Legal basis and covered regulations
- The amendment is made under the Department of Health’s regulatory functions under Presidential Decree (P.D.) 856.
- The amended rules apply to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Chapter XX – “Pollution of the Environment” of P.D. 856 dated April 16, 1998.
- The order strengthens enforcement through added definitions under Section 2 of P.D. 856 as reflected in the amendment.
Policy rationale for the amendments
- The Department of Health includes definitions of technical terms under Section 2 of P.D. 856 to clarify regulatory language.
- The amendments identify the relevant DOH bureau responsible for enforcement of radiation-related provisions.
- The amendments aim to strengthen and make effective the DOH’s regulatory functions implementing Chapter XX of P.D. 856.
Definitions added to Section 2
- Basic restrictions are defined as restrictions on the effects of exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields based directly on established health effects.
- Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) of the Department of Health (DOH) is defined as the national regulatory agency responsible for radiation protection from electrical/electronic devices capable of emitting radiation, formerly named Radiation Health Service.
- Distribution Lines are defined as low voltage electric lines that bring electricity from substations to businesses and homes, with pole mounted transformers reducing voltages from 4kV–25kV to 120/240V.
- Electric Field Strength is defined as the force per unit electric charge at any point in an electric field, symbol E, measured in volts per meter (V/m).
- Frequency is defined as the number of sinusoidal cycles completed by electromagnetic waves in 1 second, symbol f, measured in hertz (Hz).
- International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is defined as an independent scientific organization of experts in non-ionizing radiation tasked to investigate hazards, develop international exposure limit guidelines, and address all aspects of non-ionizing radiation protection.
- Magnetic Field Strength is defined as an axial vector quantity, together with magnetic flux density specifying a magnetic field at any point in space, symbol H, measured in amperes per meters (A/m).
- Magnetic Flux Density is defined as a vector field quantity resulting in a force acting on a moving charge or charges, symbol B, measured in tesla (T).
- Philippine Electrical Code (Part 2) is defined as rules promulgated by the Board of Electrical Engineering pursuant to R.A. 7920, for the practical safeguarding of persons during installation, operation, or maintenance of electric supply and communication lines and associated equipment.
- Reference Level of Exposure is defined as exposure levels more practical to measure derived from basic restrictions, conservatively formulated so compliance with reference levels ensures compliance with basic restrictions.
- Root Mean Square (rms) value is defined as the effective value of a periodic function, derived by squaring the function, taking the mean of the squares, and taking the square root of the mean value.
- Transmission Lines are defined as high voltage electric lines bringing electrical energy efficiently over long distances from generation facilities to substations, operating at voltages of 69 kV to 500 kV.
- The order ties applicable standards to adopted laws and guidelines used to set standards and reference levels for implementing the rules.
Amended standards: electric and electronics industries
- The order amends Sub-section 7.3 – Electric and Electronics Industries, specifically par. 7.3.1a, 7.3.1b and 7.3.3.
- Under 7.3.1a, all overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines must conform with the appropriate provisions of the latest edition of the Philippine Electrical Code (Part 2).
- Under 7.3.1b, all overhead and underground transmission and distribution lines must not exceed the reference levels of exposure shown in Table 1 and Table 2.
Occupational reference levels table
- Table 1 sets reference levels for occupational exposure to time-varying electric and magnetic fields using unperturbed rms values.
- For frequency (f) = 60 Hz, the occupational E-field strength reference level is 8,333.33 (V/m).
- For frequency (f) = 60 Hz, the occupational H-field strength reference level is 333.33 (A/m).
- For frequency (f) = 60 Hz, the occupational B-field (AT) reference level is 416.67.
General public reference levels table
- Table 2 sets reference levels for general public exposure to time-varying electric and magnetic fields using unperturbed rms values.
- For frequency (f) = 60 Hz, the general public E-field strength reference level is 4,166.67 (V/m).
- For frequency (f) = 60 Hz, the general public H-field strength reference level is 66.67 (A/m).
- For frequency (f) = 60 Hz, the general public B-field (AT) reference level is 83.33.
Cross-referenced enforcement and related rules
- The order uses ICNIRP Guidelines for limiting exposure to time varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz) as the referenced basis for the reference levels.
- Under 7.3.3, the provisions of P.D. 480 and P.D. 1372 must be applied and enforced.
- Under 7.3.3, applicable rules and regulations of the Radiation Health Service, now named Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) of the Department of Health, are applied and enforced.
Repeal clause and retained provisions
- Provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations that are not affected by the amendment remain in effect.