The City of Delta is retrofitting its first skyscraper in order to make it safer for first responders to communicate in an emergency.
City council late last year formerly adopted an updated public safety radio amplification bylaw in order to mitigate future radio communication challenges in high-rises and other buildings.
That’s following the Mayor’s Public Safety Committee being told by Fire Chief Paul Scholfield that a review was undertaken of emergency response events and radio communication challenges at the Delta Rise in North Delta.
An earlier civic report notes, “Large buildings and new energy efficient construction methods can negatively impact radio communication for first responders. This creates a safety issue, both for the first responders and for the public who require emergency assistance.”
That report also noted, “The cost to achieve the necessary radio amplification in a new high rise building would be approximately $80,000 to $100,000. Staff will work with prospective developers to ensure all new buildings meet the standard for radio communication clarity.”
The public safety committee late last year was informed the recently passed amendments, which sets a minimum standard delivered audio quality, allows the city to enforce radio communication standards for first responders in all buildings in Delta.
In order to support the safety of the public and emergency responders, buildings that did not meet the minimum standard delivered audio quality prior to the amendment being adopted will be retrofitted at the expense of the city, the committee was told, and staff are currently working on retrofitting Delta Rise.
It’s been a problem in other Lower Mainland cities as well where high-rises are being built.
A report to Burnaby's public safety committee last year warned the design and materials going in new apartment towers impede digital radio signals used by police, firefighters and ambulance personnel responding to emergencies.
That report also called on the city to develop a bylaw that would require emergency radio amplification systems to be installed.