11 overcoming hurdles to ensure in-building communications march 27, 2014 john facella, p.e., c.eng....
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11
Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications
March 27, 2014
Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications
March 27, 2014
John Facella, P.E., C.Eng.
Senior VP, RCC Consultants
John Facella, P.E., C.Eng.
Senior VP, RCC Consultants
22March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
AgendaAgenda
• Background
• Regulatory
• Summary
• Background
• Regulatory
• Summary
33March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
In-building Communications are Vital to Emergency RespondersIn-building Communications are Vital to Emergency Responders
• Allows first responders to go ‘where the
action is’
• Direct communication to the 911 dispatcher,
incident commander (IC), or hospital ER
• Other responders can hear what is going on
for ‘situational awareness’
• Allows first responders to go ‘where the
action is’
• Direct communication to the 911 dispatcher,
incident commander (IC), or hospital ER
• Other responders can hear what is going on
for ‘situational awareness’
44March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
Issues with In-building Communications for Emergency Responders
Issues with In-building Communications for Emergency Responders
• Buildings attenuate radio signals
significantly 12-60 dB or more depending on
type of construction & materials
• “Green Buildings” represent additional
issues:– Tinted glass– Solar photovoltaic panels– Specialized HVAC
• Buildings attenuate radio signals
significantly 12-60 dB or more depending on
type of construction & materials
• “Green Buildings” represent additional
issues:– Tinted glass– Solar photovoltaic panels– Specialized HVAC
Photo: ecorevolution.com
55March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
In-building Communications are Vital to Emergency RespondersIn-building Communications are Vital to Emergency Responders
• Usually the fire department drives the issue
of in-building communications– But sometimes it can be the city/county building
inspector
• Go to the Fire Inspection or Fire Marshal’s
Office of the town/city/county
• Usually the fire department drives the issue
of in-building communications– But sometimes it can be the city/county building
inspector
• Go to the Fire Inspection or Fire Marshal’s
Office of the town/city/county
Photo: franklintwpnj.org
66March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
In-building Communications are Vital to Emergency RespondersIn-building Communications are Vital to Emergency Responders
• One of the most difficult initial jobs will be
determining the current level of public safety
coverage in the building– You must obtain some portable radios and a
‘safe’ channel or talkgroup to use for testing
– Thorough walk test of all areas of the building
• One of the most difficult initial jobs will be
determining the current level of public safety
coverage in the building– You must obtain some portable radios and a
‘safe’ channel or talkgroup to use for testing
– Thorough walk test of all areas of the building
Photo: franklintwpnj.org
77March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
AgendaAgenda
• Background
• Regulatory
• Summary
• Background
• Regulatory
• Summary
88March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
RegulatoryRegulatory• Many have touched the issue, but few were
ANSI certified standards bodies – NPSTC: white paper issued in 2007:
www.npstc.org/inBuilding.jsp– NTIA (TR-11-480) and NIST issued several white
papers in 2011
• NFPA is a logical place for codes and standards because the driver in most jurisdictions is the fire department
• Many have touched the issue, but few were ANSI certified standards bodies – NPSTC: white paper issued in 2007:
www.npstc.org/inBuilding.jsp– NTIA (TR-11-480) and NIST issued several white
papers in 2011
• NFPA is a logical place for codes and standards because the driver in most jurisdictions is the fire department
99March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
Multiple Standards & CodesMultiple Standards & Codes• NFPA 1 (Fire Code)
• NFPA 72 (Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Code)
• NFPA 1221 (Emergency Services Communications
Systems Standard)
• NFPA 5000 (Building Construction & Safety Code)
• International Fire Codes
• NFPA 1 (Fire Code)
• NFPA 72 (Fire Alarm Signaling Systems Code)
• NFPA 1221 (Emergency Services Communications
Systems Standard)
• NFPA 5000 (Building Construction & Safety Code)
• International Fire Codes
1010March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
Issues with Current Standards & CodesIssues with Current Standards & Codes
• Conflicts among the standards/codes
• Do not cover digital LMR radios (e.g., P25, OpenSky,
TETRA, DMR. etc.)
• Do not anticipate future broadband technologies (e.g.,
FirstNet public safety LTE system)
• Are signal booster and leaky coax centric; do not cover
newer technologies (DAS, Radio over Fiber, etc.)
• Conflicts among the standards/codes
• Do not cover digital LMR radios (e.g., P25, OpenSky,
TETRA, DMR. etc.)
• Do not anticipate future broadband technologies (e.g.,
FirstNet public safety LTE system)
• Are signal booster and leaky coax centric; do not cover
newer technologies (DAS, Radio over Fiber, etc.)
