There are numerous challenges both from a business and technical perspective when designing and implementing indoor coverage solutions. This report does not address the business case for the mobile operator but it does provide a cursory review of key planning, analysis and design milestones. The author can assist you with a basic cost structure for a DAS as well as analysis and design in order to purchase a commercial off the shelf (COTS) system.

To the end, the design is only as good as the installation because a well-designed DAS that has significant hardware impairments due to poor trade work or faulty equipment can result in costly remedies and poor network performance. Comparatively, a well-designed and high performing technical solution needs to consider future wireless carrier trends and technologies and the associated tradeoff between design and cost for this future proofing.

DAS Antenna Layout for 125,000 square foot corporate office

 GENERAL PLANNING ISSUES

The interior of many office buildings is light construction with mainly drywall over metal stud with some wood construction as well as drop tile ceilings. Most if not all of the floor material is steel and concrete which attenuates wireless vertically on the order of 30 dB (shielding effectiveness). IN these types of buildings, wireless service can degrade significantly in both coverage and as more employees occupy a facility, in capacity. Moreover, as in any wireless network there is a tradeoff in coverage versus capacity and as up to 8000 employees at one corporate facility, a well-designed DAS is pertinent to high performing wireless services.

Before purchasing an in-building system, a well-structured plan must exist to ensure the DAS is both technically and economically feasible as well as designed and implemented for a successful project. Although a sales or key account manager will be the main point of contact for a firm undertaking a DAS project, it is the Carrier RF Planning team that must approve the technical solution. The firm should review the initial plans and design with each carrier independently and control the funding and DAS maintenance to assure multiple commercial wireless services (LTE, Cellular, PCS) are offered to the desired coverage area. The mobile wireless operator will require a well-structured design and implementation plan to evaluate the business case installation process for the DAS.  To that end, the enterprise should be mindful of the political and cultural issues surrounding a DAS. However, the wireless carrier must approve the design and performance of the DAS according to FCC rules. The initial system design should consider the buildings’ communication and IT spaces, aesthetics constraints determined by the building owner/architect as well as construction schedules.

General Process for DAS Planning, Analysis and Design

• Planning and consultation with DAS Expert
• Site Survey and performance analysis
• Design and documentation (wireless service provider(s) approval)
• Wireless Service Provider coordination and interface requirements – ensure the DAS ‘type’ will accept the carrier’s infrastructure (i.e. BTS-to-DAS head end)
• Supervise installation – DAS components especially coax is susceptible to trade work damage
• Test of coaxial system (RL and PIM)
• Final specialty installation of parts and electronics
• Integrate and test whole system – Head end installation work should be performed by a DAS Specialist (specialty work)
• Commission service – Commissioning should only be performed by a “DAS Specialist” (i.e. experienced RF Engineer)
• Training – Firm should consider internal capabilities to operate the DAS in the event of wireless carrier collaborations.

 TYPICAL LARGE OFFICE CASE:

The figure below displays the coverage plot for a typical office building at the Corporation irradiated by 750 MHz electromagnetic energy. The coverage plot is colored coded from a very “hot” signal level of -40 dBm (bright red, “5 bars”) to -60 dBm (green, “5 bars”) to -80 dBm (blue, “4 bars”) and then a weak signal, but likely useable of -100 dBm (black). Signals emerging from the building will diminish significantly due to building losses and antenna EIRP and with optimization there will be a seamless handover to the macro cellular system once a user leaves the building to the outside.

Speaking of “handovers”, the DAS system is implemented for future capacity growth needs and therefore, a sector plan by the wireless carrier is required. Well defined handover zones are critical for GSM, UMTS and LTE systems to prevent “ping-pong” or even drop calls. Moreover, handover control parameters are crucial in the DAS final layout and optimization.

Predicted Coverage Plot for Office Building (750/850 MHz MIMO antennas are denoted with solid circles; coverage level scale shown for received signal power)

Signal “path” loss (Free space path loss) is dependent on frequency and distance between the transmitting antenna and the wireless device according to:

where f is the carrier frequency in MHz of the transmitter and d is the distance (meters) from radiating antenna to the receiving device.

