11 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.

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

http://www.iwceexpo.com/


22March 27, 2014, “Overcoming Hurdles to Ensure In-Building Communications”

AgendaAgenda

• Background

• Regulatory

• Summary

• Background

• Regulatory

• Summary



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’



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




• 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




• 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



AgendaAgenda

• Background

• Regulatory

• Summary

• Background

• Regulatory

• Summary



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



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


http://www.iccsafe.org/


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.)



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



AgendaAgenda

• Background

• Regulatory

• Summary

• Background

• Regulatory

• Summary



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



Questions?Questions?

John Facella

[email protected]

John Facella

[email protected]


11 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.

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