FCC Regulation Document

Part: 
Topic: C

47 CFR Part 18 (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                        47 CFR Part 18 (Feb. 20, 2024)
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 47 —Telecommunication
Chapter I —Federal Communications Commission
Subchapter A —General

Part 18 Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment
  Subpart A General Information
      § 18.101 Basis and purpose.
      § 18.107 Definitions.
      § 18.109 General technical requirements.
      § 18.111 General operating conditions.
      § 18.113 Inspection by Commission representatives.
      § 18.115 Elimination and investigation of harmful interference.
      § 18.117 Report of interference investigation.
      § 18.121 Exemptions.
  Subpart B Applications and Authorizations
      § 18.201 Scope.
      § 18.203 Equipment authorization.
      § 18.207 Technical report.
      § 18.209 Identification of authorized equipment.
      § 18.211 Multiple listing of equipment.
      § 18.212 Compliance information.
      § 18.213 Information to the user.
  Subpart C Technical Standards
      § 18.301 Operating frequencies.
      § 18.303 Prohibited frequency bands.
      § 18.305 Field strength limits.
      § 18.307 Conduction limits.
      § 18.309 Frequency range of measurements.
      § 18.311 Methods of measurement.
      § 18.313 Radio frequency exposure requirements.

PART 18—INDUSTRIAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 304, 307.

Source: 50 FR 36067, Sept. 5, 1985, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General Information
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                                                                                                              47 CFR 18.101
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

§ 18.101 Basis and purpose.
The rules in this part, in accordance with the applicable treaties and agreements to which the United States is a
party, are promulgated pursuant to section 302 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, vesting the
Federal Communications Commission with authority to regulate industrial, scientific, and medical equipment (ISM)
that emits electromagnetic energy on frequencies within the radio frequency spectrum in order to prevent harmful
interference to authorized radio communication services. This part sets forth the conditions under which the
equipment in question may be operated.

§ 18.107 Definitions.
     (a) Radio frequency (RF) energy. Electromagnetic energy at any frequency in the radio spectrum from 9 kHz to
         3 THz (3,000 GHz).

     (b) Harmful interference. Interference which endangers the functioning of a radionavigation service or of
         other safety services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunication
         service operating in accordance with this chapter.

     (c) Industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment. Equipment or appliances designed to generate and use
         locally RF energy for industrial, scientific, medical, domestic or similar purposes, excluding applications in
         the field of telecommunication. Typical ISM applications are the production of physical, biological, or
         chemical effects such as heating, ionization of gases, mechanical vibrations, hair removal and
         acceleration of charged particles.

     (d) Industrial heating equipment. A category of ISM equipment used for or in connection with industrial
         heating operations utilized in a manufacturing or production process.

     (e) Medical diathermy equipment. A category of ISM equipment used for therapeutic purposes, not including
         surgical diathermy apparatus designed for intermittent operation with low power.

     (f) Ultrasonic equipment. A category of ISM equipment in which the RF energy is used to excite or drive an
         electromechanical transducer for the production of sonic or ultrasonic mechanical energy for industrial,
         scientific, medical or other noncommunication purposes.

     (g) Consumer ISM equipment. A category of ISM equipment used or intended to be used by the general public
         in a residential environment, notwithstanding use in other areas. Examples are domestic microwave
         ovens, jewelry cleaners for home use, ultrasonic humidifiers.

     (h) ISM frequency. A frequency assigned by this part for the use of ISM equipment. A specified tolerance is
         associated with each ISM frequency. See § 18.301.

     (i)   Marketing. As used in this part, marketing shall include sale or lease, offer for sale or lease, advertising for
           sale or lease, the import or shipment or other distribution for the purpose of sale or lease or offer for sale
           or lease. See subpart I of part 2 of this chapter.

     (j)   Magnetic resonance equipment. A category of ISM equipment in which RF energy is used to create images
           and data representing spatially resolved density of transient atomic resources within an object.

           Note: In the foregoing, sale (or lease) shall mean sale (or lease) to the user or a vendor who in turn
           sells (or leases) to the user. Sale shall not be construed to apply to devices sold to a second party
           for manufacture or fabrication into a device which is subsequently sold (or leased) to the user.

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                                                                                                         47 CFR 18.109
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

[50 FR 36067, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 59 FR 39472, Aug. 3, 1994]

§ 18.109 General technical requirements.
ISM equipment shall be designed and constructed in accordance with good engineering practice with sufficient
shielding and filtering to provide adequate suppression of emissions on frequencies outside the frequency bands
specified in § 18.301.

