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EXCLUSIVE: The unsung hero of critical communications

Power lines - Critical Communications

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Chris Ralston, Field Sales Engineer at DITEK Corporation explains why systems for critical communications must be protected from threats such as power spikes and surges.

During a major incident, whether it be a terrorist attack, fire, natural disaster or other crisis, it is critical that emergency response teams are able to properly communicate with one another. So critical, in fact, that new building regulations and codes are frequently introduced to help ensure first responders are properly protected.

However, it’s not enough to just install critical communications systems. These systems need protection too, making surge protection an essential, but often overlooked, piece of critical communications equipment.

Reasons for surge protection

To understand the importance of surge protection in critical communications, we have to look specifically at the need to ensure public safety via emergency radio coverage. The need for better radio coverage came about, at least in part, due to the lessons learned from the 9/11 response.

One devastating aspect of those events was the fact that an additional loss of life occurred because of a failure in radio critical communications among first responders. While the reasons for this failure are complex, regulators across the country initiated legislation, legal mandates and updates to building and fire codes that are all designed to prevent these devastating events from happening again.

The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), specifically, made changes to the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, NFPA 72, to ensure adequate first responder radio coverage. The NFPA 72 “covers the application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing and maintenance of fire alarm systems, supervising station alarm systems, public emergency alarm reporting systems, fire warning equipment and emergency communications systems and their components.”

In its latest version, the NFPA 72 requires buildings with zero to poor public safety radio coverage have a radio enhancement system installed that boosts signals to ensure emergency radio critical communications.

Such requirements are designed to help make sure that fire and police radios will work nearly everywhere inside commercial and residential high-rise buildings, particularly in places where radio coverage has typically been limited, such as basement areas, parking structures, stairwells and building mechanical and control rooms. To do so, many buildings will employ distributed antenna systems (DAS) and bi-directional amplification systems (BDAs). DAS and BDAs are purpose-built to establish radio coverage in facility areas vulnerable to service gaps.

Perhaps the most important part of the recent NFPA 72 update is the requirement of surge protection for BDA systems. Without surge protection, a damaged system puts first responders and building occupants at elevated risk from every kind of emergency. Therefore, if a BDA system is required, it should also be properly protected to ensure it will work when needed.

Unfortunately, surge protection is often overlooked due to the misconceptions surrounding power surges and spikes. Many people falsely believe that electrical and telecom devices are only at risk during extreme weather and lightning storms, but damaging power disruptions occur daily from a variety of different sources. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, lightning strikes account for just 2% of all surge damage. That means that 98% of the damage is done by the hundreds of power surges that go largely unnoticed every day.

Reliability of critical communications

Global developments are further increasing the frequency and likelihood of damaging power surges, highlighting the growing urgency for the application of sure protection devices (SPDs) in critical communications. For example, the US power grid continues to age, with much of the current system decades old. With electricity consumption outpacing infrastructure improvements, the grid switching required to meet shifts in demand makes the entire system vulnerable to electrical power disruptions, surges and spikes.

Furthermore, recent environmental and social changes have put a bigger strain on electrical reliability. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) predicted energy shortfalls due to higher-than-normal temperatures and increased drought conditions. Not only do such conditions reduce the reliability of hydroelectric and thermal power sources, but warmer temperatures also drive the demand for power. The growing adoption of electric vehicles has similarly placed substantial new strains on an already weakened electric supply grid. As long as electricity supply and demand continue to be unequal, the need for surge protection becomes more obvious.

As BDAs can also be integrated within fire alarm systems, the antennas could become a conduit for power surges that can lead to even more damage within those systems. Damage to one emergency system could mean damage to all.

Given that damage caused by a power surge often goes unnoticed, many organizations may falsely believe their emergency critical communications and associated emergency systems are functioning properly, when, in reality, they are not. This false sense of security puts lives, property and equipment at risk. If a failed system goes unnoticed until an emergency is underway, the results could be catastrophic.

Be ready for an emergency

Even though the application of DAS, BDAs and surge protection has been mandated by the NFPA, the NFPA itself does not have regulatory authority. The implementation of NFPA guidelines is determined by state and local laws with the specific requirements for building owners varying by location. In truth, whether or not it is required, sensible building managers are realizing that a BDA system and surge protection can be an asset to their building, protecting owners from liabilities and increasing a sense of security and innovation that is attractive to potential occupants.

When an emergency occurs, everyone’s first thought is to get help from first responders, including firefighters, police and paramedics. We understand now that if these responders cannot communicate with each other or their departments when they are within a building, their ability to help and their safety are both compromised. This is why the systems installed to improve critical communications must be adequately protected from dangerous power spikes and surges.

1-ISJ- EXCLUSIVE: The unsung hero of critical communications

Chris Ralston is a Field Sales Engineer for DITEK Corporation. With over 20 years of experience as a Senior Account Manager within the IT hardware, software and technology field, as well as over 15 years of experience in the sale and design of surge protection solutions for fire & life safety, electrical and battery back-up applications, Chris has conducted over 100 surge protection training seminars throughout the US, catering to engineering firms, integrators, contractors, distributors and end users. Chris graduated from the University of Florida.

This article was originally published in the March edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.

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