Tait and telent redefine
Fireground Communications
The fire rescue experts at Tait Communications
have developed a holistic communications
solution specifically for the fireground, providing
greater protection of firefighters, increased
operational efficiency, and ease of use.
Already selected by East Sussex Fire and Rescue
Service (ESFRS) to improve the safety of its firefighters
on the ground, Tait fire expert and Business Development
Manager Richard Russell, and Barry Zielinski, Operations
& Services Director at telent Technology Services, explain
how fire and rescue services will benefit from this approach.
Can you tell us about the typical challenges of
Fireground Communications?
The digitalization of incident ground communications
can provide key operational benefits. However, in most
cases intelligibility is poor due to limitations of analog
radios and the limited transmit power they provide.
Careful consideration needs to be taken with regards to the
proximity of Breathing Apparatus (BA) wearers, who often
have zero visibility, the busy and often noisy environment
experienced by Entry Control, discreet communications
requirements of officers, and the unique needs of Incident
Command Units. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
(SCBA) masks can create communication challenges as
they cover the mouth, which affects the clarity and volume
of the voice.
For services such as ESFRS, the key issues that often
cause poor communications are acoustic feedback caused
by two radios operating in close proximity, difficult to
use audio accessories (due to compact size) and battery
performance. The culmination of these factors compromises
the ability to communicate, the communications flow and,
ultimately, the safety of firefighters.
What do you mean by holistic fire ground solution?
At Tait, we’ve taken a holistic view regarding different
users, such as BA wearers, Entry Control Officers, Incident
Command Units, and their respective requirements when
designing the solution. We have therefore concentrated on
accessories like the breathing apparatus, remote speaker
microphones, earpieces and batteries. In addition, we’ve
focused on providing a high-performing, stable and reliable
connection between the entire fireground and the command
control centre.
We also incorporated the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
for intrinsic safety of the whole SCBA radio and accessory
communication solution.
What elements does it consist of?
Tait has taken every step to ensure an optimized solution
combining radios, accessories and configurable radio
features to complement and enhance operational safety and
ease of use for every firefighter.
The radios are available in two variants: ATEX radios
for the firefighters, and non-ATEX radios for Incident
Command Officers and Entry Control Officers (ECOs).
At its core, the solution consists of two key elements, the
Radios and Remote Speaker Microphone (RSM), although
there are a number of other peripheral aspects too.
No firefighter wants to be caught inside a burning
building without communications. As mission critical
operations depend on reliable and effective coverage,
in addition to ensuring greater transmit power, Tait
has developed an optimal receiver design. It’s able to
outperform analog radios by receiving usable signals as low
as -122 dBm, which is typically 4 dB better.
To further enhance the ECO and Incident Command
Officers’ communication experience, a range of secondary