For example, the FSL inside a typical office building (200 feet) for an LTE signal transmitting at 750 MHz is approximately 65.6 dB. The distance to nearest base station off campus with line of sight (LOS)  is approximately 5000 feet so that FSL at 750 MHz is 93.5 dB. A typical LTE base station ERP per channel is 56 dBm and therefore the signal level just outside the office building will be on the order of      -37 dBm. The building wall attenuation at LTE frequencies is on the order of 20 to 30 dB. Thus the interior signal level can be -37 dBm – 20 dB – 65.6 dB = -122.6 dBm which is below the noise floor of a 4G handset.

In addition to the theoretical modeling, an on-site RF survey is required by a DAS specialist. The DAS specialist should record spectral plots for various office buildings in a frequency range that includes all wireless carriers. Signals that fall below -100 dBm are considered “weak”. However, the spectrum analyzer measurement techniques are required to accurately discern the signal levels relative to the noise background.

TOPOLOGY CONSIDERATION

The fundamental goal of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is to distribute a uniform dominant signal inside a building using indoor antennas to provide sufficient coverage and capacity to users. Also fundamentally, in facilities with a relatively large number of users (i.e 1000 to 10,000) requires a DAS with enough capacity, although not at one time.

Among the choices for the “type” of DAS, a passive system that simply repeats the outdoor coverage will not have enough capacity for a high density facility. Alternatively a dedicated active DAS with dedicated base transceiver stations (BTS) housed on-site and feeding an optical and coaxial distribution network can provide much higher capacity and meet coverage requirements if well-designed. A Commercial DAS Scheme recommended by the author is a neutral host (firm/enterprise managed), multi-band optical distribution system with coax-fed remote antenna units (dual “MIMO” antennas).

As mentioned previously, a DAS will not perform properly if the antenna distribution system has been materially compromised. The installer is required to practice “duty of care” in loading/unloading, handling, extending, connecting and terminating coaxial (as well as fiber) cables.

Typical High Capacity Topology for Commercial DAS Projects

Not treated here, but of potential concern in some situations and jurisdictions, is the matter of radio frequency safety. In general, power density from most DAS installations is sufficiently low as to be acceptable under most codes and standards. However, the designer should always examine and provide for these possibilities.

In summary, DAS design is more than an RF coverage assessment – it includes planning, analysis, RF spectrum background noise levels and propagation characteristics and modeling of the building. DAS antenna layout is only effective after these steps so that excellent coverage results. Finally, before choosing a coverage enhancement solution, proper analysis of the macro and micro system design is required by cooperating with the wireless carrier. The design objectives for the DAS solution should balance cost with coverage. The cost balance results in a system that provides voice and moderately high data rate services.  The DAS solution should be compatible with multiple carriers (operators) with 2G, 3G and LTE services including future multiple input multiple output (MIMO) needs for LTE and AWS bands.

About the author:

Chris Horne is Chief Technology Officer with the LBA Group, Inc. Chris is a Professional Engineer, and holds a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

He specializes in wireless and industrial communications, including DAS system design and evaluation, RF safety, and RF interference management. Chris has successfully undertaken many challenging WLAN and DAS projects. Contact Chris at chris.horne@lbagroup.com or 252-757-0279.

About LBA Group Inc.

LBA Group, Inc. has 50 years of experience in risk management, design, and integration of industrial and wireless telecommunications infrastructure assets, worldwide. It is comprised of the professional engineering consultancy Lawrence Behr Associates, Inc. LBA University, Inc. providing on-site and online professional training; and LBA Technology, Inc., a leading integrator of radio frequency systems, lightning protection, and EMC equipment for broadcast, industrial, and government users. The companies are based in Greenville, N.C., USA.

Keep up with the latest LBA news and industry information on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LBAGroup.

http://www.lbagroup.com/services/in-building-wireless-distributed-antenna-system-das-solutions

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RF hazard “Notice” sign posted at entrance to a wireless site.

To ensure that the safety messages on these signs are effectively communicated – and to standardize warnings across all workplaces – OSHA mandates the use of the following safety headers:

• Danger – Danger sign headers are in red, black and white. The Danger header is probably the most serious header of all four because it warns workers of immediate hazards that can either kill or severely maim them. Some examples of signs that use this kind of a header include “Confined Space” signs or “High Voltage” warnings.Since this header is only used for safety signs that warn about the most hazardous situations in your facility, you must only use it as such to prevent diminishing the impact of the sign. After all, if your facility is peppered with Danger signs, then people might just get used to them and start ignoring them, which can be very dangerous.

