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2) PLAN FOR LOW EMR ENVIRONMENT
All parties connected to building decisions - ie owners, architect/designer, contractor, electrician and Building Biology testing specialist to be aware of and in agreement with the Low EMR mandate, and to include this aspect in component selection, space and equipment utilization, and general design. This is the most cost-efficient stage to introduce means to achieve a green electrical environment. An understanding about present and future design possibilities must also be understood, so that careful electrical system
layout for low EMR will not need to be altered to accommodate possible future changes. All future design modifications must be factored in at the outset while existing building plans must also accommodate the low EMR option;
3) WIRING LAYOUT
Rough Low EMR wiring layout to be completed in design phase by EMR specialist and electrician with involvement of builder, owner and designer; during construction, alterations to the wiring plan may be necessary;
4) SITE BUILDING AWAY FROM ELECTRO POLLUTION SOURCES - EMR TESTING
Building site to be as distant as possible from present and future sources of both low frequency ELF - power line frequency EMR - ie distribution lines and equipment, and from RFR - radio frequency radiation sources - ie TV, radio and radar, signals, emergency services, wireless internet, cellular antennae etc. Initial site check by trained EMR tester (EMR Survey) before building. Recommend Bau biology testing protocol for as many of the following tests as possible: AC magnetic fields (ELF) - low frequency; AC
electric fields (ELF) - low frequency; VLF electric and magnetic fields (ie 2000-200,000 Hz); Electromagnetic fields/radiation - high frequency (RFR); Radioactivity levels - ionizing (nuclear) radiation both on-site, and as introduced via materials such as some cement and concrete products, clay tiles, rock products, gyprock etc.
5) RUN SERVICE LINES TO BUILDING SO AS TO MINIMIZE EMR IMPACTS
Underground service preferred as this eliminates AC electric fields, and can reduce magnetic fields provided sufficient burial depth, and provided that hot and neutral conductors are closely spaced and preferably twisted together by the electrician. Closely pairing hots and neutrals increases phase cancellation, reducing magnetic fields. This also applies for overhead service lines, which must be run as close to perpendicular to the structure as possible, and must be routed to the panel away from where people spend
time. Power meter (major electro pollution source) to be located distant from the
building (on pole or out building) rather than on building itself.
6) LOCATE ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AWAY FROM PEOPLE
Service entrance cables, main electrical power panel and subpanels to be located away from living areas by a minimum of 2 metres. Some reduction of electro pollution possible with shielding, which is difficult, expensive and only partially effective. A utility room that is rarely entered is preferable for this and all other technical systems functions.
7) SHIELDED ELECTRICAL CABLES ONLY THROUGHOUT
No loomex (romex) plastic-jacketed wire (emits excessive ELF and VLF electric fields). North American options are limited to BX (MC) metal clad cable, EMT conduit, and Teck for high amperage feeders. If using conduit, hot and neutral conductors to be twisted to lessen magnetic fields/radiation. Best option is ISO BX (hospital grade isolated ground
system - more expensive than BX but better at suppressing AC electric fields.
8) SHIELDED CABLES ONLY FOR ALL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
No unshielded wires in building (electric fields). This applies to all control and signal wire without exception, by every trade ie phone (ie Cat 5), and data lines, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) systems, doorbells, vacuum and security systems, television cable (use RG-6 not RG59), and all other low voltage wiring, etc. All non-electrical wire to run as far from electric wire as feasible. All installed wire to be approved before installation and kept away from living environments - just as with electrical - as much as possible.
9)NON TOXIC CABLE JACKETS
Avoid where possible, cables that contain halogens and lead, instead use at least Alimited- smoke@ rated (no PVC) cable.
10) CO LOCATION OF SERVICE EQUIPMENT
All utilities to enter building at same general location - preferably at dedicated utility room.
11) BOND UTILITIES AT SERVICE ENTRANCE
All utilities (ie phone, TV, gas and water)to be bonded just before entering building in compliance with electrical code.
