[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/FCC Part 18 ISM Band USFCCRegulation guide # FCC Part 18 — Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) Equipment FCC Part 18 governs industrial, scientific, and medical equipment that intentionally generates and uses radio frequency energy for purposes other than telecommunications — including induction heating, diathermy, microwave ovens, RF welding, and wireless power transfer systems. Unlike Part 15, ISM equipment can operate at high power levels and cause significant interference, which is why Part 18 compliance follows a distinct path from standard FCC authorization. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Ffcc-part-18-ism-band) At a glance Regulation FCC Part 18 Authorization route Verification (most ISM) No FCC ID required For most Part 18 equipment Test standard ANSI C63.4 WPT guidance KDB 680106 ## What is ISM equipment under Part 18 ### Industrial Heating Equipment Induction furnaces, RF plastic welders, dielectric drying systems, and RF adhesive curing equipment generate high-power RF energy for industrial processes. These systems can radiate significant energy and require compliance with Part 18 technical limits to avoid interference to licensed radio services operating in adjacent spectrum. ### Medical ISM Equipment Diathermy equipment (shortwave and microwave therapy) uses RF energy for therapeutic heating of body tissue. Medical ISM equipment has dual regulatory requirements — FCC Part 18 for RF emissions and FDA device regulation for medical device safety and efficacy. MRI systems fall under separate regulatory treatment. Both FCC and FDA clearance are required before marketing medical ISM equipment. ### Scientific ISM Equipment Laboratory RF instruments, plasma generators, particle accelerators, and scientific research equipment that generates RF energy as a byproduct of its primary scientific function. Research equipment used exclusively in shielded facilities may qualify for Part 18 exemptions. Equipment sold commercially for laboratory use must comply with Part 18 even if intended for shielded environments. ### Consumer ISM Equipment Microwave ovens are the canonical consumer ISM product, specifically addressed in Part 18.305. They operate at 2450 MHz and must meet field strength limits at 30m. Consumer wireless charging systems operating at ISM frequencies (6.78 MHz AirFuel Resonant, 5.8 GHz) also fall under Part 18 rather than Part 15 when they intentionally generate RF energy for power transfer rather than communications. ### Wireless Power Transfer Systems Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems operating at designated ISM frequencies — particularly 6.78 MHz (AirFuel Resonant) and 13.56 MHz — are classified as ISM equipment under Part 18. High-power WPT for industrial applications (EV charging, factory automation) operating at ISM frequencies generates significant RF fields and requires careful Part 18 compliance and interference analysis. ## Part 18 technical requirements Part 18 allows ISM equipment to operate without power limits at designated ISM frequencies, but imposes strict limits on emissions outside the ISM band. The technical framework protects licensed radio services from interference while permitting high-power operation for legitimate ISM purposes. 01 ISM equipment must operate at or near designated ISM frequencies: 6.78 MHz ±15 kHz, 13.56 MHz ±7 kHz, 27.12 MHz ±160 kHz, 40.68 MHz ±20 kHz, 915 MHz ±13 MHz, 2450 MHz ±50 MHz, 5800 MHz ±75 MHz, and 24.125 GHz ±125 MHz. 02 Field strength limits at 30 metres apply to emissions on non-ISM frequencies — ISM equipment may generate unlimited power at the ISM frequency but must limit spurious and harmonic emissions to levels that protect licensed radio services. 03 Conducted limits apply to RF energy returned to the AC power line — Part 18 specifies conducted emission limits to prevent ISM equipment from injecting interference into building power wiring that could radiate or couple to other equipment. 04 Shielding requirements apply where ISM equipment generates significant fields at non-ISM frequencies — the equipment must be designed or shielded to limit emissions to Part 18 limits without requiring the user to operate in a shielded room. ## Verification and market authorization ### Verification — Self-Test and Record Keeping Most Part 18 ISM equipment is subject to verification rather than certification or Declaration of Conformity. Verification means the manufacturer tests the equipment, confirms it meets the applicable technical requirements, and retains the test records. No FCC filing is required and no FCC ID is assigned for equipment authorized under verification — the manufacturer simply must be able to produce compliance records if the FCC requests them. ### Manufacturer Declaration and Labelling Part 18 equipment subject to verification does not require an FCC ID label. However, equipment that also contains a Part 15 intentional radiator (for example, a wireless-enabled ISM device) requires Part 15 authorization (typically FCC ID) for the intentional radiator portion. The Part 18 and Part 15 authorizations exist in parallel for such