Radio frequency ignition hazards

In 1978, extensive investigations, co-ordinated by the Health and Safety Executive, were performed in order to evaluate possible radio frequency ignition hazards arising from the existence of radio transmitters in the vicinity of plants containing flammable liquids and gases. This paper, which is in three parts, describes the research work carried out by the HSE in order to assess the incendivity of r.f. discharges from loop-type structures acting as adventitious receiving aerials at frequencies up to 10 MHz and from dipole type structures at frequencies up to 9 GHz. In addition an assessment is given of the effect of multiple transmissions on ignition threshold power extractable from structures acting as adventitious receiving aerials.