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What is Safety Code 6?

Safety Code 6 is Health Canada's guideline for human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy. It sets the maximum levels of RF energy that Canadians can be exposed to from wireless devices, cell towers, Wi-Fi routers, broadcast antennas, and other radio transmitters — including 5G towers.

First published in 1966 and updated multiple times since (most recently in 2015), Safety Code 6 is based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on RF health effects. It is developed by Health Canada's Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau and reviewed by independent scientific experts.

What Does SC6 Cover?

• Cell towers (all generations: 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G)
• Mobile phones and handheld wireless devices
• Wi-Fi routers and access points
• AM/FM/TV broadcast antennas
• Radar and satellite systems
• Any device emitting RF energy between 3 kHz and 300 GHz

How SC6 Limits Work

Safety Code 6 sets limits based on two key metrics depending on the frequency range:

Power Density (above 6 GHz)

For higher frequencies — including 5G mmWave bands (24–28 GHz, used in n260/n261) — SC6 uses power density measured in watts per square metre (W/m²). At these frequencies, RF energy is absorbed near the surface of the skin rather than penetrating deep into the body.

Specific Absorption Rate / SAR (below 6 GHz)

For frequencies below 6 GHz — covering all sub-6 GHz 5G bands (n78 at 3500 MHz, n71 at 600 MHz, n66 at 1700 MHz) as well as all LTE bands — SC6 uses Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg). SAR measures the rate at which RF energy is absorbed by body tissue.

Precautionary Safety Margins

SC6 limits are set at a fraction of the levels where any biological effects have been observed in research. For the general public, the limits include a 50-fold safety margin below the threshold of known effects. For occupational exposure (workers in controlled environments), a 10-fold margin applies.

Safety Code 6 and 5G

5G introduces new frequency bands — particularly mid-band (3500 MHz) and mmWave (24–28 GHz) — that were not widely used in previous generations. Health Canada has confirmed that Safety Code 6 already covers these frequencies and that 5G networks in Canada must comply with SC6 limits.

Sub-6 GHz 5G Bands (n78, n71, n66)

Canada's primary 5G band, n78 at 3500 MHz, falls well within the sub-6 GHz range governed by SAR limits. The SC6 reference level for general public exposure in this frequency range is 9.2 W/m² (power density equivalent). Real-world measurements at the perimeter of cell tower sites consistently show levels hundreds to thousands of times below this limit.

Low-band 5G (n71 at 600 MHz) operates at even lower frequencies where RF energy penetrates more deeply but is also more easily attenuated with distance. SC6 limits at 600 MHz are set conservatively to account for whole-body exposure.

mmWave 5G (n260/n261 at 24–28 GHz)

mmWave 5G operates above 6 GHz, where SC6 switches to power density limits. At these frequencies, RF energy does not penetrate beyond the surface of the skin — it is absorbed in the outermost 1–2 mm of tissue. The SC6 power density limit for the general public at mmWave frequencies is 10 W/m² (averaged over any 6-minute period and any 1 cm² of skin surface).

mmWave 5G is currently limited to dense urban deployments in Canada (stadiums, transit hubs, convention centres) and has very short range — typically under 200 metres. Exposure levels from mmWave base stations at typical pedestrian distances are far below SC6 limits.

5G Tower Exposure vs. Phone Exposure

It is important to distinguish between exposure from cell towers and exposure from your mobile phone. Your phone transmits RF energy directly against your body when in use — this is why SAR limits for handheld devices exist. Cell towers, by contrast, are typically mounted high above ground and their signals spread over large areas, resulting in very low power density at ground level.

Studies consistently show that the dominant source of RF exposure for most people is their own mobile phone, not nearby cell towers. Explore 5G tower locations near you on the celltowers.ca map.

Who Enforces Safety Code 6?

Safety Code 6 is a Health Canada guideline, but compliance is enforced through a two-agency system:

• Health Canada develops and updates SC6 limits based on scientific evidence. It does not directly license or inspect towers.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) — the same agency whose data powers the celltowers.ca map — licenses all radio stations in Canada and requires licensees to comply with SC6 as a condition of their licence.
• Carriers (Rogers, Bell, Telus, etc.) are responsible for ensuring their towers comply with SC6 before and after deployment. They must submit RF exposure assessments for new tower installations.
• Municipalities cannot refuse a tower on health grounds if it complies with SC6 — this is established by federal law. However, they can negotiate placement and aesthetics.

Frequently Asked Questions