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.

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

Thursday, July 16, 2020  01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time  Duration:1 hour

You don't want to miss this one-of-a-kind webinar!

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. 

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) administers the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program. We are pleased to announce that Thomas Hannigan, Acting Director, Office of Technical Programs & Coordination Activities, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory Program US Department of Labor will participate in the program to help explain how the NRTL program works.  

Questions we expect to address:

1. What is a NRTL?
2. What is the difference between "Certified", "Classified", "Compliant", and other variations?
3. What are the basics of UL 2524?
4. How will UL 2524 be updated?
5. How are UL Standards Created?
6. More!

SAVE YOUR SEAT

Speakers:

Telecommunications Industry Association Joins Safer Buildings Coalition

Posted on June 22, 2020

The Safer Buildings Coalition is delighted to announce our newest member: The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). TIA is the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks.

TIA and the Safer Buildings Coalition signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 15, 2020 to support collaboration on standards and best practices that are key to advancing the safety of the public in the built environment, with a specific focus on smart technologies and wireless communications inside of buildings. Per the agreement, the Safer Buildings Coalition has also joined the TIA Smart Buildings Program as a Participant.

You’ll Pay for Neglect, One Way or Another

Posted on June 17, 2020
By Lisa Jardine, Director of Communications, RF Solutions

“Command from Squad 41, go ahead with your message.” “Command from Squad 41, go ahead with your message.”

An auxiliary radio communication system (ARCS) is a firefighter’s lifeline. Without it, they may as well communicate with a bullhorn. The last thing the Commander wants to hear in response to his or her request is radio silence.