§ 18.111 General operating conditions.
     (a) Persons operating ISM equipment shall not be deemed to have any vested or recognizable right to the
         continued use of any given frequency, by virtue of any prior equipment authorization and/or compliance
         with the applicable rules.

     (b) Subject to the exceptions in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section and irrespective of whether the
         equipment otherwise complies with the rules in this part, the operator of ISM equipment that causes
         harmful interference to any authorized radio service shall promptly take whatever steps may be necessary
         to eliminate the interference.

     (c) The provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall not apply in the case of interference to an authorized
         radio station or a radiocommunication device operating in an ISM frequency band.

     (d) The provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall not apply in the case of interference to a receiver
         arising from direct intermediate frequency pickup by the receiver of the fundamental frequency emissions
         of ISM equipment operating in an ISM frequency band and otherwise complying with the requirements of
         this part.

§ 18.113 Inspection by Commission representatives.
Upon request by a representative of the Commission the manufacturer, owner, or operator of any ISM equipment
shall make the equipment available for inspection and promptly furnish the Commission with such information as
may be required to indicate that the equipment complies with this part.

§ 18.115 Elimination and investigation of harmful interference.
     (a) The operator of ISM equipment that causes harmful interference to radio services shall promptly take
         appropriate measures to correct the problem.

     (b) If the operator of ISM equipment is notified by the Commission's Regional Director that operation of such
         equipment is endangering the functioning of a radionavigation or safety service, the operator shall
         immediately cease operating the equipment. Operation may be resumed on a temporary basis only for the
         purpose of eliminating the harmful interference. Operation may be resumed on a regular basis only after
         the harmful interference has been eliminated and approval from the Regional Director obtained.

     (c) When notified by the Regional Director that a particular installation is causing harmful interference, the
         operator or manufacturer shall arrange for an engineer skilled in techniques of interference measurement
         and control to make an investigation to ensure that the harmful interference has been eliminated. The
         Regional Director may require the engineer making the investigation to furnish proof of his or her
         qualifications.

[50 FR 36067, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 80 FR 53750, Sept. 8, 2015]

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                                                                                                         47 CFR 18.117
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

§ 18.117 Report of interference investigation.
     (a) An interim report on investigations and corrective measures taken pursuant to § 18.115 of this part shall
         be filed with the Regional Director of the local FCC office within 30 days of notification of harmful
         interference. The final report shall be filed with the Regional Director within 60 days of notification.

     (b) The date for filing the final report may be extended by the Regional Director when additional time is
         required to put into effect the corrective measures or to complete the investigation. The request for
         extension of time shall be accompanied by a progress report showing what has been accomplished to
         date.

[80 FR 53750, Sept. 8, 2015]

§ 18.121 Exemptions.
Non-consumer ultrasonic equipment, and non-consumer magnetic resonance equipment, that is used for medical
diagnostic and monitoring applications is subject only to the provisions of §§ 18.105, 18.109 through 18.119,
18.301 and 18.303 of this part.

[59 FR 39472, Aug. 3, 1994; 60 FR 47302, Sept. 12, 1995]

Subpart B—Applications and Authorizations
§ 18.201 Scope.
This subpart contains the procedures and requirements for authorization to market or operate ISM equipment under
this part.

§ 18.203 Equipment authorization.
     (a) Consumer ISM equipment, unless otherwise specified, must be authorized under either the Supplier's
         Declaration of Conformity or the certification procedure prior to use or marketing. An application for
         certification shall be filed with a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB), pursuant to the relevant
         sections in part 2, subpart J of this chapter.

     (b) Consumer ultrasonic equipment generating less than 500 watts and operating below 90 kHz, and non-
         consumer ISM equipment shall be subject to Supplier's Declaration of Conformity, in accordance with the
         relevant sections of part 2, subpart J of this chapter.

     (c) Grants of equipment authorization issued, as well as on-site certifications performed, before March 1,
         1986, remain in effect and no further action is required.

[82 FR 50834, Nov. 2, 2017]

§ 18.207 Technical report.
When required by the Commission a technical report shall include at least the following information:

     (a) A description of the measurement facilities in accordance with § 2.948. If such a description is already on
         file with the Commission, it may be included by reference.

