Exposure to electromagnetic radiation from electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and other wireless devices can give an impact to human health, especially if it is not controlled within safe limits. For this reason, DJID has implemented a requirement for SAR test (Specific Absorption Rate) as one of the certification requirements for telecommunications devices used in Indonesia.
In this article we will discuss all about SAR testing requirement for DJID certification in Indonesia.
What is SAR?
SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate. It is a unit of measurement used to determine how much electromagnetic energy is absorbed by the human when being exposed directly to electromagnetic radiation from telecommunications devices. Electromagnetic radiation from radio frequencies can potentially have negative effects to human health.
DJID as the regulatory control in Indonesia wants to ensure that telecommunications devices circulating in Indonesia are safe and do not have a negative impact on the health of the Indonesian people. One way to ensure this matter is by implementing mandatory of SAR testing for telecommunications devices.
In Indonesia, SAR obligations are still only for smartphones and tablet computers where those devices are being used at a distance of less than 20 cm from the human body and have a radiated power of more than 20 mWatt.
SAR measurements ensure that electromagnetic radiation from telecommunications devices such as smartphones and tablet computers are still within safe limits for the human body. SAR is measured in watts per kilogram (W/Kg). Some countries that have implemented SAR obligations include Singapore, India, USA, and South Korea.
SAR testing for DJID certification in Indonesia
Referring to the technical regulation of KEPMEN KOMINFO No. 177 year 2024, currently the fulfillment of SAR testing requirements is still only required for smartphones and tablet computers. The implementation of SAR testing has been applied gradually since 2024.
| Equipment type | Body Part | Implementation Date |
| Smartphone and computer tablet | Head | 1st April 2024 |
| Smartphone and computer tablet | Torso/body and limb | 1st August 2024 |
In addition, currently SAR test report that can be accepted by the DJID are only local test report issued by the IDTH lab as the only lab that has the testing scope for SAR test in Indonesia.
IDTH lab conducts SAR testing by measuring the level of non-ionizing radiation from electromagnetic wave emissions produced by telecommunications devices that are directly attached to parts of the human body, such as smartphones and tablet computers.
SAR limits refer to the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Guideline 1998 and 2020 (ICNIRP 1998 and 2020). These guidelines have been used in almost 156 countries worldwide and have been approved by WHO and ITU as the international standard for SAR requirements.
Types of SAR test
SAR testing covers three main categories which are head, torso, and limb. Each testing type of that human body part aims to ensure the safety of telecommunications devices when being used in close proximity to the human body.
Head SAR
- Exposure when telecommunications devices are used near the head, for example when making a call with our smartphone.
- The SAR head testing is important to ensure the safety of the brain and tissues in the head.
Torso SAR
- Exposure when telecommunications devices are carried inside a shirt pocket, pants, jacket, or close to the human body.
- The SAR torso testing is important to maintain the safety of vital organs in the human body such as the heart.
Limb SAR
- Exposure when the device is held in the hand or placed in a pants pocket.
- The SAR limb testing is important to prevent excessive exposure to human muscle and bone tissue.
SAR testing at IDTH lab
As previously mentioned, SAR limits apply to telecommunication devices with power <20 mWatt and use at a distance of 20 cm from the body, the unit used is Watt per Kilogram (W/Kg).
SAR testing standards in Indonesia refer to IEC/IEEE 62209-1 and IEC/IEEE 62209-2. In addition, the SAR standard with the reduce method refers to KDB 941225 D05 for 4G and 5G and KDB 248227 for WLAN and BT. For SAR limits, refer to the ICNIRP 2020 guidelines where the SAR head limit is 2 W/Kg and SAR Limb is 4 W/Kg.
Currently, IDTH lab has 3 SAR testing stations where with these 3 stations IDTH lab is able to carry out SAR tests of 6 – 8 tests per month. The testing lead time is also determined by the capabilities of each device.
In IDTH lab, SAR testing of 2G-3G and WLAN-BT takes 4 days each, while SAR testing of 4G-5G takes 7 days. So, if telecommunication devices such as smartphones and tablet computers have complete RF features. So, the total estimated SAR testing lead time is a maximum of 15 working days.
SAR test requirements
There are several requirements that need to be prepared before applying SAR testing for DJID certification.
| Specification | Requirement |
| Antenna position | The applicant needs to inform the position of the antenna and the frequency band transmitted by the antenna. Knowing the position of the antenna can make it easier to conduct SAR testing. |
| Engineering mode / Test mode | The applicant can prepare a sample that is already in engineering mode. The condition of the test sample can make it easier to control the smartphone to be tested. |
| Time average feature | Some telecommunications devices can control the average time of the power transmitted in real time. Therefore, the applicant needs to inform where the feature is located (if any) in order to obtain maximum test results. |
| Location of maximum conducted output power | One of the important pieces of information required during SAR testing is the maximum conducted output power. This requirement can be met by attaching a report on the results of the maximum output power test or by providing a special DUT for testing the maximum conducted output power on each technology. |
If you have any question related to DJID certification, please don’t hesitate to contact us by sending enquiry to info@narmadi.com.
