Scandinavian Oil-Gas Magazine

With reports emerging of emergency responders’ radios failing to work in the London Underground during the July 7, 2005 London bombings, London's emergency services will welcome the news that radio communications technology that prevents communications from breaking down in underground tunnels and concrete bunkers has been developed by a Suffolk company.

Fern Communications Ltd provides two-way radio communications systems to the international emergency services and upstream oil and gas industries. During the past four years the company’s FRX-1 and FRW-1 Portable Radio Repeaters have dramatically improved radio communications in subsea corridors, mountain road tunnels, high rise buildings, power plants, oil platforms and refineries.

Today, Fern Communications announced that its all-weather FRW-1 Portable Radio Repeater significantly improved radio communications for the Special Search and Rescue Team (SSRT) during a series of recent trials in Taiwan.

The lightweight, waterproof FRW-1 dramatically increases radio coverage by eliminating radio “black spots” that wreak havoc with radio signals, interrupting the flow of vital radio communications. The system extends radio transmission range by “bending” the radio signal around solid structures.

Every rescue worker is acutely aware of how critical it is to maintain radio communications with co-workers whether fighting a fire or responding to an emergency. Breakdown in communications can mean the difference between life and death. When Bruce Lan, Managing Director for safety equipment specialist VAN Protecteur Co Ltd, brought the FRW-1 Radio Repeater and its ability to enhance radio communications to the attention of the Special Search and Rescue Team (SSRT) in Taichung, Taiwan, they were keen to test it for themselves.
Radio Signal Maintained in Mountain Range Tunnel Fern Communications responded by conducting a two-phase set of trials with the FRW-1, in cooperation with the SSRT. Traveling by helicopter, the first trial took place in a 400m deep road tunnel through the mountains near the Central Mountain Range in Taichung County, Taiwan. First, the SSRT activated their existing radio equipment. One walked through the winding tunnel while communicating with the other rescue worker who remained at the entrance of the tunnel. Within just 20 metres, the radio signal was lost. Then they repeated the exercise with the FRW-1 switched on and placed the unit at 200m into the tunnel. The result? The rescue workers never lost the radio signal, even when they were 400 metres apart and communicating through cement and solid earth. It was a first. Neither had ever managed to maintain continuous radio contact while underground in a road tunnel.

Communicating in High Rise Buildings
Because the SSRT often responds to emergencies in high rise office buildings, they carried out the second phase of trials in number of 20 story buildings in Taipe. With one SSRT member located outside of the building near the entrance, the second member made his way on foot from the first floor to the second floor. When the two were separated by about 20 metres, they lost radio contact. Repeating the exercise, but with the FRW-1 operating, the first rescue worker was able to travel all the way to the 10th floor before losing contact. But by moving the FRW-1 up a few floors, communication reached the top floor. Again, it was the first time that they had ever managed to maintain unbroken radio contact in a high rise building. “The FRW-1 made it possible for the team to communicate through several floors constructed of steel, steel fire doors and solid structures. It was a first,” said Lan. (Or other person with SSRT.) “Each trial exceeded expectations by demonstrating that the FRW-1 extends the reach of a signal. It literally ‘bends’ the signal around solid structures so you never lose contact with your team. It is an incredible boon to the safety of rescue workers,” he added. As a result of these successful trials, the SSRT purchased 13 FRW-1 units, making them a standard feature of their communications system. Looking ahead, Fern Communications will provide onsite training in maintenance for the SSRT in Taiwan later this year. Better Communications a Boon to Worker Safety and Performance The FRW-1 comes as welcome news to those working in roles that require reliable radio transmission to communicate with co-workers in challenging physical environments, especially in emergency services. “We’re extremely pleased with the outcome of the trials in Taiwan. It proved how the FRW-1 can be placed between fire fighters in, for example, a burning structure and a control-command centre outside,” said Clive Cushion, Technical Director of Fern Communications. “By doing so, it makes it possible for the rescue team to communicate instantaneously, in spite of the fact that they may be surrounded by dense - sometimes falling - metal columns or beams that would otherwise cause the signal to break up, he added.

Communicating during disaster relief efforts According to Cushion, the FRW-1 is extremely adaptable. For example, for those carrying out disaster relief efforts, the company can supply an emergency communication pack that contains upwards of six radios and one FRW-1. Then, in the event of a disaster of any kind – flooding, fire, crashes, or storms – the pack can be set up immediately to serve as a mobile command and control centre, making response times that much quicker.

Tags: Fern Communications Ltd