Shielding Buildings Against Radio Disruption

About the Shielding Buildings Against Radio Disruption Webinar

The radio environment is crowded.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) can cause system malfunction, communications interruptions, loss of data and erroneous measurements. With the increased quantity and mobility of Radio Frequency threats, radio noise protection can be a critical issue in facilities design. Protection in an urban environment, where systems and users are in close proximity to potential threats, requires an understanding of the coupling and physics to find effective solutions.

Everyday examples of interference sources in the urban environment include:

• TV/Radio and communications transmitters
• Banks and Financial Institutions
• Rail and subway systems
• Research and Medical Facilities
• WiFi, Cellular and Wireless communications systems

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) threats are a continuing concern. Detonation of a nuclear device in the atmosphere can create high amplitude transient threats that can shut down power, control and communications systems.

Threats from Outer Space: Solar storms can create powerful noise sources in the upper atmosphere, wreaking havoc on communications and control systems.

In addition to external noise sources, shielding and radio frequency protection of facilities can reduce the threat of electronic eavesdropping, which is essential for protection of critical information.

This one-hour webinar presents the threat environment and practical measures to mitigate interference from a broad spectrum of noise sources.

Who Should Attend: Architects, Facilities Designers and Planners from:

Military and Government Agencies
Industrial & Commercial Facilities
Financial Institutions
Power Generation

Protection for Facilities & Systems:

Shielding systems are often employed in building facilities to protect sensitive systems from radio frequency sources in the urban environment. Communications security must be robust and free from eavesdropping or disruption.

Protection in the Laboratory:

Research hospitals, biotechnology and life sciences organizations deal with extremely sensitive sensors and systems during research and development. The small signals that are detected in animal-cell activities are measured in billionths of amperes, which can be overwhelmed by intruding signals from mobile networks, WiFi access points, TV/AM/FM broadcast and other sources of man-made noise. Protection in the Workplace Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are a concern for worker safety and health, as well as potentially interfering with sensitive electrical equipment. High-amplitude AC power currents can generate low frequency magnetic fields that are difficult to control and to reduce. Shielding is one of the options to reduce these fields.

A System Approach

Washington Laboratories takes a systems-level approach to the problems of radiated interference. Our objective is to find the most cost-effective methods of controlling interference.

This webinar will cover the most essential elements of Shielding of Facilities.

1. Quantifying the threat
2. System sensitivity and probability of interference
3. Reduction and control of potential sources
4. Prudent space configuration to minimize interference coupling
5. Specifying appropriate materials and construction methods
6. Quantifying the performance: Measurements

The Presenters

Michael Violette, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Washington Laboratories, Ltd.. Mike has twenty five years of experience in FCC, CE, IC testing and certification. Mike is a professional engineer, and an iNARTE Certified EMC Engineer. He currently is on the Board of Directors of ACIL and RABQSA. He has presented numerous live and webinar events on technical, measurement and regulatory requirements for electronic devices. Mike is a Notified Body for the Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (RTTED) and EMC Directive.

Steven G. Ferguson is Executive V.P. at Washington Laboratories, Ltd (WLL) and has been working in EMC, Safety, MIL-STD, Nuclear, Energy and related compliance engineering and test for over 35 years at test laboratories and manufacturers. His work includes designing products, developing procedures, performing tests and advising developers on routes and techniques for attaining product compliance.  He has been directly involved with EMC design and compliance evaluation for many systems including several power plants (facilities and equipment qualification), hospitals, presidential aircraft, the Space Shuttle and Hubble Space Telescope.  He presents various courses on EMI/EMC compliance including EMC for Nuclear Power Facilities, Architectural Shielding and a hands-on course MIL-STD-461 testing  at the WLL facility in Maryland and on-site for multiple government and industrial clients.  His work also includes EMC, Environmental and Safety evaluations for commercial, military and medical devices and training of hundreds of personnel on test and evaluation techniques.  He has authored several papers on equipment qualification and evaluation techniques with presentations at many conferences.  He is a member of the TR-102323 Working Group and supported preparation of Revision 4.

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