Infrared Saunas & EMFs —
Should You Be Concerned?

EMFs (electric and magnetic fields) are invisible energy, called radiation, that emits from any object that uses electricity.

In our world, we live in a sea of radiation that is growing every day.

The effects of radiation exposure from EMFs are cumulative. This fact should concern you.

You don’t want the infrared sauna in your home to be yet another source of radiation that could be harming your health.

Here’s what information you can find on this page:

Are EMFs Harmful?

High EMFs can harm every cell in your body.1

Research has linked chronic EMF exposure to cancer, chronic fatigue, and neurological and behavioral problems.2

Additionally, studies have found that EMFs:

  • Weaken the immune system3
  • Disturb sleep and contribute to depression, among other changes4
  • Weaken the blood-brain barrier (in rats), potentially exposing the brain to harmful toxins5
  • As well as having other adverse health effects

Some people report being electrically sensitive (electromagnetic hypersensitivity, EHS)6—and reacting to even low levels of EMFs, with headaches, nausea, skin rashes, and other symptoms.  Low levels of EMF's are considered to be 100mG or higher based on research. 

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine lists over 40 diseases and conditions that are likely to benefit from avoiding EMF exposure.7

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Infrared Saunas & EMF Health Dangers

All infrared saunas emit radiation. No infrared sauna has zero EMFs.

In fact, many infrared saunas are very high in EMFs.  300mG or higher.

Influence Infrared Saunas have been tested by a 3rd party (NASA award) and Bill Cadwallader, a building biologist that specializes in EMF prevention.  

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Influence Saunas Are LOW in EMFs

At Influence Sauna, your health and safety are our #1 priority.

When you choose Influence Sauna, you're getting an infrared sauna that has taken the necessary stops to lower ALL radiation levels within your sauna.

Our saunas are low in: EMF, ELF (extremely low frequency), EMI (electromagnetic interference), and
RF (radio frequency).  What is considered low EMF?  Carbon Panel EMF and ELF Facts.

How Influence Saunas Protect You

We've taken steps to lower all radiation levels within our heaters—and our ENTIRE saunas.  

Here’s how Influence Infrared Saunas protect you:

    1. Quality, upgraded materials. Many sauna brands use low-gauge wire that is not sufficient to provide the necessary power to the heaters—which can cause resistance and overheating. Influence Saunas use heavy-duty, 14-gauge wire.

 

    1. State-of-the-art and 3rd-party testing. Our heaters and our entire saunas are tested to give you the safest possible sauna experience. We also use a 3rd party EMF testing company with a NASA award to conduct studies on our saunas and radiation. 

 

    1. Twisted and grounded wires. We cross our positive and neutral wires to limit magnetic field radiation. Our wires also use shielded foil and another wire, called a drain wire, to ground the shielded foil.

 

    1. Proprietary wire shielding. Additionally, we use a wire shielding method recommended by a certified building biologist and EMF radiation specialist. This technique shields the internal electrical wires to avoid electric field radiation—and ensures that your sauna is the safest possible.

 

  1. Proprietary cable routing. Within the shielding, our saunas use a method of routing cables that gives you even more protection.
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EMF Testing & Proof for Influence Saunas

One thing you should know:

It’s important to measure EMF levels correctly because they drop off with distance—and it’s easy to use the wrong type of meter or misuse a meter, which gives you inaccurate results.

 Many of the videos you might see on YouTube or online aren’t showing measurements that are true to how you actually experience a sauna.

We’ve seen videos with an inexperienced person who takes a meter—often the wrong type of meter, or a meter that isn’t sensitive enough—holds it incorrectly, measures only one small area, at an unrealistic distance from where the user would typically sit—and then tries to prove that a specific sauna is “low EMF or High EMF.”

-Bill Cadwallader (MBA, EMRS is a Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist

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EMF Measurements for Influence Saunas

EMF levels are measured in milligauss (mG). No regulations or laws exist concerning EMF exposure in the U.S.

The manufacturer of our saunas believes any device or heating element under 8mG is more than safe. Our infrared saunas are tested with by a 3rd party company called NTS who has been recongnized by NASA.

Our Spectrum carbon heater is extremely low in EMF. It measures under 1mG at the surface, and zero at 3”.
Our Spectrum Plus Incoloy heater is also low in EMF. It measures at 3mG at the surface, and close to zero at 3”.

You can see how low the EMF levels throughout our infrared saunas in the video below:

You can also check out our results from National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS). According to their EMF testing report:

All the measurements were “MAGNITUDES lower” than the testing limits.

See the full testing results from NTS here.

NTS tested our heaters in a controlled environment using a Narda EHP-50F Electric & Magnetic RF Analyzer. The heaters were tested in 3 different bandwidths, which allows for more accurate readings.

NTS is the leading independent provider of environmental simulation testing, inspection, and certification services. They’re a 2019 NASA award winner, recognized for “unwavering attention to technical excellence and project management.”

“After reviewing this report and seeing several videos from their engineer, I have concluded this sauna produces some of the lowest EMFs industry-wide.

Overall, I observed a sitting EMF reading of 0.9 mG, which is extremely low.”

—Infrared Sauna Foundation
(Click to See the Review)

Our EMF Radiation Experts

Our infrared saunas are designed to be low EMF, using the research of leading experts in the field of radiation exposure.

Bill Cadwallader

—Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist

Bill Cadwallader, MBA, EMRS, is an accomplished speaker, speaking extensively on solutions to harmful electromagnetic radiation.

