- Author
- International Association of Fire Chiefs
- Title
- Digital Project Working Group. Interim Report.
- Coporate
- International Association of Fire Chiefs, Washington, DC
- Report
- IAFC DPWG Report, May 2008, 10 p.
- Keywords
- fire departments | fire fighters | radio equipment | communication networks | communication equipment | tests | noise (sound) | training | evaluation
- Identifiers
- fireground noise and digital radio transmissions; best practices and testing task groups identified; evaluating communication systems: ITS testing; testing task group: findings, comments and recommendations; fire service leadership; field user
- Abstract
- In late 2006 and early 2007, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) began to receive reports of possible communications problems involving digital two-way portable radios in close proximity to common fire ground noise. The IAFC established the Digital Project Working Group (formerly the Digital Problem Working Group), composed of the fire service, law enforcement, government and industry to collectively investigate the problem and provide data-driven recommendations. The intent of this report is to alert the fire service that noise on the fireground can interfere with intelligible radio communications and to provide an overview of the research data and both high-level technical recommendations and practical model practices that can be utilized for short-term solutions in the field. It is not the intent of the Digital Project Working Group to make recommendations on an agency's selection of a communications system or any firefighting equipment. Many factors will influence these decisions. The information in this report should be considered part of the overall decision-making process in addition to other factors. However, the Best Practices Task Group has developed procedures and technical issues directed at operating consideration for field users. The report includes conclusions based on nine months of laboratory testing conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The report includes recommendations for the fire service, the federal government and industry.many but not all surrounding the following major themes.