Laboratory fit-out projects for sensitive imaging equipment can sometimes be greater challenges than brand new buildings. The greatest obstacle for EMI/RFI testing more than often becomes scheduling the testing during “normal” and “peak” operational hours. Research, diagnostic and electromechanical equipment within an operational building is extremely difficult to control, and usage of this equipment is important to coordinate with a time stamp system while EMI/RFI testing is taking place to minimize anomalies. Another difficulty is that testing tends to be requested during construction phases however, construction work interferes with ambient EMI/RFI data collection. For these reasons, it is recommended that EMI/RFI testing takes place during the middle of the day (during peak building loads), the entire 8-hour day (for non-peak and peak loads), and not during building construction. Upon request, a 24-hour site survey can be performed depending on the imaging acquisition and is most highly recommended for facilities less than 1000 feet from electrified trains or within a busy city with mass transit. Potentially challenging internal/external EMI sources can be such: passenger/freight elevators, electrified/diesel trains, loading docks, trash compactors, construction equipment & cranes, research magnets, MRIs, NMRs, switchgears, power lines and even underground utility tunnels.