• Warning – Warning sign header colors are orange and black. If you need to warn workers about perilous situations and a Danger sign is too severe, you can use a Warning sign instead. This header is designed for use on safety signs that notify people about situations that can result in severe injury or death.
• Caution – Caution sign headers are in yellow and black. If a Warning sign is still too severe, you can use a Caution sign instead. It is used for potentially hazardous situations that can either result in minor to moderate injury.
• Notice – Notice sign headers are white and blue. These headers are used for safety signs that are about general safety regulations in a facility, such as “Keep This Door Closed” or “Do Not Block Door.”

Some safety signs may have the same messages but have different headers. One good example is the “No Smoking” Sign, which is available with either Danger or Notice headers. It all depends again on the situation you are going to use it for.

For example, a Danger “No Smoking” sign should be used when you need to ban smoking in an area near hazardous and highly flammable materials that can be easily ignited by a lit cigarette or even an ember. The Notice variant of this sign is good for use in an area that you just want to keep smoke-free. An example of such is a building lobby, where the reason for the sign is to keep the area free of cigarette smoke and the chances that the lit cigarette will burn something is substantially smaller.

An instance of a specialty sign use is to mark the several levels of hazard awareness around cellular and wireless sites. These requirements are best conveyed through tutorials. One can learn the proper use of RF hazard signage and safe RF work practices in the LBA University on-line OSHA RF Awareness course, for example.

Whatever the subject, apart from these standard headers, OSHA signs also have to conform to the ANSI Z535.2-2002 standards when it comes to the size of the sign and font type. Before buying anything, check these regulations outto ensure you’re buying the right OSHA- and ANSI-compliant safety sign for your facility.

About LBA University: LBA University offers an array of on-site and on-line OSHA safety courses. You can consult its catalog at http://www.lbagroup.com/lba-university. Instructor-led classes are offered at LBA’s campus in Greenville, NC or can be brought to any location across the U.S.  Classes are customized to focus on the specific topics relevant to each business or work site. Keep up with LBA safety blogs at http://www.lbagroup.com/blog/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LBAGroup.

About the Author:  Hazel Evangelista is a writer, reader, and part-time sun-worshipper. She’s been writing about safety and security lately, and you can find more of her work at Emedco’s Blog. If not busy at work, she’s busy with life – climbing mountains, surfing waves, or lazing by the beach with a good book in hand.

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The Wi-Fi Alliance, the organization that owns the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) term specifically defines Wi-Fi as any WLAN product based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 802.11 standard. Some folks think WiFi technology is not part of a “small cell”. However, one can argue that unless a wireless technology is part of a tower’s local infrastructure, it is considered a small cell. A WLAN design includes “small cells” of wireless access points (WAP) much like a cellular DAS. Even if a carrier adds “WiFi offloading” the WLAN is detached from the tower and hence could be described as a small cell.

Typical complex WLAN architecture by Cisco

The demands on WLANs for functionality and scalability are growing due to the rapid proliferation of new network devices and applications. The number of devices and connections per user is steadily increasing. It is common for most users today to not only have a primary computing device but also at least one other smart device. Wireless operators have worked hard to accommodate the increased demand for data services over wireless networks. They have been forced to consider alternative offload strategies, including wirelessly connecting electronic devices (Wi-Fi). Unfortunately, the majority of smartphones being introduced into the marketplace only support Wi-Fi at 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz), which is rapidly increasing pressure on Wi-Fi designers and administrators to design products for the smallest segment of bandwidth available. Many devices now include the 5 GHz band (vis-à-vis 802.11n). Administrators and IT Managers are finding themselves faced with the challenge of providing ever-increasing levels of WLAN service in areas where simple coverage is the singular design goal. While there have been great advances made in the speed and ease of implementation of Wi-Fi networks, the basic nature of radio frequency (RF) is generally unchanged. Increasing the number of users who can access the WLAN in a small physical space remains a challenge. The steps and process for a successful high user density WLAN design that can be proven, implemented, and maintained.

