The study of firefighter operation radio attenuation during fire disaster

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of environmental and human factors on communication attenuation as well as to improve radio signal attenuation. In this study, a fire training containerized structure for firefighters and commercial rescue portable radios were used for a communication experiment in a fire scene. It was found that the firefighter’s relief communication posture reduced radio communication power. The prone posture had the greatest effect on radio communication attenuation. Also, smoke caused a decrease in communication power regardless of flame burning conditions or temperature effects. The results of the study showed that the communication power can be improved by changing the radio antenna orientation and operating the radio in a non-dense smoke layer. Finally, this study proposed that a new portable radio protection bag with thermal protection designed for firefighters wearing radios on oxygen cylinder straps could effectively improve the communication attenuation problem.