The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and IEEE jointly published IEC/IEEE 62209-1528:2020/AMD1:2026 on 2 September 2026 as the first amendment to IEC/IEEE 62209-1528:2020.

IEC/IEEE 62209-1528 specifies the measurement procedures for assessing the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of human exposure to radio-frequency fields from hand-held and body-mounted wireless communication devices. The standard covers the frequency range from 4 MHz to 10 GHz and addresses human models, measurement instrumentation, system validation, test configurations, data processing and measurement uncertainty. Its purpose is to support reproducible and consistent SAR assessments among testing laboratories.

The principal updates introduced by Amendment 1 include:

1. Hand SAR assessment

New applicability criteria and test procedures have been introduced for evaluating SAR exposure associated with hand-held operating conditions.

2. Motion sensor assessment

New SAR measurement procedures have been added for devices incorporating motion sensors. A sensor validation annex has also been introduced to verify the power-control behaviour associated with different motion states.

3. Time-averaged SAR algorithm validation

The measurement procedure for validating time-averaged SAR algorithms has been revised and updated to address wireless devices using dynamic power-control or time-averaged exposure-control technologies.

4. Separation distance and SAR test reduction

Requirements concerning the separation distance between the device and the applicable human phantom, as well as the associated SAR test-reduction provisions, have been updated.

5. Proximity sensor requirements

The provisions for evaluating proximity sensors have been revised to support verification of power-control and SAR compliance under different sensor states and operating distances.

IEC/IEEE 62209-1528:2020/AMD1:2026 is an amendment and is intended to be used together with the IEC/IEEE 62209-1528:2020 base standard. IEC has also published the consolidated version, IEC/IEEE 62209-1528:2020+AMD1:2026 CSV, which incorporates Amendment 1 into the original standard.

Manufacturers and testing laboratories should review the potential impact of the amendment on hand SAR assessment, sensor-triggered power control, time-averaged SAR algorithm validation, test separation distances and SAR test-reduction procedures. Product functions, test plans, laboratory procedures and test-report content should be reviewed to determine whether additional sensor or algorithm validation is required.

This amendment represents a technical update to an international standard. Its publication does not mean that it becomes immediately mandatory in every country or region. The applicable standard version and effective date remain subject to adoption by the relevant regulatory authorities, regional standards organizations and certification schemes.