The general concepts underlying medium-density Wi-Fi design remain true for many environments. But it is important to note that the content and solutions presented here will not fit every WLAN design scenario. Rather, the intent of the design guide is to explain the challenges in WLAN design and to offer successful strategies so that engineers and administrators understand them and are able to articulate the impact of design decisions.

Not treated here, but of potential concern in some situations and jurisdictions, is the matter of radio frequency safety. In general, power density from most WLAN installations is sufficiently low as to be acceptable under most codes and standards. However, the designer should always examine and provide for these possibilities.

WLAN design refers to any environment where client devices will be positioned in office environments where coverage expectations of a normal enterprise deployment, in this case a traditional, multi-floor, carpeted office are both ubiquitous and robust. For reference, a typical office environment has indoor propagation characteristics for signal attenuation as shown below. User density is a critical factor in the design. Aggregate available bandwidth is delivered per radio cell, and the number of users and their connection characteristics (such as speed, duty cycle, radio type, band, signal, and signal-to-noise ratio) occupying that cell determines the overall bandwidth available per user. A typical office environment may have APs deployed for 2,500 to 5,000 square feet with a signal of -65 dBm coverage and a maximum of 15 to 20 users per cell. That is a density of one user every 100 square foot (sq. ft.) and yields a minimum signal of -65 dBm.

WLAN 2.4 GHz Coverage Heat Map (WAPs are white-shaded circles;
Coverage scale is received signal power)

Before a WLAN design is completed, a heat map survey and RF spectrum measurements are performed. A WLAN survey detector as well as a spectrum analyzer can reveal both existing WAPs and any interference that may be present in a facility. Graphical heat maps help visualize anticipated wireless LAN behavior for planning and design of a new or upgraded system.   During the survey general information on the architectural characteristics of an office should be noted. A sample of existing AP signals is collected while spectrum readings are made to support the study and analysis.

Propagation of electromagnetic waves inside buildings is a very complicated issue. There are various models based on various principles with various requirements for input data complexity. In real situations, any piece of furniture, open doors and windows, moving people, reflections from outside the building and other effects influence the signal propagation. In a propagation study, several assumptions are made based on either typical WLAN equipment parameters including AP power output and average antenna gain. Predicted coverage levels on an individual multiple input multiple output (MIMO) WLAN channel may vary up to plus or minus several Decibels (dB) due to antenna gain variations in azimuth. The WLAN signal also changes due to attenuation of the walls and ceiling. Assuming a median attenuation for both frequency bands, wall losses are also estimated based on the survey and empirical data. Heavy wall losses are modeled as moderate cement member unit losses. Floor to floor penetration is modeled as the floor construction is assumed to be concrete poured on a metal pan. However, with some signals penetrating the floors, coverage will be enhanced with AP parameter optimization. Exterior wall and window losses are modeled as based on survey observations and other empirical data. It is also assumed that the 802.11n AP’s will be operated in narrow channel mode (i.e. 802.11b) so that multiple channels can be utilized for frequency division multiplexing of users. The design criteria are -65 dBm in coverage under a load of 15 users. A typical office may have APs deployed for 2,500 to 5,000 square feet with a signal of -65 dBm. However, to the end, typical AP layout goal is to assure contiguous coverage throughout all of the building.

In summary, WLAN design fundamentals include planning, analysis and design of the heat map data, RF spectrum background noise levels and propagation characteristics of the building. WLAN AP layout is only effective after these steps so that excellent coverage for 802.11n technologies will be available to all users in the building. A WLAN upgrade may be necessary at your facility to ensure business needs are met with technology- business drives technology!

About the author:

Chris Horne is Chief Technology Officer with the LBA Group, Inc. Chris is a Professional Engineer, and holds a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

He specializes in wireless and industrial communications, including DAS system design and evaluation, RF safety, and RF interference management. Chris has successfully undertaken many challenging WLAN and DAS projects. Contact Chris at chris.horne@lbagroup.com or 252-757-0279.