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                                                                                                        47 CFR 18.207(b)
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

     (b) A copy of the installation and operating instructions furnished to the user. A draft copy of such
         instructions may be submitted with the application, provided a copy of the actual document to be
         furnished to the user is submitted as soon as it is available, but no later than 60 days after the grant of the
         application.

     (c) The full name and mailing address of the manufacturer of the device and/or applicant filing for the
         equipment authorization.

     (d) The FCC Identifier, trade name(s), and/or model number(s) under which the equipment is or will be
         marketed.

     (e) A statement of the rated technical parameters that includes:

           (1) A block and schematic diagram of the circuitry.

           (2) Nominal operating frequency.

           (3) Maximum RF energy generated.

           (4) Electrical power requirements of equipment.

           (5) Any other pertinent operating characteristics.

     (f) A report of measurements, including a list of the measuring equipment used, and a statement of the date
         when the measuring equipment was last calibrated and when the measurements were made. The
         frequency range that was investigated in obtaining the report of measurements shall be indicated. See
         also §§ 18.309 and 18.311.

[50 FR 36067, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 63 FR 36603, July 7, 1998]

§ 18.209 Identification of authorized equipment.
Each device for which a grant of equipment authorization is issued under this part shall be identified pursuant to the
applicable provisions of subpart J of part 2 of this chapter.

[82 FR 50834, Nov. 2, 2017]

§ 18.211 Multiple listing of equipment.
     (a) When the same or essentially the same equipment will be marketed under more than one FCC Identifier,
         equipment authorization must be requested on an FCC Form 731 for each FCC Identifier.

     (b) If equipment authorization for additional FCC Identifiers is requested in the initial application, a statement
         shall be included describing how these additional devices differ from the basic device which was
         measured and stating that the report of measurements submitted for the basic device applies also to the
         additional devices.

     (c) If equipment authorization for additional FCC Identifiers is requested after a grant has been issued by the
         FCC for the basic device, the application may, in lieu of the report of measurements, be accompanied by a
         statement including:

           (1) FCC Identifier of device for which measurements are on file with the FCC.

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                                                                                                     47 CFR 18.211(c)(2)
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

           (2) Date when equipment authorization was granted for the device(s) listed under paragraph (c)(1) of
               this section and the file number of such grant.

           (3) Description of the difference between the device listed under paragraph (c)(1) of this section and the
               additional device(s).

           (4) A statement that the report of measurements filed for the device listed under paragraph (c)(1) of this
               section applies also to the additional device(s).

           (5) Photographs pursuant to § 2.1033(c).

§ 18.212 Compliance information.
     (a) Equipment authorized under Supplier's Declaration of Conformity shall include a compliance statement
         that contains the information set forth in § 2.1077 of this chapter and a statement identical or similar to
         the following: “This device complies with part 18 of the FCC Rules.”

     (b) The compliance information may be placed in the instruction manual, on a separate sheet, on the
         packaging, or electronically as permitted under § 2.935 of this chapter. There is no specific format for this
         information.

[82 FR 50834, Nov. 2, 2017]

§ 18.213 Information to the user.
Information on the following matters shall be provided to the user in the instruction manual or on the packaging if
an instruction manual is not provided for any type of ISM equipment:

     (a) The interference potential of the device or system

     (b) Maintenance of the system

     (c) Simple measures that can be taken by the user to correct interference.

     (d) Manufacturers of RF lighting devices must provide an advisory statement, either on the product packaging
         or with other user documentation, similar to the following: This product may cause interference to radio
         equipment and should not be installed near maritime safety communications equipment or other critical
         navigation or communication equipment operating between 0.45–30 MHz. Variations of this language are
         permitted provided all the points of the statement are addressed and may be presented in any legible font
         or text style.

[50 FR 36069, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 51 FR 17970, May 16, 1986; 64 FR 37419, July 12, 1999]

Subpart C—Technical Standards
§ 18.301 Operating frequencies.
ISM equipment may be operated on any frequency above 9 kHz except as indicated in § 18.303. The following
frequency bands, in accordance with § 2.106 of the rules, are designated for use by ISM equipment:

47 CFR 18.301 (enhanced display)                                                                            page 6 of 11
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                                                                                                            47 CFR 18.303
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

