Demonstrated at: #BAPCO2023

London Fire Brigade (LFB) is in the final stages of a major firefighter personal protective equipment and communications ensemble refresh. Following a greatly anticipated procurement of new subscriber devices for LFB crew members, Tait Communications won the deal with a 4 Watt, Intrinsic Safe (IS) version of the Tait 9300. Compliant with ATEX 2A (2: Use in the explosive atmosphere; A: Less easily ignited gases), the device supports current LFB analog on-scene radio communications and the Brigade's future digital on-scene strategy.

LFB uses Breathing Apparatus (BA) masks that support direct connection to the tactical fireground radio. The approach provides superior audio compared to dangling Remote Speaker Microphones outside the BA mask. Because the LFB program is also a swap from Draeger Breathing Apparatus (BA) to the MSA G1, Tait had to grapple with audio differences between old and new BA masks. The company produced an audio equalizer in the radio to compensate for these differences to enable a step-wise migration to a digital fireground.

Lurking in the background of the video is the Tait AXIOM TMX 450 mobile unit that incorporates a potent Linux compute platform hosting applications, including support for 3GPP Mission Critical Services and communications recording. This blend means the London Fire Brigade can bridge local fireground communications using LTE-based push-to-talk connectivity to transport DMR-based fireground chatter back to the control room for wide area coverage. The approach is an outstanding example of LMR and LTE co-existence. We believe this will eventually include support for 3GPP Mission Critical Services deployed by the UK Emergency Services Network (ESN).

Thanks, yet again, to Tait Business Development Manager Richard Russell for a comprehensive review of the London Fire Brigade advances.