliance checks or maintenance audits.

  • Construction or renovation projects — ensuring EMI-sensitive design elements are implemented properly.

What’s Not Typically Included?

  • Full spectral or quantitative EMI measurements (requires an EMI survey).

  • Deep root-cause troubleshooting or engineering fixes (belongs to an EMI investigation).

  • Regulatory certification or test lab work.

Here’s a clear summary of what is involved with an EMI investigation, which is the most advanced and targeted EMI service compared to surveys or inspections:

Main Steps Involved in an EMI Investigation

Define the Problem Clearly

  • Identify and document:

    • The observed issue (e.g., system malfunction, data loss, communication failure, equipment reset).

    • When and where it occurs (specific times, locations, conditions).

    • What systems or devices are affected.

    • Any history of the problem or previous attempts to solve it.

Review Background Information

  • Gather:

    • System designs, schematics, and prior EMI/EMC reports.

    • Equipment manuals and susceptibility specs.

    • Environmental conditions (e.g., nearby transmitters, power disturbances, machinery).

Develop an Investigation Plan

  • Define:

    • What measurements are needed (radiated, conducted, near-field, time-domain).

    • Tools and instruments to use (spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, TDRs, probes).

    • Identify test point locations and environmental factors to assess.

Conduct Targeted Measurements

  • Perform on-site tests to:

    • Identify EMI sources (external or internal).

    • Map interference paths (how it couples into sensitive systems).

    • Measure EMI levels vs. system susceptibility thresholds.

  • Use advanced techniques:

    • Near-field scanning, source localization.

    • Time-domain analysis of transient events.

    • Monitoring under different operating conditions.

Perform Root-Cause Analysis

  • Trace the exact mechanism causing the problem:

    • Is it radiated or conducted?

    • Common-mode or differential-mode coupling?

    • Ground loops, shielding failure, cable crosstalk, or parasitic coupling?

  • Correlate findings with system behavior.

Recommend Mitigations

  • Propose practical solutions, such as:

    • Shielding improvements.

    • Filter or ferrite installations.

    • Grounding or bonding adjustments.

    • Cable rerouting or equipment relocation.

    • Design modifications (if needed).

Validate Fixes (Optional but Ideal)

  • After applying fixes, re-measure and confirm that the interference problem is resolved.

Document the Investigation

  • Provide a detailed report with:

    • Description of the problem.

    • Measurement data and analysis.

    • Root-cause findings.

    • Recommended solutions and their technical basis.

    • Confirmation of resolution (if tested).

Where Are EMI Investigations Used?

  • Hospitals: When life-critical medical devices malfunction.

  • Data centers: When servers crash or communication links drop.

  • Industrial sites: When control systems or sensors behave unpredictably.

  • Military/aerospace: When mission-critical or safety-critical systems face unexplained disturbances.

  • Research labs: When precision instruments show unexplained noise or instability.

What’s Special About EMI Investigations?

  • Highly targeted — focus on solving an active or suspected interference problem.

  • More advanced tools and techniques — beyond general surveys or inspections.

  • It requires deep expertise and is often handled by senior EMI/EMC engineers or specialists.

  • Outcome-driven — the goal is not just to measure, but to explain, solve, and verify.

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