                                         Table 1 to § 18.301

                      ISM frequency                                      Tolerance
 6.78 MHz                                                ± 15.0 kHz
 13.56 MHz                                               ± 7.0 kHz
 27.12 MHz                                               ± 163.0 kHz
 40.68 MHz                                               ± 20.0 kHz
 915 MHz                                                 ± 13.0 MHz
 2450 MHz                                                ± 50.0 MHz
 5800 MHz                                                ± 75.0 MHz
 24.125 GHz                                              ± 125.0 MHz
 61.25 GHz                                               ± 250.0 MHz
 122.50 GHz                                              ± 500.0 MHz
 245.00 GHz                                              ± 1.0 GHz

[85 FR 38740, June 26, 2020]

§ 18.303 Prohibited frequency bands.
Operation of ISM equipment within the following safety, search and rescue frequency bands is prohibited: 490–510
kHz, 2170–2194 kHz, 8354–8374 kHz, 121.4–121.6 MHz, 156.7–156.9 MHz, and 242.8–243.2 MHz.

§ 18.305 Field strength limits.
     (a) ISM equipment operating on a frequency specified in § 18.301 is permitted unlimited radiated energy in
         the band specified for that frequency.

     (b) The field strength levels of emissions which lie outside the bands specified in § 18.301, unless otherwise
         indicated, shall not exceed the following:

                                            Operating     RF Power generated by   Field strength limit   Distance
                       Equipment
                                            frequency       equipment (watts)           (uV/m)           (meters)
             Any type unless otherwise     Any ISM       Below 500                25                          300
                                                                                                             1300
             specified (miscellaneous)     frequency     500 or more              25 × SQRT(power/
                                                                                  500)
                                           Any non-ISM   Below 500                15                          300
                                                                                                             1300
                                           frequency     500 or more              15 × SQRT(power/
                                                                                  500)
             Industrial heaters and RF     On or below   Any                      10                        1,600
             stabilized arc welders        5,725 MHz     Any                      ( 2)                         ( 2)
                                           Above 5,725
                                           MHz
             Medical diathermy             Any ISM       Any                      25                          300
                                           frequency     Any                      15                          300
                                           Any non-ISM
                                           frequency

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                                                                                                             47 CFR 18.305(c)
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

                                            Operating      RF Power generated by     Field strength limit   Distance
                      Equipment
                                            frequency        equipment (watts)             (uV/m)           (meters)
            Ultrasonic                     Below 490      Below 500                  2,400/F(kHz)                   300
                                                                                                                3
                                           kHz            500 or more                2,400/F(kHz) ×                 300
                                                                                     SQRT(power/500)
                                           490 to 1,600   Any                        24,000/F(kHz)                      30
                                           kHz            Any                        15                                 30
                                           Above 1,600
                                           kHz
                                                                                                                    4
            Induction cooking ranges       Below 90       Any                        1,500                              30
                                                                                                                    4
                                           kHz            Any                        300                                30
                                           On or above
                                           90 kHz

          1
           Field strength may not exceed 10 μV/m at 1600 meters. Consumer equipment operating below
          1000 MHz is not permitted the increase in field strength otherwise permitted here for power over
          500 watts.

          2
              Reduced to the greatest extent possible.

          3 Field strength may not exceed 10 μV/m at 1600 meters. Consumer equipment is not permitted
          the increase in field strength otherwise permitted here for over 500 watts.

          4
           Induction cooking ranges manufactured prior to February 1, 1980, shall be subject to the field
          strength limits for miscellaneous ISM equipment.

     (c) The field strength limits for RF lighting devices shall be the following:

              Frequency (MHz)                          Field strength limit at 30 meters (μV/m)
 Non-consumer equipment:
    30–88                                                                                              30
    88–216                                                                                             50
    216–1000                                                                                           70
 Consumer equipment:
    30–88                                                                                              10
    88–216                                                                                             15
    216–1000                                                                                           20

Notes
     1. The tighter limit shall apply at the boundary between two frequency ranges.

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                                                                                                                    47 CFR 18.307
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

     2. Testing for compliance with these limits may be made at closer distances, provided a sufficient number of
     measurements are taken to plot the radiation pattern, to determine the major lobes of radiation, and to
     determine the expected field strength level at 30, 300, or 1600 meters. Alternatively, if measurements are made
     at only one closer fixed distance, then the permissible field strength limits shall be adjusted using 1/d as an
     attenuation factor.

