Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Research Needs Pertaining to Firefighter Radio Communication Systems

Details

• Journal Article:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Personal Author:
  Frazier, Patricia ; Hooper, Robert ; Orgen, Brian ; Hankin, Nicole ; Williams, James
• Description:
  Current firefighter communications systems were chosen more for mobility or availability of spectrum than for suitability to the job of providing robust, reliable communications into, from, and within structures. It is not surprising that they can fail to provide adequate communications in buildings, which are the most challenging of radio communication environments. The technologies discussed in this report offer the possibility to significantly improve radio communications in large structures as well as in basement and other below grade areas. But it also appears that one technology alone will not be sufficient. Combining technologies together to make a hybrid system may be necessary. A MANet system provides the firefighter the mobility he needs; when coupled with a PLC or MF communications system, a MANet system may provide coverage even into difficult areas where radio waves cannot penetrate. Enhancing technologies can be integrated into this hybrid system to give even further improvements. Many of the technologies considered in this report are undergoing commercial development at a fast pace. This promises to keep the underlying cost of the technology reasonable, although the special requirements of the fire service may impose additional costs. Commercial development should be encouraged, as the benefits of these technologies will improve fireground communications. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communication Emergency Responders Firefighters Fires Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Fire fighters; Fire fighting equipment; Fire safety; Emergency responders; Communications equipment
• Source:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2003 Sep; :1-142
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Purchase Order
• Genre:
  Final Contract Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  158 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026318
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2005-104936
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2003 Sep ; :1-142
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• Performing Organization:
  TriData Corporation, Arlington, Virginia
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:eee67dab73f70aaa8afd9d25fdffd3104770ff6841000e5d82a7d162636c187eb359519bdb71d28b10f3bc10d94882aaa06b4e87407d9d591df17a5a6b63fa56
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/135003/cdc_135003_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 826.27 KB ]