About LBA Group Inc.
LBA Group, Inc. has 50 years of experience in risk management, design, and integration of industrial and wireless telecommunications infrastructure assets, worldwide. It is comprised of the professional engineering consultancy Lawrence Behr Associates, Inc. LBA University, Inc. providing on-site and online professional training; and LBA Technology, Inc., a leading integrator of radio frequency systems, lightning protection, and EMC equipment for broadcast, industrial, and government users. The companies are based in Greenville, N.C., USA.

Keep up with the latest LBA news and industry information on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LBAGroup.

The post WLAN System Design Fundamentals Part 1: General Concepts appeared first on LBA Blogs.

Click here to view the press release.

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The magnitude of the task is vast – some 5 million employers must train 43 million workers to the new OSHA standard by deadline! To help you understand the new regulations, LBA University™ offers this six-step guide on HazCom GHS compliance.

1.   What is the new GHS OSHA standard and when does it begin?

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is a globally standardized approach to label elements and safety data sheets. The basis of GHS encompasses practices utilized by major existing systems around the world, including OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and the chemical classification and labeling systems of other U.S. and international agencies.

The new standard provides harmonized classification criteria for health, physical, and environmental hazards of chemicals. It also includes standardized label elements that are assigned to these hazard classes and categories, and it provides the appropriate signal words, pictograms, and hazard and precautionary statements to convey the hazards to users. A standardized order of information for safety data sheets is also provided.

OSHA is adopting the GHS.  This means the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is being modified. The original standard is performance-oriented, allowing chemical manufacturers and importers to convey information on labels and material safety data sheets in whatever format they choose. The GHS utilizes a more standardized approach to classifying the chemical hazards and conveying the information.

The new GHS OSHA standard will include detailed criteria for determining what hazardous effects a chemical poses, as well as standardized label elements assigned by hazard class and category. The safety data sheet requirements establish an order of information that is standardized. Adoption of the GHS in the U.S. and around the world aims to improve the understanding of chemical information received from other countries. The goal is to elevate the effective and efficient access to information by all those exposed to chemicals, including emergency responders.

The revised HazCom GHS will be phased-in using several key compliance deadlines in the U.S.   The table below outlines these deadlines and the actions necessary for compliance. 

Three key compliance facts:

• Employers must provide the appropriate HazCom GHS compliance training prior to the compliance effective date.
• Employers are required to be in compliance with either the existing HCS or the revised HCS, or both.
• OSHA understands that there will be a period of time where labels and SDSs under both standards will be present in the workplace. This will be considered acceptable, and employers are not required to maintain two sets of labels and SDSs for compliance purposes.

The bottom line for meeting compliance standards for the December 1, 2013 deadline is that employers must train employees on the new label elements, which include pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, signal words and the new SDS format. This training must take place prior to the effective date.

2. How has the standard changed from the old HazCom?

Three major areas of change:

• Hazard definitions have been changed to provide specific criteria for hazard classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.
• Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide labels that include a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided.
• Safety Data Sheets will now have a specified 16-section format.

All workers encountering chemicals in the workplace must be trained.

3. What are the details of the new HazCom GHS pictograms and labels?

Under the current HazCom, the label preparer must provide the identity of the chemical, and the appropriate hazard warnings. This may be done in a variety of ways, and the method to convey the information is left to the preparer. Under the revised HazCom, once the hazard classification is completed, the standard specifies what information is to be provided for each hazard class and category.

Labels will require four elements:

• Pictogram: A symbol plus other graphic elements, such as a border, background pattern, or color that is intended to convey specific information about the hazards of a chemical. Each pictogram consists of a different symbol on a white background within a red square frame set on a point (i.e. a red diamond). There are nine pictograms under the GHS. However, only eight pictograms are required under the new HazCom.
• Signal words: A single word used to indicate the relative level of severity of hazard and alert the reader to a potential hazard on the label. The signal words used are “danger” and “warning.” “Danger” is used for the more severe hazards, while “warning” is used for less severe hazards.
• Hazard Statement: A statement assigned to a hazard class and category that describes the nature of the hazard(s) of a chemical, including, where appropriate, the degree of hazard.
• Precautionary Statement: A phrase that describes recommended measures to be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical or improper storage or handling of a hazardous chemical.

There are eight required HazCom GHS pictograms and they must be displayed with the symbol in black and bordered in red as illustrated below:

HCS Pictograms and Hazards

*The environmental pictogram is not required, because environmental hazards are not within OSHA’s jurisdiction.

