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From the Chief’s Corner: 2024 – The Year of Learning…

Chief Alan Perdue

By Chief Alan Perdue (ret.), SBC Executive Director

Posted on January 23, 2024

For more than 11 years, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Coalition on the crucial topic of ERCES. I have spoken at conferences, SBC seminars, association events, AHJ small groups, etc. After so many years, and so many events, you may start to feel that, by now – surely – everyone knows everything they need to know about this. You may even wonder whether you need to continue educating people about this. The short answer: Very much so!

The longer answer: Only last week, I represented the Coalition at the Fire Marshals Association of Utah winter conference. During the four-day event, I had the opportunity to interact with some great folks from all over the region who were anxiously seeking factual and unbiased information related to ERCES. My reaction: “Wow! We -- the Coalition -- still have a lot of work to do!”

As I sat in the exhibit hall staffing the SBC booth, I had time to think about the educational outreach planned for 2024 and its focus on learning. I reflected on a quote from American writer, futurist and businessman Alvin Toffler: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Toffler’s words highlight an important aspect of learning related to the world of ERCES and all its complex aspects. Most of us are guilty of this: Once we learn something, we figure that’s that, and we move on to something else – rarely, if ever, changing or modifying our minds or thought processes about what we’ve already learned. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” as the saying goes. But Toffler, who was widely known for his insights into the digital and communication revolution and their effects on cultures worldwide really hit the nail on the head with his concept of learning, unlearning, and relearning when you think about all the ins and out and changes that have evolved and continue to evolve around ERCES.

This very concept played out right in front of me on the second day of the Utah event when I returned from a break and witnessed one of the other vendors, an ERCES integrator, reading and taking notes from – of all resources – the “Complete ERCES Handbook.” Here was a gentleman who had been in the industry using the latest textbook about ERCES to hone his knowledge. He told me that reading the Handbook not only taught him new concepts and ideas, it brought him up to speed about changes that have been made to the codes and standards that continue to impact and improve the ERCES requirements. 

Studying the ERCES Handbook

During my career I have at times heard folks say “I have arrived” meaning that have reached their goal. While that may be possible in some respects, when it comes to learning, my hope is that none of us ever feel we have “arrived” because there are so many opportunities to continue that lifelong journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning. Doing so keeps us at the forefront of our field of study and shows us that we are open to new ideas, concepts, and methods of solving the problem at hand no matter what stakeholder group we represent.

When it comes to the testing, design, installation and maintenance of an ERCES it is imperative that we have the latest knowledge, skills and abilities at our disposal to ensure that emergency responders can communicate inside buildings without causing harmful noise and interference to the communications system they depend on 24/7/365.

Remember, learning starts with a commitment to doing so. I hope you all have a great year and I look forward to seeing you at one or more of the great events the Coalition has coming to a location near you. #feelsafeinside

 

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