Safer Buildings Coalition July Webinar Now Available On-Demand

Posted on August 21, 2020

Did you miss our special webinar on In-Building Public Safety, UL 2524 and NRTLs last month? You can now catch it on-demand. 

In-Building Public Safety, UL 2524 and NRTLs – You Need to Hear This!

To watch (or rewatch) this important webinar, please visit: https://www.saferbuildings.org/ul-2524-and-nrtls

Safer Buildings Coalition and CBRS Alliance Join Forces

Posted on August 21, 2020

We are pleased to announce that CBRS Alliance and Safer Buildings Coalition have agreed to join forces as liaison partners. Effective immediately, this partnership is key to our efforts to continue providing access to resources that work to enhance in-building communications for both the public and public safety responders. Technology continues to change and our need to communicate continues to depend on communication infrastructures.

Save the Date, The SBC Annual Member Meeting – Virtual Event

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!

Are You Ready to Lead?

Posted on July 15, 2020
Deadline for Nominations Extended to July 22nd

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.

New Report From ICC: Building Safety and COVID-19

Posted on July 15, 2020

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.”

Hot Government Policy Items – What Your Company Needs to Track

Posted on July 15, 2020
It is up to company leaders to track and influence strategic changes to the business environment

The Safer Buildings Coalition has been hard at work behind the scenes – examining and weighing in on key policy matters.

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.

Designing Reliable Public Safety Networks

Posted on July 15, 2020

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. 

Member Spotlight: RF Solutions

Posted on July 15, 2020

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.