WEBINAR: In-Building Public Safety, UL 2524 and NRTLs - You Need to Hear This!
Posted on July 15, 2020
Thursday, July 16th, 1pm EDT
Still Time! Save Your Seat!
Since it received ANSI approval in October of 2018, the UL 2524 standard has had a major impact on the in-building public safety market – particularly for the OEMs that participate in that space. And yet, still too few really understand the scope and purpose of the standard, which OEM products have achieved certification, why AHJs prefer (or require) listed products, and who are the Nationally Recognized Testing Labs (NRTLs) that can perform the testing to the standard (the OSHA NRTL program).
This webinar, conducted by the Safer Buildings Coalition, brings to the table experts who can shed clear light on these and many more topics.
Save the Date, The SBC Annual Member Meeting – Virtual Event
Posted on July 15, 2020
This year the Safer Buildings Coalition Annual Meeting is going virtual. Mark your calendars for:
Tuesday, August 18th, 1pm EDT
COVID-19 has certainly changed the world as we know it. Indeed, every aspect of our lives has been impacted to some degree, and at the Coalition we miss interacting with you while we are on the road.
But that won’t keep us from hosting our marquee event. We cannot meet you all in person this year, so we’ll get together virtually instead!
Being on the SBC Board not only is a way to give back – it also gives you a voice and a platform
We are extending the deadline for applicants to run for the Safer Buildings Coalition Board of Directors until Wednesday, July 22nd. We have candidates, but we wanted to be sure that all of our members were aware of the opportunity.
Which positions are up for election?
Vice President – Term: 1 year. Note that this is a three-year commitment, which includes the positions of: Vice President (1 year), President (1 year) & Immediate Past Present (1 year).
Treasurer – Term: 3 years. Note – this is NOT an administrative role. We have an outsourced bookkeeping and accounting team. The role of Treasurer is a full voting board position with a 3-year tenure. Treasurer duties include reviewing annual budget, and signatory duties on filings and banking.
Safer Buildings Coalition Keeps Growing – Meet Our Newest Members
Posted on July 15, 2020
The Safer Buildings Coalition continues to grow. We are very pleased to announce our newest members. Day Wireless Systems, G&G Systems, Pando Telecom, Northwest Communications, TIA & CTIA.
Each member is crucial to the Coalition’s work as we Unite to Thrive and continue to strive to fulfill our mission.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to significantly impact the construction industry and many of our members at the Safer Buildings Coalition. The International Code Council (ICC) has released a report titled — Building Safety and COVID-19: Analysis of U.S. Code Department Responses to the Pandemic. “The report,” ICC states, “details how code officials are coping with the professional challenges brought on by COVID-19. The report provides in-depth analysis and findings based on the results of an April survey of the effects of the pandemic on building and fire departments.”
From the Chief’s Corner: Lightning Protection of the ERCES
Posted on July 15, 2020
In order to talk about lightning protection of an Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement System (ERCES), one must at least mention the individual who established the first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia in 1736, studied electricity, invented bifocals, and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. His name was Benjamin Franklin.
Many of us were taught as kids that Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity while flying a kite with a key tied to it during a thunderstorm. I’m sure a lot of you have seen images depicting that eventful day. Franklin did have a sincere interest in lightning and felt that electricity was fluid. He hypothesized that lightning and electricity were connected and that metal objects could be utilized to attract lightning in order to keep objects from being hit.
For the July installment of the Safer Buildings Coalition Member Spotlight, RF Solutions co-founder Laura Keyes talks about the company, its approach to public safety and how RF Solutions and Safer Buildings Coalition can work together to further joint objectives.
Q: RF Solutions has an interesting genesis. Tell us about the founding of your firm. A: Four years ago, along with my partners, Bill Share, and Ron Schachter, we launched RF Solutions in New York City. We were all seasoned professionals in the field of wireless communications systems, and we saw the growing demand for public safety communications would require a more in-depth understanding of RF and strict adherence to professional standards. Sadly, there was a lack of it in the NYC market, and with the new requirements from the FDNY to provide robust radio communications for first responders, we knew we had to take the lead on delivering these exacting standards.
In this section we’ll bring you updates on the important work done by our Codes & Standards, Government Affairs, Advancement & Public Safety Technology Work Groups.
Our Work Groups are the vehicles by which:
Members’ voices are heard as SBC develops new public policy, codes, and standards (Government Affairs, Codes and Standards, Public Safety Technology)
Members tell us how to improve the Coalition to better serve them and the mission (Advancement)
Members can hear first changes in the industry involving all of the above. Each Work Group is guided by a Chair and a Vice Chair. The reports below will provide monthly updates from the Chair of each Work Group.
Participation in Work Groups is one of the best ways to realize value form your Safer Buildings Coalition Membership. Work Group participation is open to all Members of every type.
If you are interested in participating in a Work Group, please contact the Chair of the group.
Over the last couple of years, iBwave started to notice an increase in interest in the design of public safety networks, and when you think about why, it’s no surprise. As technology advances and is put in the hands of emergency response teams, the wireless networks those technologies rely on need to advance as well.
The sheer amount of data traffic - videos, voice, audio, and otherwise - flowing through the public safety networks these days between first responder teams is significant and requires a very reliable wireless network to ensure communication is never dropped. Because without one, communication is put at risk and so are the lives they are trying to save.
In-Building Radio Enhancement Requirements by Jurisdiction - and more...
The Safer Buildings Coalition website has an extensive collection of resources to assist in understanding Emergency Responders Radio Coverage Systems (ERRCS) requirements and other topics.
Want to Know Who Can Perform In-Building Public Safety Work?
The purpose of the Safer Buildings Coalition Member Showcase is to provide visibility to the organizations who have demonstrated this commitment through Safer Buildings Coalition participation in this specialized community of practice.
