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What Is EMF Shielding Fabric, and How Does It Work?

EMF Shielding Fabric

EMF shielding is something that protects us from electromagnetic fields. This technology has been around for decades. Ben Franklin first used research in this area, and it was later used by an English scientist, Michael Faraday. In 1831, Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, the principle behind the electric transformer and generator. His Faraday Cage scientific principle is still used today, and is crucial to EMF protection.

What is EMF Shielding Fabric?

It products, like shielding fabric, divert electromagnetic fields away from us. While it doesn’t stop these fields, it does keep them away from you. You can’t block all the EMF. If you did, none of your components would work. This includes cellphones, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and more. But what you can do is lessen the effects by using EMF shielding fabric.

This fabric uses components like nickel and copper plated polyester mesh to shield EMI/RF. Some designs prevent peaks of EMI / RF leakage and eliminate frequency-specific open slots with multi-blended fibers and mesh. In fact, according to one vendor:

EMF shielding materials include special types of paint, metallic materials like brass, copper, silver, steel, nickel and tin, and cloth or clothing made from fabric that has EMF shielding properties.

This fabric is for many uses. These include:

  • Bedding
  • Clothing
  • Drapes
  • Tents
  • Screens
  • Canopies

Does It Work?

As mentioned, nothing keeps 100 percent of EMF away from you and even if it did, you couldn’t use your electronics. Yet, EMF shielding fabric helps deflect some fields away from you, helping keep you safer.

One seller’s EMF shielding fabric has an effectiveness that can exceed 100 dB. And others claim to have more (up to 25 percent) conductivity with fabric that stretches.

Think about the vest you wear at the dentist when getting x-rays. This vest keeps you safer by attenuating the x-rays. This is the same theory with EMF shielding fabric.

When choosing EMF shielding fabric, the important thing to look for is the value of the decibels. As with performance, the higher the decibel rating, the more protection it provides. You also want to look at what kinds of radiation you are being protected from. Some might just provide electrical field protection. It is important to find the product that fits your needs.

There are all kinds of shielding fabric products available. From the curtains on your windows to boxer shorts to protect you from EMF from your cellphone, you choose what you need and are most concerned about.

In Closing

We can’t tell you that shielding fabric works perfectly. But if you have concerns about electromagnetic fields, it is worth it to see what products might negate some of your worries.

I come from an R&D engineering background. Safely dealing with EMF was part of my work. As technology evolved and EMF moved from my work into the home, it became more important to deal with it in a sensible way. There is lots of controversy on EMF's impact to health. Fortunately, there are some simple principles you can apply to minimize impact and exposure until the science of EMF's impact on humans is resolved.

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