Built & serviced in Lemoyne, PA — by firefighters, since 2009
Crew communication
Crews should not have to shout to communicate. A Firecom headset system supports hands-free, full-duplex crew communication in the apparatus and on scene, with hearing protection and Listen-Through for situational awareness. This guide covers what changes in the cab, where hearing protection fits, and how a department committee can plan a system.
On this page
01Before the call
Crew members riding to a call need to hear the radio, hear each other and understand their assignments before they arrive.
In a loud cab that often means shouting and repeating the same thing over and over.
Firecom headsets give command, crew and dispatch clear communication when crucial seconds count, so the ride to the call is time the crew can use to prepare.
The sections below cover what changes in the cab, where hearing protection fits, and how to plan a system around your apparatus and seating positions.
02Cab communication
Firecom headsets support hands-free, full-duplex crew communication on the rig and across the fireground.
Full-duplex means simultaneous two-way conversation: no waiting your turn to speak, no buttons to push and no need to yell to be heard.
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Hands-free, full-duplex crew communication at each connected seating position.
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No time delays and no waiting your turn to speak, even in loud environments.
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Stereo Listen-Through for situational awareness without removing your hearing protection.
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Radio communications through the intercom: monitor the radio and transmit from radio-transmit headsets.
Stereo Listen-Through microphones provide situational awareness and face-to-face communication without removing your hearing protection.
Push-button control sets how much outside sound you mix in, independent of crew audio volume.
The intercom interfaces with mobile and portable radios, so crew members can monitor the radio and transmit from their seating position.
03Hearing protection
Whether it is loud sirens and air horns or chainsaws, firefighters are often exposed to noise that exceeds occupational exposure limits.
Firecom's hearing loss report quotes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition in the United States, and is more prevalent than diabetes or cancer.
NFPA 1500 recommends hearing protection for firefighters while riding in or working around fire apparatus with a noise level in excess of 90dB.
Firecom 500-Series Wireless Headsets and dual-ear-muff 50-Series Wired Headsets reduce ambient noise by 24dB when worn properly, which Firecom states meets NFPA, OSHA and Cal/OSHA standards. Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) measures a hearing protector's ability to reduce the wearer's sound exposure. The higher the number, the greater the potential for noise reduction. With a 24dB NRR, you can protect your hearing and communicate at the same time.
Listen-Through Technology lets you control how much outside sound to let in, so you can hear approaching traffic, voices around you or someone trying to get your attention. Stereo microphones help you understand whether a sound is coming from in front, behind or to the side. If the headset detects a sudden extreme noise, the ear muff speakers shut down instantly, and normal sound levels return in a couple of seconds.
A 50-Series Wired Headset with a single or slotted ear muff allows ambient noise for situational awareness, but it is not hearing protection. Headset choice is one part of a department's hearing loss prevention program.
For more on noise exposure, see NIOSH Publication 2013-142, Promoting Hearing Health among Fire Fighters and OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure overview.
04Where a system helps
Firecom headsets keep the crew in communication in the apparatus and on scene. These are the situations to talk through during system planning.
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Response: command, crew and dispatch communication on the way to the call.
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Backing and spotting: hear the back-up signal from your apparatus and others on scene with Listen-Through.
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Pump panel and aerial: wireless headsets have the range to work at the pump panel or at the turntable and ladder tip.
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Extractions and scene work: hear traffic, voices and others shouting on scene.
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Training: broadcast mode supports up to 80 users, so instructors and officers can reach everyone at once.
Wireless headsets work within 1,600 feet of the Wireless Base Station with an unbroken line of sight. Check base station positioning for each application before you finalize a configuration.
05Committee plan
A department committee can plan a crew communication system the same way it plans other apparatus equipment. These four steps cover the decisions in order.
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The number of headsets is determined by how many people ride in the vehicle on a regular basis. Typically, one headset is installed for each seating position.
List the positions on each apparatus: driver, officer and rear-seat crew members, plus any position outside the cab such as the pump panel or the tip of the aerial. A Firecom system can connect up to 10 wired headsets, and up to five wireless headsets per Wireless Base Station.
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Transmit capability is determined by the headset, not the position. A radio-transmit headset can be in any position, and intercom-only headsets will not transmit on the radio at any position. Decide which positions transmit on the radio and which are intercom-only.
