Q&A on IH Safety Apron

QWhat is the difference between a general purpose apron and a professional apron?

AThe main features for commercial use are the following three points:

• ・The design is simpler than that of regular bags, making them easier to move around in. Also, the lack of buttons or other decorations or pockets prevents items from falling out and contaminating food.
• ・The length and waist can be adjusted using strings and metal fittings.
• ・The EMS pad is laminated, making it more durable than standard pads.

The main general features are the following three points.

• ・It is convenient because it has pockets that commercial products do not have.
• ・The length can be adjusted with buttons and the waist with a string, making for a simple and stylish design.

QHow does it feel to wear?

AThe electromagnetic waves emitted by induction cookers are incomparably stronger (low-frequency magnetic fields) than those emitted by other electrical appliances. The fact that we have been able to transmit these electromagnetic waves with a pad 0.5-0.7 mm thick and bring it within 10 cm of the cooking surface, in accordance with the ICNIRP guidelines, is a technologically unprecedented, groundbreaking product. With current technology, it is not yet possible to make it any thinner or more flexible. We will continue to make efforts in Research & Development in order to meet the needs of our customers, so we ask for your understanding.

QIsn't it heavy to wear?

AThe IH Anshin Apron weighs approximately 400g, which is about the same weight as a long-sleeved polo shirt.

QI'm moving to an all-electric apartment. I'm worried about the electromagnetic waves from the induction cooker, so I'm thinking of buying an apron, but will a single pad be enough to block the electromagnetic waves? Also, considering pregnancy, would it be better to use a pad that doesn't cover the chest area? There is no fabric on the back, but will the electromagnetic waves bounce back and affect me?

AOne pad blocks 60dB (approximately 99.9%) of the 20kHz to 50kHz electromagnetic waves generated by induction cookers. As you may be concerned, if you are pregnant, you will need a pad to cover your abdomen.

QThe repair and replacement instructions state that if the product cannot maintain 40db it will be repaired or replaced free of charge, but how can consumers tell whether it is being maintained?

AThe only visible change is that the aluminum film on the pad will turn white. A special measuring device is required to accurately measure the 40db performance. The manufacturer will measure it upon request. If the performance falls below this level within two years, we will replace it with a new one.

QI am thinking of purchasing a protective apron specifically for induction cookers, but since it is specifically for induction cookers, does that mean it will have no effect at all on electromagnetic waves from other electrical appliances (I have a refrigerator and microwave right next to the induction cooker in my house)?

AThe EMS pads used in our protective aprons for induction cookers cut a very wide range of electromagnetic waves. Of course, they also cut 99.9% of microwave microwaves (2.4 GHz), but this is due to the performance of the material and does not prevent electromagnetic waves from penetrating the human body. Our tests are conducted precisely in accordance with the human protection guidelines issued by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection). Other companies' products only represent the performance of the materials used, and are in fact completely ineffective, or if they do have any effect, they are not even effective. Before that, we did not even conduct tests on the penetration of electromagnetic waves into the human body.

QThe description of another manufacturer's product says that it "cuts off electromagnetic waves in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 1000 MHz," which is quite different from the 20 kHz to 60 kHz described in your product description. What is the difference?

AThe only household electrical appliances that exceed the guidelines for human protection issued by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) are induction cookers, and no other electrical appliances, including microwave ovens, do. As an exception, some areas directly under power lines may exceed the guidelines. The frequency of electromagnetic waves generated by induction cookers is mainly 20kHz to 60kHz. This low-frequency magnetic field does not reach far. That is why our aprons cover the abdomen, which is closest to the induction cooktop. We are the first in the world to develop a thin material that can protect against this low-frequency magnetic field. In addition, we use human dummies to conduct tests to see if they can protect against electromagnetic waves. Please ask other companies for data on whether they can protect the human body from electromagnetic waves, not on the material. No one can provide this. To block high-frequency waves from microwave ovens and cell phones, such as 10MHz to 1000MHz, you need to cover the area around your body. If you are really worried about high frequencies, we recommend using our fairy veil product.

QThe warranty period is two years, and it says that the effectiveness of the product will decrease with continued use, but why does this change over time? Does the effectiveness of the magnetic material decrease?