12) BOND UTILITIES AT ONE POINT ONLY
in accordance with code;
13) MAIN GROUNDING ELECTRODE TO BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO MAIN DISCONNECT
And grounding only at service side;
14 ) GROUNDING SYSTEM - DIALECTIC COUPLER IF CONNECTED TO METAL WATER DISTRIBUTION LINES
No electrical connection between building and metallic system of municipality to prevent magnetic field pollution infecting building. Grounding preferably, to use 2 deeply-embedded ground rods - or may be possible to use a ground plate - into conductive soil at sufficient depth to enable a target resistance of less than 5 ohm. Avoid >Ufer= type ground
systems entirely, as they energize building; all conductive parts of electrical wiring system to be at a substantially equal potential;
15) FEEDERS AND HOME RUNS AWAY FROM LIVING AREAS
Under load these can be strong magnetic field sources. Use distance as a strategy. Use corners, closets, edges of hallways, and for feeders consider building overhangs, or, at least locate these as distant from occupants as feasible;
16 DESIGN UNSAFE TECHNOLOGIES OUT OF BUILDING
Minimize Aswitchmode power sources as much as possible, as these affect negatively the electrical environment due to the harmonic pollution which result from their use. This includes transformers, which should be minimized and located at least 1.5 metres from occupied areas. Some hazards and avoidance strategies are: ionizing - radioactive smoke detectors - replace with photoelectric type; ballasted Alow energy@ lighting ( ie all forms of fluorescent lighting, and ballasted halogen) which produce harmonics and
back feed RFR throughout the building - to be avoided - instead use incandescent and screw-in halogen bulbs. (Note: LED and fiberoptics, though not yet affordable and widely available, look promising and are energy efficient and low EMR). CRT (>normal=) computer monitors (emit hazardous radiations) - replace with LCD type (much lower radiation) - preferably as approved by Swedish TCO Standards for lowest radiation. Standard televisions could be replaced with LCD units (lower radiation). All such equipment plus other office devices - ie photocopiers, faxes, printers etc. to be contained
and ventilated to outside if possible, to avoid chemical offgas pollution. All lighting, devices and appliances to be analyzed by EMR consultant; wireless devices of every type must be avoided - especially cell phones cordless phones, - especially of the new higher frequency - 2.4 GHz - type, which are more dangerous than older analogue types, and equivalent in power density to cellphones, as well as transmitting radio signals 24 hours a day
at high exposure levels,having a poisoning effect on the building similar to a cellular base station. Instead, wire for many phone outlets to discourage the wireless option; traditional dimmer switches to be avoided, substitute 3-step fan resistor type switches and/or layered lighting set-ups; Baby monitors (mini radio stations) to be avoided; microwave ovens
to be avoided.No in-floor or ceiling heating cable system to be allowed (magnetic fields). Also wireless internet and computer systems to be avoided.; Due to poor electrical qualities, avoid if possible all synthetic coverings, curtains, and other finish details such as carpets, vinyl flooring, vinyl wall paper, and most paints, plastic finishes etc. Synthetics to be substituted with natural= healthy products that do not lead to excess DC electric fields, or Static electricity build-up, which contributes to ill health and damages IAQ (indoor air quality);
OTHER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DETAILS TO CONSIDER
all working, sitting, dining and especially sleeping areas to be entirely free of structural metals and metal plumbing, and ducting, including under, over and around such areas. (This includes metallic beds such as coil or box-spring mattresses); no metal screening, mesh, rebar, cars, tools or other artifacts below, above and around sleep sites; ( these act as high - radio frequency - antenna/amplifiers, for ambient signals, and also distort the Earth=s magnetic fields which adversely affects health; No workshops or garages under bedrooms;
- where possible, parallel wire for Direct Current 12 or 14 Volt systems from renewable energy sources.. DC low power devices - particularly intimate lighting - and some appliances, are available and recommended, and this form of energy is quite free of adverse health implications, unlike AC energy which reverses polarity every 60 seconds with resultant bio effects;
- when rewiring for low EMR, remove as much original cable as possible, to avoid capacitive or inductive coupling from new wiring which can then cause electric fields to radiate from old wire;