1111March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
Conflicting RequirementsConflicting RequirementsIFC 2009 Sect 510
IFC 2012 NFPA 1 NFPA5000 NFPA72 NFPA1221
Installation Optional Mandatory Opt Opt Man
Btry backup 12 hrs 24 12 12 24
Coverage 95% 95% 99% Crit, 90% other
99% Crit, 90% other
99% Crit, 90% other
Ant Isolation None None 15 dB 15 dB 15 dB
Alarm @70% btry
No N Yes Y Y
Annual testing
No spec No spec Yes Y Y
www.rfsolutions.com, Jack Daniel site
Note: Partial List Only
In Revision
1212March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
Jurisdictions Implement Standards & Codes Wholly, Partially, or Not at All
Jurisdictions Implement Standards & Codes Wholly, Partially, or Not at All
Boston Denver Riverside, CA
Coverage 95%, -95 dBm, 40 grid sqs/floor, only 2 non-adjacent can fail
Control ch > 100 dBm 90%, Grid w 15’ centers
-107 dBm analog, -95 dBm digital, 90%, 50’ grids
Testing Annually, cvg every 5 yrs Annually, cvg every 5 yrs
Annually
Alarms Amp + AC pwr Any failure; repair in 72 hrs; notify FD for acceptance re-test
No mention
Tester FCC General Radiotelephone lic
CO PE FCC license or APCO certification
Battery Backup
Tested for 1 hr annually 12 hrs; 1 hr annual test
8 hrs
Note: Partial List OnlyFor Model Ordinance: www.rfsolutions.com/model.pdf
1313March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
What is Being DoneWhat is Being Done
• NFPA 72 now in revision– Will remove specifics on in-building, and will refer to
NFPA 1221 for all specifics– Many jurisdictions already mandate compliance to 72
because it is a code, so local references to 72 will still end up being reflected back to the 1221 standard
• NFPA 72 now in revision– Will remove specifics on in-building, and will refer to
NFPA 1221 for all specifics– Many jurisdictions already mandate compliance to 72
because it is a code, so local references to 72 will still end up being reflected back to the 1221 standard
1414March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
What is Being DoneWhat is Being Done• NFPA 1221 now in revision
– Better suited to define details because committee is composed of wireless experts
– Several DAS industry vendors were polled for input– Remember NFPA codes and standards are minimums
• NFPA 1221 now in revision– Better suited to define details because committee is
composed of wireless experts– Several DAS industry vendors were polled for input– Remember NFPA codes and standards are minimums
1515March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
What is Being DoneWhat is Being Done• NFPA 1221 now in revision-new section 9.6
replaces previous in-building work– Adds reference to DAS as a solution, in addition to
leaky coax– Testing is no longer to -107 dBm RF signal level, but
rather to Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) for either analog or digital systems, minimum of 3.0
– Battery life is 4 hours minimum. Appendix suggests AHJ might want to specify more.
– Isolation to donor antenna increased to 20 dB
• NFPA 1221 now in revision-new section 9.6 replaces previous in-building work– Adds reference to DAS as a solution, in addition to
leaky coax– Testing is no longer to -107 dBm RF signal level, but
rather to Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) for either analog or digital systems, minimum of 3.0
– Battery life is 4 hours minimum. Appendix suggests AHJ might want to specify more.
– Isolation to donor antenna increased to 20 dB
1616March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
What is Being DoneWhat is Being Done• NFPA 1221 now in revision
– First Draft (previously known as ROP) work completed and voted upon in February
– Second Draft (prev. Report on Comments-ROC) work will be later this year
– 1221 will be voted upon by NFPA in 2015, issued in 2016
– View current work at: www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=1221&tab=nextedition
• NFPA 1221 now in revision– First Draft (previously known as ROP) work
completed and voted upon in February – Second Draft (prev. Report on Comments-ROC) work
will be later this year – 1221 will be voted upon by NFPA in 2015, issued in
2016– View current work at: www.nfpa.org/codes-and-
standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=1221&tab=nextedition
1717March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
What is Being DoneWhat is Being Done
• In future NFPA 1, 5000 will all refer to NFPA 1221 for details, to prevent overlap and ‘code shopping’
• It is expected that the IFC will follow suit with 1221 over time
• In future NFPA 1, 5000 will all refer to NFPA 1221 for details, to prevent overlap and ‘code shopping’
• It is expected that the IFC will follow suit with 1221 over time
1818March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
AgendaAgenda
• Background
• Regulatory
• Summary
• Background
• Regulatory
• Summary
1919March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
SummarySummary• Usually FD drives the in-building communications coverage issue
• Understand the code - every jurisdiction is different
• Determine current level of coverage - not easy
• Conflicting codes/standards: NFPA 1, 72, 1221, 5000; IFC
• NFPA 1221 is evolving as the detailed standard for in-building, the 72 Code will refer back to 1221
• Both 72 and 1221 will be in a new revision by 2016
• Usually FD drives the in-building communications coverage issue
• Understand the code - every jurisdiction is different
• Determine current level of coverage - not easy
• Conflicting codes/standards: NFPA 1, 72, 1221, 5000; IFC
• NFPA 1221 is evolving as the detailed standard for in-building, the 72 Code will refer back to 1221
• Both 72 and 1221 will be in a new revision by 2016
Photo: gottabemobile.com
2020March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”
Questions?Questions?
John Facella
John Facella