Ofcom Mast Audit Percent Vs Handheld Meter
Ofcom publishes electromagnetic field measurements near mobile base stations that remain within ICNIRP general public limits. That audit context answers the “is the mast site within limits?” question. A handheld meter at home answers a different question: how RF notes compare from a kitchen window to an inner room when a new mast appears nearby. Treat handheld results as relative indoor maps—not Ofcom-grade compliance reports.
Ofcom’s mobile base station audit pages summarise measured levels around sites in the context of general public limits. Ofcom’s audit information explains how the public can request surveys and what those surveys verify. Neither page turns a consumer display into an official percentage certificate for your lounge.
Two different jobs
| Ofcom-style mast audit | Home handheld walkthrough | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Check site exposures against public limits | Compare rooms and window lines inside one home |
| Output | Documented survey against defined methods | Relative RF notes you can repeat after furniture moves |
| Best use | Reassurance about network-site compliance context | Family discussion about which rooms feel “higher” on your meter |
| Not for | Diagnosing symptoms | Claiming Ofcom-equivalent compliance percentages |
Decision path when a mast is newly visible
- Read the audit context — Understand that published base-station measurements are assessed against general public limits.
- Indoor RF path — Note RF at the window facing the mast direction, then at the room centre, then at an inner wall or hallway.
- Same-hour repeat — Repeat once later the same day so you do not confuse a phone call spike with a steady pattern.
- Keep modes honest — Do not paste RF digits next to magnetic µT notes from a fuse board check without labelling both.
- Escalate sensibly — If you need formal site verification, use Ofcom’s public survey routes rather than arguing from a pocket meter alone.
What a handheld percentage-style reading is not
Some consumer meters show a relative scale or percentage-like bar. That UI is not interchangeable with Ofcom’s reported relationship to ICNIRP limits. If your family needs an authoritative site check, follow the regulator’s process; if you need a calm indoor map for parents or housemates, a comparative walkthrough is enough.
Related reading
For magnetic questions near lines or substations instead of masts, use the house viewing note sheet. For ordinary home magnetic background framing, see UKHSA background ranges.
When you want a straightforward RF mode for window-versus-inner-room notes, the handheld meter page is a practical next step after you have written the first three indoor stops.
FAQ
Does a new mast automatically mean my home exceeds public limits?
No. Ofcom’s published base-station audit work is framed around measurements within general public limits. Indoor handheld notes neither prove nor disprove a site-wide compliance statement on their own.
Should I quote my meter as “X% of the Ofcom limit”?
Avoid that shorthand unless you are using calibrated survey methods and the same reference basis. Prefer “window higher than inner wall on my handheld today.”