[50 FR 36070, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 51 FR 17970, May 16, 1986; 52 FR 43197, Nov. 10, 1987]

§ 18.307 Conduction limits.
For the following equipment, when designed to be connected to the public utility (AC) power line the radio frequency
voltage that is conducted back onto the AC power line on any frequency or frequencies shall not exceed the limits in
the following tables. Compliance with the provisions of this paragraph shall be based on the measurement of the
radio frequency voltage between each power line and ground at the power terminal using a 50 μH/50 ohms line
impedance stabilization network (LISN).

     (a) All Induction cooking ranges and ultrasonic equipment:

                                                                                    Conducted limit (dBμV)
                           Frequency of emission (MHz)
                                                                             Quasi-peak                   Average
           0.009–0.05                                                  110                          —
           0.05–0.15                                                   90–80 *                      —
           0.15–0.5                                                    66 to 56 *                   56 to 46 *
           0.5–5                                                       56                           46
           5–30                                                        60                           50

          * Decreases with the logarithm of the frequency.

     (b) All other part 18 consumer devices:

                                                                                    Conducted limit (dBμV)
                           Frequency of emission (MHz)
                                                                             Quasi-peak                   Average
           0.15–0.5                                                    66 to 56 *                   56 to 46 *
           0.5–5                                                       56                           46
           5–30                                                        60                           50

          * Decreases with the logarithm of the frequency.

     (c) RF lighting devices:

                   Frequency (MHz)            Maximum RF line voltage measured with a 50 uH/50 ohm LISN (uV)
           Non-consumer equipment:
             0.45 to 1.6                                                                                            1,000
             1.6 to 30                                                                                              3,000
           Consumer equipment:

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                                                                                                               47 CFR 18.307(d)
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

                  Frequency (MHz)               Maximum RF line voltage measured with a 50 uH/50 ohm LISN (uV)
             0.45 to 2.51                                                                                            250
             2.51 to 3.0                                                                                          3,000
             3.0 to 30                                                                                               250

     (d) If testing with a quasi-peak detector demonstrates that the equipment complies with the average limits
         specified in the appropriate table in this section, additional testing to demonstrate compliance using an
         average detector is not required.

     (e) These conduction limits shall apply only outside of the frequency bands specified in § 18.301.

     (f) For ultrasonic equipment, compliance with the conducted limits shall preclude the need to show
         compliance with the field strength limits below 30 MHz unless requested by the Commission.

     (g) The tighter limits shall apply at the boundary between two frequency ranges.

[50 FR 36067, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 52 FR 43198, Nov. 10, 1987; 64 FR 37419, July 12, 1999; 67 FR 45671, July 10, 2002]

§ 18.309 Frequency range of measurements.
     (a) For field strength measurements:

             Frequency band in which                           Range of frequency measurements
              device operates (MHz)                     Lowest frequency                      Highest frequency
           Below 1.705                     Lowest frequency generated in the device,     30 MHz.
                                           but not lower than 9 kHz
           1.705 to 30                     Lowest frequency generated in the device,     400 MHz.
                                           but not lower than 9 kHz
           30 to 500                       Lowest frequency generated in the device      Tenth harmonic or 1,000
                                           or 25 MHz, whichever is lower                 MHz, whichever is higher.
           500 to 1,000                    Lowest frequency generated in the device      Tenth harmonic.
                                           or 100 MHz, whichever is lower
           Above 1,000                     ......do                                      Tenth harmonic or highest
                                                                                         detectable emission.

     (b) For conducted powerline measurements, the frequency range over which the limits are specified will be
         scanned.

[50 FR 36070, Sept. 5, 1985, as amended at 51 FR 17971, May 16, 1986]

§ 18.311 Methods of measurement.
The measurement techniques used to determine compliance with the technical requirements of this part are set out
in FCC MP–5, “FCC Methods of Measurements of Radio Noise Emissions from Industrial, Scientific, and Medical
equipment,” or compliance measurements made in accordance with the specific procedures otherwise authorized
by the Commission.

[82 FR 50835, Nov. 2, 2017]

47 CFR 18.311 (enhanced display)                                                                                     page 10 of 11
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                                                                                                         47 CFR 18.313
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

§ 18.313 Radio frequency exposure requirements.
Radio frequency devices operating under the provisions of this part are subject to the radio frequency radiation
exposure requirements specified in §§ 1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091, and 2.1093 of this chapter, as appropriate.

[85 FR 18150, Apr. 1, 2020]

47 CFR 18.313 (enhanced display)                                                                          page 11 of 11