IEC IEEE 62704-2-2017 PDF

Full title and description

IEC/IEEE 62704-2:2017 — Determining the peak spatial-average specific absorption rate (SAR) in the human body from wireless communications devices, 30 MHz to 6 GHz — Part 2: Specific requirements for finite difference time domain (FDTD) modelling of exposure from vehicle mounted antennas. This dual-logo international standard defines procedures, models and validation requirements for using the FDTD numerical technique to compute peak spatial-average and whole-body SAR for persons exposed to fields from vehicle-mounted antennas.

Abstract

This part of IEC/IEEE 62704 establishes concepts, modelling practices, benchmark data, validation checks, uncertainty considerations and limitations for FDTD-based SAR calculations specific to vehicle-mounted antenna exposure scenarios. It specifies standardized vehicle and human-body models, antenna locations and operating configurations representative of bystander and passenger exposures; the original text covers 30 MHz to 1 GHz with an extended upper frequency considered for future revisions.

General information

• Status: Active international standard (dual-logo IEC/IEEE).
• Publication date: Published June 2017 (IEC publication date shown as 28 June 2017; IEEE listing shows 30 June 2017).
• Publisher: Joint publication by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
• ICS / categories: 17.220.20 (Measurement of electrical and magnetic quantities / assessment of EM fields associated with human exposure).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2017).
• Number of pages: 108 pages (bilingual English/French base publication).

Scope

Specifies the specific requirements and benchmarks for applying the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method to assess peak spatial-average and whole-body SAR in standardized human anatomical models exposed to electromagnetic fields from vehicle-mounted antennas. The standard defines test vehicles and human models (passenger and bystander postures), antenna placements and operating configurations, exposure positions, validation procedures for antenna, human and vehicle models, and recommended methods to evaluate and report uncertainties and limitations of the computed SAR results. The original 2017 text addresses 30 MHz to 1 GHz while noting extension to higher frequencies (up to 6 GHz) as subject to future updates and amendments.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and specification of standardized vehicle geometries and representative antenna locations for bystander and passenger exposure scenarios.
• Standardized heterogeneous human body models (postures, tissue definitions) and instructions for representing population variation (adjustment factors for whole-body and peak spatial-average SAR).
• FDTD modelling requirements: mesh resolution, boundary conditions, source representation and numerical settings needed to obtain reliable SAR results.
• Validation procedures for numerical antenna, human and vehicle models including experimental and numerical benchmarks.
• Procedures for computing peak spatial-average SAR (spatial averaging volumes), whole-body SAR, and guidance on averaging volumes and sample volumes for compliance-relevant metrics.
• Uncertainty estimation, reporting conventions and limitations of the FDTD approach for vehicle-mounted antenna exposures.
• Reporting requirements: model descriptions, simulation settings, validation evidence, and results presentation for reproducibility.

Typical use and users

Used by RF safety engineers, automotive OEMs, wireless system designers, test laboratories, regulatory and standards organizations, and researchers performing SAR assessments for vehicle-mounted radios (e.g., public safety radios, mobile base-station-like antennas on vehicles). The standard supports computational compliance assessments, product development, design-for-safety reviews and regulatory submissions where numerical SAR determination is required.

Related standards

Key related documents include IEC/IEEE 62704-1 (Part 1 — general requirements for using the FDTD method for SAR calculations), measurement-focused SAR standards (for example the IEC 62209 series), exposure limit standards and guidance such as IEEE C95.1 and ICNIRP guidelines, and IEC 62232 (base station exposure assessment). The Part 2 text explicitly references other exposure limit documents for limit values while focusing on modelling methodology.

Keywords

SAR, specific absorption rate, FDTD, finite-difference time-domain, vehicle-mounted antenna, bystander exposure, passenger exposure, numerical modelling, validation, RF exposure, IEEE, IEC.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC/IEEE 62704-2:2017 is Part 2 of the joint IEC/IEEE standard series that prescribes specific requirements for using the FDTD numerical method to determine peak spatial-average and whole-body SAR from vehicle-mounted antennas.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definition of test vehicles and human models, antenna placement and operating configurations, FDTD modelling settings and mesh requirements, validation procedures for antenna/vehicle/human models, uncertainty estimation, and reporting conventions for SAR computations in vehicle-antenna exposure scenarios.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: RF exposure and compliance engineers, automotive manufacturers, test laboratories, standards committees and researchers who need reliable computational methods to evaluate SAR from antennas mounted on vehicles.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2017 edition is the base publication and remains an active standard; an Amendment (IEC/IEEE 62704-2:2017/AMD1:2025) has been published to update/clarify elements and extend considerations toward higher frequencies — users should consult the consolidated (amended) text or the IEC/IEEE consolidated version for the latest normative content.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 2 of the IEC/IEEE 62704 series; Part 1 provides the general requirements for using FDTD for SAR calculations and other parts/amendments address additional scenarios or refinements.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: SAR, FDTD, vehicle-mounted antennas, peak spatial-average SAR, whole-body SAR, validation, human body models, RF exposure.