First Firefighting Portable Radio With NFAP 1802 Support

L3Harris Technologies has expanded its XL platform of Project 25 (P25) radios with the addition of the new XL Extreme 400P, a handheld radio designed to meet the rigorous NFPA 1802 standard for two-way, portable RF devices. The recently adopted NFPA 1802 requirements address device survivability and add a data recorder capability to aid the investigation of firefighting death and injury events.

Highlights of the XL Extreme 400P include:

• The use of component material designed to remain operational in environments with extremely high heat. Components include all external elements such as the Case, knobs, remote speaker microphone (RSM), and the RSM cable. L3Harris claims the product leverages materials research and experience gained in the company's aerospace programs.
• A unique temperature sensor and visual indication to warn of high ambient heat environments. The warning alert is clearly visible to both the radio holder and nearby firefighters.
• The L3Harris XL portfolio's standard advantages include built-in LTE/Wi-Fi connectivity, mobility between P25 and LTE, Bluetooth audio pairing with Self-contained Breath Apparatus (SCBA) masks, and integration with L3Harris Mission Critical Alliance partners.

Ecosystem Impact

• L3Harris is the first vendor to introduce a portable radio unit designed to meet or exceed the NFPA 1802 standard. The arrival of the new model increases pressure on competitors Motorola Solutions, JVCKenwood, and BK Technologies to get NFPA 1802 products to market.
• L3Harris remains the only supplier with a full range of portable and mobile hybrid LTE/LMR devices. For now, the L3Harris LTE functionality supports data hotspot operation and BeOn push-to-talk integration. However, L3Harris has not announced a 3GPP mission-critical push-to-talk application.
• As part of the XL Extreme 400P product launch, L3Harris highlighted ways the device is integrated with L3Harris Mission Critical Alliance partner offers. Additionally, the demonstration of Adashi's command and control platform integration with the data capabilities of the XL portfolio stood out as an outstanding example of how incident command situational awareness is enhanced. The first release with integration of the XL portfolio with Adashi's Personnel Accountability Report (PAR) functionality is planned for Fall 2021.
• During the XL Extreme 400P product launch, L3Harris described the company's plans to expand the data feed for Adashi. Future information will include emergency button (EB) status, firefighter identity, location, sensor alerts for high-ambient temperatures, equipment failure, SCBA air level alerts, and improperly set talkgroups. When these features are in place, incident commanders will gain a substantial boost in situational awareness to reduce line of duty deaths and serious injuries.

End User Impact

• The incorporation of high ambient heat audio and visual warnings is a requirement of the NFPA 1802. The XL Extreme 400P demonstrates how these warnings can serve as an essential environmental monitoring resource attached to every member of the firefighting team. This is important because modern firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the ability of the wearer to sense high heat. An external monitor can help crews self-evacuate as a fire compartment transitions from tenable to deadly. But agencies must experiment and confirm that the alert comes before a fatal environment is established.
• The forensic value of the NFPA 1802 data recorder is high. Data logging event requirements include: Device turned on, device turned off, EB activation, button presses, power levels, channel/zone/talkgroup selection, and high heat events. Furthermore, investigators will gain access to 2,000 of the most recent events for each handset following a line-of-duty death or severe injury. This information will shed light on the last moments and aid the development of operational changes that can save lives.
• L3Harris has not publicly communicated the pricing of the XL Extreme 400P. But the use of advanced aerospace materials suggests that pricing may be high, potentially out-of-reach of poorly funded agencies.
• With NFPA 1802 requirements finally addressing life-critical communications functions, agencies may be forced to spend more on portable firefighting radios than traditionally budgeted. While agencies will not replace in-stock radios just to comply with NFPA 1802, all future procurements will likely mandate support. Failure to purchase NFPA 1802 compliant devices may emerge as a potential point of liability for agencies following future firefighter deaths or serious injuries that can be traced to a failure to call a mayday event.

Bottom Line

The L3Harris XL Extreme 400P brings a significant innovation into the hands of firefighters while setting a foundation for future expanded incident command situational awareness. For agencies, the cost of the new portables remains a challenge. But the safety improvements that come with RFC 1802 compliance will drive upgrades as agencies retire portable devices at end-of-life.