- no high energy use areas - ie kitchens, workshops, offices (computer, printer telephone device radiations), entertainment centers etc. in rooms adjacent to or near bedrooms (magnetic fields from devices penetrate walls); Nor should device and appliance location conflict with other uses of adjacent space. Refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, washer, dryers etc. -these should be located away from living areas by at least 2 metres,
and for TVs, by at least 3 - 4 meters. These loads must never be placed on an opposite wall from where people spend time - especially for sleeping areas;
- metallic gas and water lines to have dielectric unions installed at appliance when permitted by code. Unwanted current on water lines due to wiring error causes electrolysis, and deterioration, likewise with gas where the result can be explosion;
- where cement slab construction is involved, no metal rebar under bedrooms; use non-metal rebar;
- where rammed earth is employed, no metal rebar in walls near beds (magnetized metals distort natural geomagnetic fields of Earth and metals pick up and re radiate ambient RFR); use a non-metallic rebar for these wall sections;
17) EMPLOY LOW EMR WIRING STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES
Traditional >wrap-around= and under-floor wiring, and North American wiring methods of running wire everywhere, is to be avoided. An entirely different approach is needed for green wiring, involving careful planning of every plug and switch placement, and wire run to minimize wire in and around rooms especially sleeping areas. EMR testing to be done before, during and after wiring building;
The following methods should be addressed:
- Wiring method employs radial or star pattern whereby, instead of wiring around the room at standard heights, (more exposure to wire radiation), the junction box feeds individual drops, either from little-used space above or below room being wired;
- insist that electrical code is followed to the letter; Code practices serve to minimize risk of shock, fire, electrocution and health disorders from AC magnetic fields, which in wiring, are often produced by common mistakes in electrical method (see ATracing EMFs, by Karl Riley, and ATaming the Fields@ by Ed Leeper. Mistakes in wiring are easy to make, and are often only noticed after EMR testing under appropriate load conditions, which is
the only way to detect such magnetic fields as are traceable to Code violations such as the following: 2 neutrals interconnecting from 2 different circuits; 2-wire travelers instead of 3-wire in 3-way switches; not breaking neutral tab as well as the hot tab on a duplex receptacle, (when 2 circuits feed the same split outlet); bond to neutral interties on
the load side, including neutrals being pinched under a cover plate or shunting to ground through damaged insulation, or improperly wired subpanels, such as when the bonding screw is not removed from the neutral bus bar (causing huge magnetic fields) - these are a few examples of common, avoidable mistakes which routinely lead to elevated AC magnetic fields in buildings;
- outlet and switch boxes to be metal (limits electric fields)
- as much as possible, avoid contact of BX (electric field suppression) cables with each other anywhere in the system but at outlet, switch and junction boxes, panels and fixtures, to avoid loop circuits. Avoid contact of BX with grounded pipes, ducting or any other conductive system or surface.
- at outlets, electricians can twist hot and neutral conductors (not bonding), around each other several times as feasible, before installing plugs, to help reduce magnetic fields locally;
- all outlets and wiring to be located at least one metre from work and sitting areas, and 1.5 meters from all present and potential bed sites;
- where possible, wire individual rooms where people spend time on one circuit - especially bedrooms - so that a hard-wired, or automatic cut off, (or demand) switch can be installed, to create EMR-free zones when power is not required; all working, sitting, dining or other areas where most time is spent, to have sections free of wiring as possible, with options of
switching off chosen areas;
- all working, sitting, dining and especially sleeping areas to have no wiring where it will impact occupants, that is, under, over and around relaxing, eating, zones, with particular concern to keep wiring as far as possible from present and potential bed sites; Bedrooms are the most important areas to be protected in this way.
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