devices. ### Measurement Procedures — ANSI C63.4 FCC Part 18 testing follows ANSI C63.4 measurement procedures for radiated and conducted emissions. At lower ISM frequencies (6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz), near-field measurements may be required. At 2450 MHz and above, standard far-field test setups apply. Test reports should document the measurement configuration, antenna factors used, and ambient corrections applied. ### Part 18 Exemptions for Shielded Facilities ISM equipment designed and marketed for use exclusively in RF-shielded rooms or enclosures may qualify for Part 18 exemption from the field strength limits, provided the equipment is labelled to indicate shielded operation requirement and is not made available for general public use. Research and industrial equipment sold to facilities with existing shielded rooms is the primary use case. ## Wireless charging and Part 18 ### Qi Wireless Charging — Part 15, Not Part 18 Qi wireless charging (Wireless Power Consortium standard) operates at frequencies between approximately 100 kHz and 350 kHz, which are below the ISM band allocations and not at a designated ISM frequency. Qi products are regulated under FCC Part 15 Subpart H (unlicensed intentional radiators) rather than Part 18. Qi products require FCC ID authorization as Part 15 intentional radiators. ### AirFuel Resonant — 6.78 MHz ISM AirFuel Resonant wireless charging operates at 6.78 MHz, a designated ISM frequency. These systems are classified as Part 18 ISM equipment. High-power AirFuel systems for industrial and commercial applications can generate significant magnetic field strengths and require careful compliance analysis for the ISM frequency limits and human exposure requirements. ### WPT-Specific KDB Guidance The FCC has published KDB 680106 providing specific guidance on wireless power transfer equipment compliance. KDB 680106 addresses how to evaluate WPT systems under Part 18 and Part 15, RF exposure evaluation methods for WPT systems, and how to handle systems that operate across multiple frequency bands including ISM and non-ISM frequencies. ### FCC Wireless Power Transfer Proceeding The FCC has an open rulemaking proceeding to update its rules for wireless power transfer systems, recognising that existing Part 15 and Part 18 rules were not designed with modern WPT technology in mind. Manufacturers of high-power WPT systems should monitor this proceeding as rule changes could affect compliance pathways, power limits, and RF exposure requirements. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does a Qi wireless charger fall under FCC Part 18 or Part 15? Qi wireless chargers fall under FCC Part 15 Subpart H, not Part 18. Qi operates at frequencies (100–350 kHz) that are not designated ISM frequencies under Part 18. Qi products must obtain FCC ID authorization as Part 15 unlicensed intentional radiators. AirFuel Resonant charging at 6.78 MHz is the wireless charging standard that falls under Part 18 as it operates at a designated ISM frequency. ### What ISM frequencies can equipment use without a licence in the US? FCC Part 18 designates the following ISM frequencies where equipment can operate without a frequency licence: 6.78 MHz ±15 kHz, 13.56 MHz ±7 kHz, 27.12 MHz ±160 kHz, 40.68 MHz ±20 kHz, 915 MHz ±13 MHz, 2450 MHz ±50 MHz, 5800 MHz ±75 MHz, and 24.125 GHz ±125 MHz. Operating at these frequencies does not require a licence, but the equipment must still comply with Part 18 technical requirements for emissions on other frequencies. ### Does Part 18 ISM equipment need FCC ID authorization or just verification? Most Part 18 ISM equipment requires only verification — self-testing and record keeping, with no FCC filing or FCC ID required. Exceptions arise when the ISM device also contains an intentional radiator for communications (e.g., a wireless-connected industrial heater) — in that case, the communications module requires FCC ID authorization under Part 15, while the ISM function is covered by verification. The FCC ID authorization and Part 18 verification coexist in the same product. ### How does FCC Part 18 interact with FDA regulation of medical ISM equipment? Medical ISM equipment — such as diathermy systems — requires compliance with both FCC Part 18 (for RF emissions) and FDA medical device regulations (for safety and efficacy as a medical device). FCC Part 18 compliance does not satisfy FDA requirements, and FDA clearance does not substitute for FCC compliance. Manufacturers of medical ISM equipment must pursue both regulatory pathways in parallel. FDA's 510(k) clearance or PMA process addresses the therapeutic claims and patient safety aspects that FCC regulation does not cover. **Disclaimer:** This page is an educational resource only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. FCC Part 18 requirements, KDB publications, and WPT rulemaking are subject to change. Consult current FCC rules and a qualified RF compliance engineer for product-specific compliance strategy. 🇺🇸 US roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇺🇸 US compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. 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