AAluminum corrodes, but magnetic materials also oxidize. We have our monitors use the products and conduct ageing tests. If the product is used normally for home use and is not exposed to sweat, there is almost no loss in performance even after two years of use, but if it is used for business purposes all day, there are cases where the performance has decreased to the point where it barely meets the above performance standards.

QRegarding the ICNIRP measurement values ​​listed on your website, the values ​​for the Personal Standard are lower than those for the VIP at heights of 30 to 10 cm. Why is that?

AThe height of 30cm is where there is no EMS pad. Therefore, the value will not change regardless of the apron. 2% is the range of error during measurement. For heights of 10-20cm, the distance from the source of electromagnetic waves (electromagnetic waves here refer to low-frequency magnetic fields) increases the amount of electromagnetic waves that wrap around the body, and the area of ​​the material that covers the human body becomes more important than the shielding performance of the material. As a result, even if the shielding performance of the material is high, there is no significant change in the actual amount of electromagnetic wave exposure to the human body. For the same reason, this data shows that the IH Anshin Apron's electromagnetic wave human body protection performance is not very good when it is more than 20cm away from the side of the IH cooking counter. The performance of our IH Anshin Apron is intended to be as low as possible under the ICNIRP guidelines. It is designed to perform as well as possible at a position within 10cm of the cooking counter, which is the normal cooking posture. If you want to significantly reduce human exposure to electromagnetic waves even at a distance, you must cover most of the human body with electromagnetic wave shielding material. In that case, it would be like a space suit that is inappropriate for everyday use. For this reason, our IH Safe Apron is an apron made specifically for IH cookers, and it can be said that it does not function as an apron to protect against electromagnetic waves emitted by office equipment, home appliances, or power lines. However, the electromagnetic waves emitted by office equipment, home appliances, and power lines are very small, with only one thousandth to one hundredth of the energy compared to IH cookers. There are office equipment aprons on the market, but they are products that are completely ineffective against the low-frequency magnetic fields specified in the ICNIRP guidelines.

QAlso, I believe the personal version has the same three-layer structure as the standard version, but the ICNIRP measurement value for the standard version is 100% at a height of -10, while the personal version exceeds the standard at 106%. Are there any other differences besides the size?

AThe area of ​​the EMS pads used in the standard version is twice that of the personal version. The size of the pad determines the performance difference. Doubling the area covered only increases the protective performance by 6%. I think you can understand how difficult it is to protect the human body from electromagnetic waves.

QWhat would be the impact if low frequency magnetic fields could not be prevented?

AThe World Health Organization (WHO) says that continuous exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields of 3 mmT or more increases the risk of childhood cancer and leukemia. However, the increase in the probability of occurrence is only about three times, which is less dangerous than smoking (lung cancer is several hundred times higher). It is best to be careful if the intensity is significantly above 3 mmT.

QWhat other sources produce low frequency magnetic fields?

AStrong low-frequency magnetic fields are emitted from high-voltage power lines, large motor-driven equipment, linear motors, transformers on utility poles, etc. Slightly stronger low-frequency magnetic fields are emitted from induction cookers, anti-theft devices in libraries, plasma televisions, etc., but they have no effect unless you get very close.

QCan you explain electric and magnetic fields?

ADo you know Fleming's left-hand rule? A magnetic field is generated perpendicular to the direction of the electric current (electric field). In other words, a current is generated perpendicular to the magnetic field. In this way, please understand that electric current (electric field, electric field) and magnetic field (magnetic field) are a set. Both of these are called electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic waves. High-frequency electromagnetic waves generally refer to those that have many amplitudes per second and a short wavelength (length of wave amplitude) (this is difficult to explain academically, so please understand it this way). For example, a mobile phone has more than 800 million amplitudes per second, and one wavelength is about 5 to 10 cm. Low-frequency electromagnetic waves have fewer amplitudes per second and a long wavelength. The AC power source used in homes has an amplitude of 50 to 60 times per second, and one wavelength is about 2 km.

QRegarding the material of the EMS pad, is the aluminum special aluminum?

AThis is a regular aluminum film with a thickness of 50 microns.

