The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) should need little introduction to firefighters. Founded in 1896, with a focus on sprinkler technology and electrical safety, the body has since broadened its scope to include numerous items of concern. Many, if not most, firefighters are familiar with NFPA standards such as 1901, which covers fire apparatus; 1001, which covers firefighter professional standards; and 1971, which relates to structural and proximity gear. But with more than 300 codes and standards from which to choose, it stands to reason that certain documents may not be universally familiar.
Communications standard
One such set of regulations is NFPA 1221: Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems. While lesser known than many standards, 1221 has a direct impact on every department and on every call. Contained within the pages are best practices on everything from computer-aided dispatch (CAD) to staffing and facility design. Also included are sections covering communication and signal wiring, operations, telephones, dispatching systems, testing, records, data security and public alerting systems.
As is the case with all such documents, there is ongoing revision designed to keep pace with developing trends. The most recent edition, released in 2016, addresses a number of pertinent issues. Based on this content, here are five things that all firefighters need to know.
1. Call-handling times
NFPA 1221 establishes call-handling times in that, “90 percent of emergency alarm processing shall be completed within 64 seconds, and 95 percent of alarm processing shall be completed within 106 seconds.” Extensions are granted for reports involving Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols, foreign languages, the deaf, hazardous materials, technical rescue, criminal activity that might compromise responder safety, text messages and “calls that require determining the location of the alarm due to insufficient information.”
While identified as being special circumstances, this list encompasses a significant portion of the total events reported to 9-1-1, to the point that they might be considered to be the rule rather than the exception. Consider that while fewer than a dozen states have mandatory EMD, the remainder experience voluntary utilization rates of up to 90 percent. This suggests that pre-arrival protocols are a fairly common practice. Additionally, according to the Federal Communications Commission, about 70 percent of all emergency reports now come from wireless devices. Due to the state of cellular telephony, the majority of these do not provide the necessary data to immediately pinpoint an alarm.
2. Staffing
NFPA 1221 speaks directly to staffing. Included are the requirements that at least two people are on duty at all times, and that sufficient staffing is maintained in order to meet processing time provisions. Further, it addresses personnel assignments during critical operations such as maydays, in that, “When requested by the incident commander, a telecommunicator shall be dedicated to the incident and relieved of other duties within the communications center.”
3. Data security plans
NFPA 1221 requires dispatch centers to have a data security plan that, “shall encompass people, technology and operations,” and cover all devices. While Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) security has historically taken the brick-and-mortar approach of locked doors and restricted access, the movement to more Internet-based communication protocols and connectivity now mandate the inclusion of cyber hazards. Last October, a teenager was arrested for triggering a denial of service attack that affected several 9-1-1 centers. It was launched simply by users clicking on a link in a tweet, and demonstrated the fragility of our current environment to the vulnerability of smartphones. Such exposure will only worsen when the networks that carry emergency calls also gain intelligence.
4. Community concordance
NFPA 1221 addresses community concordance. In Section 8, regulations are set forth regarding the ability to directly dial outside lines from multiple line telephone systems (MLTS) without the need for an access code. These switches are typically provided to private customers, such as hotels and corporate offices, and managed by telephone companies or specialty firms. Twenty-four states currently have legislation in place or under consideration that would allow a user to dial 9-1-1 rather than 9-9-1-1 or some similar combination. (For more information on this topic, see “9-1-1 & Multi-Line Telephone Systems” in the April 2015 edition of Firehouse.)
5. Your district
NFPA 1221 may or may not be in force in your area. Unless you are operating a rig that has been cobbled together from spare parts by your department, chances are your vehicles meet NFPA 1901 standards. Major fire apparatus manufacturers routinely comply with this document and build accordingly. And, if you are not using hand-me-down gear, new PPE will be produced to satisfy NFPA 1971. Any doubts that you might have concerning suitability are easily erased by a label affixed to the garment attesting to conformity. However, determining the status of your dispatching is not as easy. There are no visible tags to declare compliance with NFPA 1221.
For example, cutting communications center construction costs may reduce redundancies in vital components or strip back security. However, the personnel-related sections of the standard, which are the most crucial to operations, may also be the most frequently overlooked.
Although moves toward consolidated dispatch centers may improve the number of telecommunicators on duty, there are still numerous smaller PSAPs in operation. Regardless of the size of the center, adequate authorized staffing and actual crew levels may be entirely different things. Turnover in these positions is extremely high, and shortages of trained operators have existed for decades. Even more problematic is the assumption of a dedicated dispatcher being assigned to mayday communications. While this is ideal, it may likely be idealistic. Many centers do not have the luxury of assigning anyone to a single task through simple lack of numbers. Shorthanded operations in the 9-1-1 center present the same challenges as those on the fireground.
Finally, and perhaps of greater concern, is that while NFPA 1061 established professional standards for public safety telecommunications personnel, there are no adopted nationwide regulations for telecommunicators, nor is there a universal registry as exists for EMTs. In fact, qualifications may often be a local matter, with a number of states having little or no governance whatsoever.
In sum
The effectiveness of NFPA 1221, like any standard, relies on enactment and enforcement. Because of the extreme importance of this document, fire service personnel should familiarize themselves with their local dispatch center, technology, staffing and procedures with an eye to correcting any deficiencies found.
