LUBA RET. EX 076/077 RE-E - Laserfiche WebLink

For adequate protection throughout an incident, all components of the system should be separated from other portions of the building or tunnel by fire-rated construction. A rating equivalent to that required for stair enclosures is reasonable. The performance of the entire system should be specified in terms of the number of air cylinders to be filled simultaneously at remote locations, the fill pressure, and the fill time. This will dictate the size of the distribution piping and any air storage cylin- ders. All components should be specified for use with breathing air, and marked to indicate their use. Considerations - Firefighter Breathing Air Systems ■ Obtain and follow all applicable laws and regulations. ■ Specify lockable fill stations or fill panels. ■ Specify proper mounting height for fill pan- els or fill stations. ■ Locate fill stations or fill panels just outside stairways. ■ Provide signage in stairs at levels of fill pan- els/fill stations. ■ Specify on-site air storage when required. ■ Specify weatherproof lockable fire depart- ment connection panel(s). ■ Locate exterior fire department connection panel(s) near access for the mobile air unit. ■ Locate multiple exterior fire department con- nection panels remote from each other. ■ Specify piping and other components suit- able for high pressure breathing air. ■ Specify that all components be marked for their use. ■ Specify CO monitor and low air pressure alarm. ■ Specify system performance as follows: o Minimum number of cylinders to be simultaneously filled; o Maximum cylinder pressure; o Maximum fill time. ■ Specify air quality analysis at acceptance, and periodic testing. FIREFIGHTER RADIO SIGNAL RETRANSMISSION SYSTEMS Fire department portable radios are frequently unreliable inside buildings and other structures such as tunnels. Construction materials, earth, and changes in the radio frequency environment can greatly reduce the strength of radio signals. If a fire- fighter inside is unable to transmit or receive, he or she must relocate closer to an exterior opening, move to a different floor, use an alternate means of communication, or resort to runners or direct voice communications. Cell phone signals are affected by the same factors as radio signals. Land line phones will allow firefighters to communicate with dis- patchers, but not other units; they may also be affected by the incident occurring in the building. All of these factors may delay operations, and cre- ate greater challenges in maintaining crew integrity (Figure 7.3). New technology can improve signal transmis- sion within buildings and structures through fixed communications infrastructures. Passive approach- es simply provide a conduit to assist in the trans- mission of signals. However, active methods involve powered devices to amplify and retransmit signals. For example, the "passive antenna system" includes both an internal and an external antenna, connected with a short coaxial cable. A "radiating cable, " also known as a "leaky coax" is a network of coaxial cables with slots in the outer conductor that create a continuous antenna effect. Increasing in popularity is an active signal trans- mission method involving a signal booster also known as a "Bi-Directional Amplifier, " or simply BDA. These powered devices amplify signals between an external antenna and one or more internal antennae. Both reception and transmission are amplified messages on portable radios within the building. A network of antennae placed at strategic locations or a leaky coaxial cable distrib- ute signals throughout the coverage area. Some installations combine passive and active approaches. Passive antennae generally work well in small, well-defined areas. BDAs function well in larger, diverse areas that need a coverage solution. Some jurisdictions have adopted laws or ordi- nances concerning public safety radio communica- tions. In others, designers should consider specify- I F'Ir.RE -S!ERV1CE FEATUR;E.S O'F BUXLDINGS AND FIRE PROTECTION. SYSTEMS 87 177