QIf the performance deteriorates, will I have to buy new EMS pads? Can the pads break? If they are bent at a right angle, will their performance deteriorate?

AThe apron will wear out before the EMS pads have a lifespan. We are considering a way to make it possible to purchase EMS pads separately in the future. The pads will not break if you bend them, but if you bend them at a right angle, the magnetic film inside will break. However, even if they break, it will have almost no effect on performance. For example, EMS pads for pacemakers have many 5mm holes for ventilation. However, since magnetic lines pass through the magnetic material, bending them will not have any effect. The magnetic lines of force are transmitted through this magnetic material up to 200,000 times more easily than through air. Please rest assured about the performance. Also, wrinkles will form on the inside of the EMS pads when they are bent, but this does not affect performance at all, so please rest assured.

QIt says that the magnetic layer has a maximum magnetic permeability of 70,000, but what does the unit 70,000 mean (what is the standard for what number is high or low as magnetic permeability, etc.)?

AThis means that the magnetic material used in EMS pads has a magnetic permeability 70,000 times higher than that in a vacuum. Permalloy is a common material with high magnetic permeability, but its magnetic permeability is only about 5,000 times higher.

QThe materials are aluminum and magnetic material, but does the magnetic material itself emit magnetic force?

AA magnetic material does not emit magnetic force, but is a material through which magnetic force can easily pass. Our magnetic material is 200,000 times more magnetic than air. As a result, the magnetic force is induced and passes through or becomes distorted.

QIs the aluminum material used in EMS pads just aluminum?

AIt is made of aluminum. It has a reflection and attenuation effect, converting the induced magnetic field lines into electrical or thermal energy. For more information on the theory, please see the following website.

QWhat is the warranty period?

ARegarding the product warranty period, the manufacturer's warranty for electrical appliances is usually one year, but our company offers a two-year warranty period for free replacement or repair if performance cannot be maintained. If you follow the precautions for use of the product you ordered and repair any cracks with repair tape, it is likely that you will be able to use the product with its performance maintained even after the warranty period has expired. However, the period for which performance can be maintained varies depending on the customer's usage conditions, so we have set the warranty period at two years, assuming the worst case scenario. For pacemaker electromagnetic wave protection suits, we offer performance and quality inspections for those who wish to have an inspection to see if performance is being maintained after the warranty period has expired, for a fee. In the future, we will also offer paid inspections to purchasers of induction electromagnetic wave protection suits if they wish.

QIt seems a bit pricey, what do you think?

AMagnetic sheets are very expensive materials that utilize cutting-edge technology. Usually, only a few tens of square centimeters are used inside electronic devices. VIP type pads use 4,410 square centimeters of the material, which increases the manufacturing cost. In addition, various inspection equipment and a lot of time are used to test the electromagnetic wave protection performance. Please visit our website to understand the price.

Q"1. We will repair instruction manuals, packaging, etc. free of charge." I cannot determine whether or not the electromagnetic shielding performance is being maintained by individuals. What should I do?

AA medical aid will check. The standard for judgment is if the EMS pad is cracked and partially torn. Also, if you wear it improperly, you may feel pain immediately. If the EMS pad is positioned below the base of the foot, it will touch your foot and cause pain immediately. Also, if it touches your foot, the apron is placed too low, so there is a problem with its effectiveness. Please pay attention to the shoulder buttons and how you wear it, and instruct your child to place the EMS pad above the base of the foot.

QThe warranty period is two years, but will the product deteriorate or lose effectiveness over time? If so, is it possible to replace just the EMS pads after the warranty period has expired? (Please also let me know the price, etc.)

AThe material is aluminum film and magnetic sheet. Performance will decrease as metal corrosion and oxidation progress. Under normal use, it is expected to last for more than 5 years with almost no deterioration. However, in our monitor tests of pacemaker products, there were cases where the material performance significantly decreased in people who used it frequently and in environments where sweat and other substances were easily attached. Based on these results, we have set the warranty period to 2 years. It may be possible to use it after the warranty period has expired, but we think it would be better to have a performance test. We are planning to conduct a performance test for purchasers. We will inform the purchaser of the price as soon as it is decided. We also sell EMS pads only, but we think that the deterioration of the apron itself is usually faster than that of the EMS pads.