MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: SOLiD PRESIDENT KEN SANDFELD
SOLiD remains firmly in public safety space, but with a clear focus on product development

Posted on May 22, 2020
Hard-hit industry will emerge strong from COVID-19 crisis, Sandfeld predicts
By Mikkel Schultz, Senior Editor

With the departure of some of SOLiD's in-building public safety-focused team late last year, some in the industry wondered if the company was leaving the sector. But SOLiD is, and plans to remain, very much in that space. SOLiD is focused on a strategy of building the best public-safety products possible, SOLiD President Ken Sandfeld explains in an interview with Safer Buildings Coalition. Mr. Sandfeld also talked about market trends, public safety broadband, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the industry, and how SOLiD is weathering the storm.

Nation Honors Fallen Heroes on Peace Officers Memorial Day

Annual Candlelight Vigil Goes Virtual
Posted on May 15, 2020 By Mikkel Schultz, Senior Editor, Safer Buildings Coalition

On May 15th, flags are flown at half-staff across our country in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week. On this day, we honor the brave federal, state and local law officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. The sacrifices made by these heroes will never be forgotten. 

Most of this year’s Police Week events have been canceled due to the pandemic lockdowns, but that has not stopped the Nation from saluting the fallen heroes. 

IAFC Section Chief O’Brian: We Need PPE

Posted on April 22, 2020

In his presentation today at the NEMA Fire, Life Safety, Security, and Emergency Communications Section Industry Day Event, Chief Michael O’Brian conveyed some stark realities facing the Fire Services in the current environment.

Safer Buildings Coalition Code Topic: Defining Backbone and Distribution

Posted on April 22, 2020

There is much confusion over the terms Backbone (Riser, Vertical) and Distribution (Feeder, Horizontal). This SBC Code Topic provides an explanation, complete with Code references, to help illustrate these important distinctions in in-building cabling systems.

From the Chief’s Corner: Innovation and Determination in a Time of Crisis

Posted on April 22, 2020

2020 has brought about a significant amount of change into our lives. Many organizations have had to rethink their traditional workplace operations, identify and utilize more tech advances, and adapt to changes in how their employees function around themselves and outside stakeholders. Some businesses have gotten larger and some smaller. Our inter-connected world is truly reliant on resources and processes that up until just a few months ago were unknown or limited in use.  

We all know that nothing ever unfolds exactly as planned but this year has brought plenty of unplanned and postponed activities. In spite of all the technical advances and resources we have at our disposal, qualified and equipped people will ultimately determine an organization’s ability to respond to the challenges that lie ahead.

A message from the Safer Buildings Coalition President: Stay positive. Manage the present, but plan for the future.

Posted on April 22, 2020

Dear Safer Buildings Coalition Members - 

First of all, I hope you and your family are safe and healthy.

The corona crisis has turned our world upside down, but this WILL end, and I would like to take this opportunity to share some thoughts on how we can work our way through this crisis and plan for the future. We are all in this together, and through resilience, adaptability and a positive attitude, we will continue to Unite to Thrive.

US Construction Starts Will Start to Rebound Late This Year, Business Analyst Predicts

Posted on April 22, 2020
Warehousing, data center construction among sectors that remain strong during COVID-19 crisis

The headwinds currently facing the US economy will start to abate later this year, with several industry sectors set to rebound strongly as the post-corona world offers new opportunities for growth. And even now, at what may be the height of the crisis, lots of construction projects are in the pipeline across the country. Indeed, there is light at the end of the tunnel. 2021 will be better than 2020, and 2022 will be better than 2021. Those are the main conclusions of Dodge Data & Analytics’ outlook on how the corona crisis will impact US construction starts now, and in the immediate and longer-term future. 

NJ Police Captain: MCPTT-Based FirstNet PTT a "Game-Changer," Potential LMR Replacement

Posted on April 22, 2020

“I think it’s really going to be a game-changer for public-safety communications.” That’s the verdict from Captain Guy Patterson after his Cranford, New Jersey Police Department conducted a beta trial of the new FirstNet Push to Talk (PTT) service, which is provided by AT&T and built on the 3GPP mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) standard.

In an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications Editor Donny Jackson, Capt. Patterson praised the new FirstNet service: “It delivers the performance that public safety needs and can be an LMR alternative for some agencies.”

Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!

Photo: M.Moira / Shutterstock.com

Posted on April 16, 2020
Emergency Responders across the Nation: We Salute You

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the annual celebration of our first, first responders – the heroes who, literally, answer the call when we need help. This week, we salute and thank every 911 operator across the country who dedicates his/her life to serving the public every day.

The Safer Buildings Coalition would like to THANK YOU for all that you do - especially at this difficult time with emergency telecommunicators among the essential personnel out there risking their health and lives to keep us all safe.

This is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

8 Keys for Leaders for Thriving and Surviving in this Environment
Posted on April 8, 2020 By John Foley – Managing Director, Safer Buildings Coalition

You may have heard the phrase “Life on Life’s Terms.” Now, more than ever, this applies. 

It seems unfair, but we are often forced to make important business and life decisions while going through a major life-changing event – be it a birth, death, divorce, whatever. Or a pandemic, which upends the world as we know it. We must make solid decisions at a time when our focus and clear priorities are least available to us.