Belgian legislation

The value of the undisturbed electric field, in undisturbed regime, generated by any electrical installation involved in the transmission or distribution of electrical energy, must remain lower than the following values measured at 1.5 m above the ground (or home):

• Inhabited area, or area intended for habitation on sector plan: 5 kV/m
• Overhangs of roads: 7 kV/m
• Other places: 10 kV/m

See https://www.health.belgium.be/

There is to date no particular Belgian legislation concerning exposure to power frequency magnetic induction.

Order on indoor pollution (11 June 2004) that provides quality values for chemical, physical and biotic factors has been changed the 13th of july 2018: for magnetic fields, it specifies a new guide value of 0.4 µT and a new intervention value of 20 µT.
The procedure on how to measure 50 Hz has been specified.

To protect against acute health effects from outdoor sources, a new standard (VLAREM) has been added, with an instantaneous exposure limit of 100 µT (Flemish government decision here). With regard to long-term exposure, measures based on EC guidelines have been taken, limiting the average annual exposure to 0.4 µT (Flemish government standard here).

Order on operating conditions of static transformers (nominal power between 250 and 1000 kVA) (9 September 1999):

• The value of the undisturbed electric field, in undisturbed regime: < 5 kV/m
• Outside the substation, the value of 50/60 Hz magnetic induction is limited to 100 µT (permanent exposure) and 1000 µT (acute exposure).

>>http://www.etaamb.be/fr/arrete-du-gouvernement-de-la-region-de-bruxellescapit_n2000031023.html
>> http://www.etaamb.be/nl/besluit-van-de-brusselse-hoofdstedelijke-regering-van-_n2000031023.html

Order on operating conditions of static transformers (nominal power equal to or greater than 1.500 kVA) (1 December 2005):

• Outside the substation (permanent exposure), the value of the 50 Hz undisturbed electric field, in undisturbed regime, is limited to < 5 kV/m
• Outside the substation (permanent exposure), the value of the 50 Hz undisturbed magnetic field, in undisturbed regime, is limited to < 100 μT

See ‘Législation belge‘ for further information.

Order on stationary batteries (product of the capacity in Ah and the voltage in V greater than 10 000) (12 December 2006 (add. 22 January 2007)):

• Outside the electrical safety area of the inverter system (permanent exposure), the value of the 50 Hz undisturbed electric field, in undisturbed regime, is limited to < 5 kV/m
• Outside the electrical safety area of the inverter system (permanent exposure), the value of the 50 Hz undisturbed magnetic field, in undisturbed regime, is limited to < 100 μT

See ‘Législation belge‘ for further information.

See in French or in Dutch.

• Decree of The Flemish Government of 11 June 2004 providing for measures aiming at controlling health risks caused by indoor pollution (2004), Belgian Official Journal, 19/10/2004 (in French – in Dutch)
• Decree on operating conditions of static transformers of the Brussels-Capital region
• Bruxelles-Environnement: Rapport d’activités 2013
• General Regulations for Electric Installations (RGIE/AREI)
  in French: RGIE Règlement général sur les Installations électriques
  (Voir Energie – Electricité – Contrôle des installations électriques)
  in Dutch: AREI Algemeen Reglement op de Elektrische Installaties
  (Zie Energie – Elektriciteit – Controle van de elektrische installaties
• Commission de Régulation de l’énergie en région de Bruxelles-Capitale: Avis (BRUGEL-AVIS-20131122-180) (pdf, page 18)
• Advice of the Belgium High Health Council – Advice 9431 – The impact of exposure to magnetic fields from the electricity supply on the health of the population.

• Literature review – Risk management and EMF policy
• Health risk issues – see Standards and recommendations chapter