List the mobile and portable radios the system must connect to. Firecom offers a mobile radio interface cable for the intercom and PR interface cables (sold separately) for portable radios. Check each radio against Firecom's Radio Interface Guide, and note that a 5000D Series Digital Intercom connects up to four radios.
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50-Series Wired Headsets plug into a headset jack to connect with the intercom, which suits fixed positions. Wireless headsets use DECT7 technology and a Wireless Base Station, and have the range to work anywhere, up to 1,600 feet with an unbroken line of sight. They typically eliminate the need for location-specific headsets, such as at the pump panel.
Choose wired, wireless or both for each position, then choose the wear style: under-helmet or over-the-head.
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Train every rider on fitting the headset, adjusting Listen-Through and transmitting on the radio from their position. Decide where headsets are stored in the cab. NFPA-compliant hanger hooks are available for this.
Plan for service before the system goes in. Firecom intercoms and headsets come with a two-year standard limited warranty, and Firecom honors it regardless of who performed the installation. EFES installs and services Firecom systems from Lemoyne, PA.
06Training and upkeep
A crew communication system works when every member knows how to use it.
Train each rider on their own seating position: how to wear the headset, which button transmits on the radio, and how to set Listen-Through.
Wireless headsets turn on automatically when pulled from the power cord and run up to 24 hours on a single charge, so keep them on the charging cable between calls. Replaceable parts such as batteries, ear seals, mic muffs and ear muff ruggedizers are available as accessories.
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Train every rider, not only officers, on fitting the headset and using the controls for their seating position.
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Store wireless headsets on the charging cable so they are charged and ready when pulled from the power cord.
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Use color ruggedizers over the ear muffs to color code positions and configurations.
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Replace worn ear seals, mic muffs and batteries as needed. The Firecom warranty does not cover replaceable and consumable parts, such as batteries.
Apparatus types
Firecom publishes a recommended system configuration for each apparatus type. Use them as a starting point for your own seating position count.
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The 4-User Wireless configuration connects the driver, officer and two rear-seat crew members, with headsets, intercom, Wireless Base Station and accessories. Firecom uses the same 4-User configuration for heavy rescue and hazmat response.
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The 6-User Wireless configuration connects the driver, officer and four rear-seat crew members. Wireless headsets can be used at the tip of an aerial or in the bucket, with continuous communication up and down the ladder.
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The 3-User Wireless configuration connects the driver and up to two paramedics or EMTs. Listen-Through lets crew members hear patients and ambient noise without removing their headsets.
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Incident command and wildland use 2-User Wireless configurations. For work away from the apparatus, a Firecom Portable System with a ComHub takes communication wherever the work is, and tethering links several ComHubs into one conversation.
For the planning committee
Crew communication headset FAQ
Yes. A Firecom headset combines 24dB NRR hearing protection, full-duplex crew communication and Listen-Through for situational awareness. It lets you talk with your crew and monitor the radio while you protect your hearing.
This is determined by how many people ride in the vehicle on a regular basis. Typically, one headset is installed for each seating position. Wireless headsets typically eliminate the need for job- or location-specific headsets, such as at the pump panel or at the turntable and ladder tip on an aerial.
50-Series Wired Headsets plug into a headset jack to connect with the intercom. Wireless headsets connect to a Wireless Base Station with DECT7 technology and can be positioned anywhere within range. A system can include both: up to 10 wired headsets, and up to five wireless headsets per Wireless Base Station.
Yes. 500-Series Wireless Headsets have Stereo Listen-Through Technology, which allows you to mix in outside sound so you can monitor equipment, hear warnings or talk with someone not wearing a headset, all without removing your hearing protection or losing contact with your crew.
No. Headsets work with your radios. Firecom offers interface cables (sold separately) that connect a portable radio to a 50- or 500-Series headset. Firecom supports virtually all radios, and the Radio Interface Guide has a complete list.
Batteries, FH-Series headbands, ear seals, mic muffs and ear muff ruggedizers are available as accessories. Check the headset and ear seals for wear, keep wireless headsets charged, and install Firecom's free firmware updates.
Count the seating positions, list the radios and decide which positions transmit on the radio. Then talk with EFES about a configuration and quote. Firecom's apparatus pages show sample systems for engines, aerials, EMS and more.
Crew system planning
Tell us what you run, how many seating positions each apparatus has and which radios it carries.
We will help you work out the configuration.
EFES sells, installs and services Firecom wired and wireless systems from Lemoyne, PA. Call 1-800-504-2044 or send the team your apparatus details.