He’s the author of EXPOSED: The Electronic Sickening of America and How to Protect Yourself. You can visit his website, Stop Dirty Electricity.

"Influence Sauna is one of the lowest infrared saunas I've ever tested for radiation."
— Bill Cadwallader, Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist

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Problems with EMFs & Other Infrared Sauna Brands

Many infrared sauna companies test their infrared heaters for EMFs.

But here’s a problem:

They often don’t test other parts of the sauna, such as:

  • Wiring
  • WiFi controllers
  • iPads
  • Tablets
  • Touchscreens
  • LED lighting

All these components can impact the amount of radiation your sauna produces.

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Infrared Sauna Wiring and Radiation

After testing many brands, you should not only be concerned about radiation from WiFi but also radiation from your sauna’s wires.

Wires run through the walls of an infrared sauna to carry power to the heaters.

The quality, choice, and configuration of the wires in an infrared sauna can mean the difference between low or high radiation.

Wiring errors in saunas can cause huge increases in magnetic fields.

While having a low-radiation test for a sauna’s heaters is great, this doesn’t address the additional radiation that the heater’s wires produce.

Many saunas we’ve tested had a low radiation report on their heaters. But the wiring within the walls surrounding the heaters had high radiation levels.

Having low-radiation wiring is important, especially for people who are electrically sensitive.

Radiation from WiFi and Tablets in Infrared Saunas

Many sauna brands say their infrared saunas are low radiation, but they use a WiFi antenna, tablets, or touch screens within their sauna. These conveniences create an exponential amount of radiation.

When you have an infrared sauna with a tablet in it, you’re exposing your body to radiation with or without the device in airplane mode—which is NOT safe.

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You should cross sauna brands offering WiFi controllers, iPads, or touchscreens off your list.

To protect your health, Influence Saunas do not offer WiFi in our models.

LED lighting and high electric fields

LED lighting looks good and can give your infrared sauna that extra touch. But the electric field radiation produced by the light fixture can be harmful to your body when it’s placed close to where you sit.

For example, some companies place LED lights on top of their heaters. The position of these LEDs is right at your neck and head. So, while the company might have low-radiation heaters, the LED lights directly above them are causing you harm.

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LED Lighting and High Electric Fields

LED lighting looks good and can give your infrared sauna that extra touch. But the electric field radiation produced by the light fixture can be harmful to your body when it’s placed close to where you sit.

For example, some companies place LED lights on top of their heaters. The position of these LEDs is right at your neck and head.

So, while the company might have low-radiation heaters, the LED lights directly above them are causing you harm.

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LED lighting and high electric fields

LED lighting looks good and can give your infrared sauna that extra touch. But the electric field radiation produced by the light fixture can be harmful to your body when it’s placed close to where you sit.

For example, some companies place LED lights on top of their heaters. The position of these LEDs is right at your neck and head. So, while the company might have low-radiation heaters, the LED lights directly above them are causing you harm.

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LED lighting and high electric fields

LED lighting looks good and can give your infrared sauna that extra touch. But the electric field radiation produced by the light fixture can be harmful to your body when it’s placed close to where you sit.

For example, some companies place LED lights on top of their heaters. The position of these LEDs is right at your neck and head. So, while the company might have low-radiation heaters, the LED lights directly above them are causing you harm.

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How To Choose a Low-EMF Infrared Sauna

Here’s how you can take steps to avoid EMF exposure in an infrared sauna:

  • AVOID wireless controls. “Smart devices” are increasing within our homes, but while they can be convenient, they aren’t necessary.

  • AVOID touchscreens/WiFi. These screens emit radiation and are not necessary to operate a sauna.

  • AVOID saunas with low-quality wiring. Make sure your infrared sauna is wired using the appropriate wire size that is also shielded and grounded.

  • AVOID saunas with LED lights above heaters. LED light fixtures produce high electric field radiation, and these lights are generally right next to your neck or head.

  • AVOID saunas with no testing or inexperienced YouTube testing. Infrared saunas really must be measured by an EMF professional.

  • LOOK for saunas that are tested by an expert. The claim of a “low EMF sauna” needs to be professionally verified by a Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist.

Protect Your Health by Choosing a Truly Low EMF Infrared Sauna

You can find a Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist in your area by searching on the Building Biology Institute website.
Here's what should be checked: 

  • The right meters need to be used, measuring the right types of EMF.
  • ALL types of EMFs need to be checked—WiFi, wireless, Bluetooth, electric, magnetic, and dirty electricity.
  • Some meters are directional, so knowledge and skill are needed to use them correctly.
  • Some meters can be hand-held, while others need to be placed on a surface away from the body’s influence on an electrical field.
  • The meters need to be sensitive both on the low and high ends.
  • All parts of the sauna need to be measured, including areas around the head, seating, and feet.

There are a growing number of sources of EMFs in and outside our homes.

You don’t want your infrared sauna to be one of those sources, so, it’s worth choosing the right one.

Engineering a truly low EMF infrared sauna involves a lot more than the average sauna.

It must have:

  • Specific design quality
  • Meticulous framing with knowledge and care
  • Upgraded materials
  • Professional EMF protocols followed
  • ALL types of electromagnetic radiation metered and verified to be low

A truly low EMF infrared sauna may cost a little more, but it turns out to be pennies over time. We believe you, and your health, are worth it.

Note: Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist Bill Cadwallader, and Garret Gordon, M.Eng., contributed to the content on this page.