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Belden joins Safer Building Coalition to help US buildings improve emergency communication

April 4, 2023

Posted by: Janmesh Chintankar

Belden, a global supplier of network infrastructure and digitisation solutions, has announced its membership with Safer Buildings Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to resolving in-building wireless dead zones that impact first responders and citizens.

Belden fully supports the Safer Building Coalition’s efforts to ensure that critical communication can happen at all times – from anywhere inside a building – and connect first responders with civilians across all U.S. facilities.

In times of emergency, it’s vital that building inhabitants are able to receive mass alerts and place emergency calls to first responders. Once on the scene, field units must be able to communicate with the emergency command centre and each other while the communication centre remains in contact with the person who placed the call for help, even as they move around the building.

But an International Association of Fire Chiefs survey reports that nearly all (98.5%) first responders have reported encountering dead spots in buildings during emergency calls. In-building wireless systems, including distributed antenna systems (DASs), small cells and Wi-Fi, can eliminate dead zones and support communication whenever and wherever it’s needed.

The Safer Building Coalition and its 175+ member organisations, including fire departments, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), building owners and manufacturers like Belden, are dedicated to educating the industry on the latest codes and standards while also advancing policies, technologies and ideas that enable reliable wireless connectivity in all U.S. buildings – from their parking garages and underground mechanical rooms to stairwells and elevators.

Because the Safer Buildings Coalition is a nonprofit organisation focused on these important communication issues, the advocacy group can help building owners make better decisions about the scope and scalability of in-building networks.

“Belden puts safety at the forefront of what we do,” says Steve Carroll, global account director for service providers and 5G infrastructure at Belden. “We not only support the Safer Building Coalition’s endeavors to prioritise public safety, but also align the in-building wireless solutions we manufacture with the most recent codes and standards to ensure safety and compliance for our customers.”

To learn more about Belden’s in-building wireless solutions, visit Belden. To learn more about the Safer Buildings Coalition, visit Safer Buildings Coalition.

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