Note: HazCom GHS will require chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, or employers who become newly aware of any significant information regarding the hazards of a chemical to revise the labels for the chemical within six months of becoming aware of the new information. Labels on containers of hazardous chemicals shipped after that time must contain the new information. If the chemical is not currently produced or imported, the chemical manufacturer, importer, distributor, or employer shall add the information to the label before the chemical is shipped or introduced into the workplace again.

4. How will HazCom GHS change the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

The information required on the safety data sheet (SDS) will remain essentially the same as that in the current standard known as HazCom 1994. What will change is the format for how that information is displayed.  The revised Hazard Communication Standard for the SDS format is the same as the ANSI standard format which is widely used in the U.S. and is already familiar to many employees.

The SDS format will require 16 sections with specific headings in a specific order:

• Section 1. Identification
• Section 2. Hazard(s) identification
• Section 3. Composition/information on ingredients
• Section 4. First-Aid measures
• Section 5. Fire-fighting measures
• Section 6. Accidental release measures
• Section 7. Handling and storage
• Section 8. Exposure controls/personal protection
• Section 9. Physical and chemical properties
• Section 10. Stability and reactivity
• Section 11. Toxicological information
• *Section 12. Ecological information
• *Section 13. Disposal considerations
• *Section 14. Transport information
• *Section 15. Regulatory information
• Section 16. Other information, including date of preparation or last revision

*The contents of sections 12-15 will not be enforced, but the section headings must be included. The contents of these sections are not under OSHA’s jurisdiction.

Millions of workers must be trained by 1 December 2013!

5. Who is affected and what are the benefits and cost?

According to estimates published by OSHA, over 5 million workplaces and 43 million employees in the U.S. would be affected by HazCom GHS. The standard for determining what facilities are affected is relatively straightforward. The United States Department of Labor states that any establishment where employees “could be exposed to hazardous chemicals” is required to comply with OHSA HazCom GHS.

OSHA has projected several benefits from the revised HCS.  The agency said that on an annual basis it will result in the prevention of 43 fatalities and 585 injuries and illnesses, 203 lost-workday injuries and illnesses, and 64 chronic illnesses. This translates into preventing 318 lost-workday injuries and illnesses. OSHA estimates that the monetized value of this reduction in occupational risks is an estimated $250 million a year.

OSHA estimates substantial residual financial benefits as well.  They believe that productivity improvements for health and safety managers and logistics personnel will result in savings of $475.2 million. The total cost for implementing and maintaining HazCom GHS is estimated at $201 million a year on an annualized basis for the entire U.S.

6. How to stay current on the latest training requirements?

As with any government mandated safety requirement, it is subject to change. HazCom GHS is no exception. It is expected that the GHS will certainly issue changes over time that may be adopted on a two year cycle.

Updates in the future could include:

• Technical updates for minor terminology changes
• Direct Final Rules for text clarification
• Notice and Comment rulemaking for more substantive or controversial updates such as additional criteria or changes in health or safety hazard classes or categories. Visit www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom for detailed GHS HazCom information.

LBA University™ is happy to serve as a resource for your questions concerning HazCom GHS. Bryan Dixon, LBAU’s course director, is an OSHA-certified safety instructor with two decades of industrial, construction and fire safety training experience. LBAU offers an economical HazCom GHS training course online. Custom training options for employers are available on location, or at the LBA University Training Center in Greenville, NC.

“The Dec. 1 GHS deadline is just the first in a series of rollouts of the new GHS standard by OSHA,” said Dixon. “I would expect the agency to pay very close attention to compliance related issues as this new system is implemented.”

Contact Bryan for a no obligation consultation about your professional safety training needs. He can help you determine if HazCom GHS training is needed and the best approached to achieve cost effective and efficient training. Contact Bryan at: bryan.dixon@lbagroup.com or 252-757-0279.

About LBA Group Inc.
LBA Group, Inc. has 50 years of experience in providing electromagnetic protection for industrial and telecommunications infrastructure assets. It is comprised of LBA University, Inc. providing on-site and online professional training; the professional engineering consultancy Lawrence Behr Associates, Inc.; and LBA Technology, Inc., a leading marketer and integrator of radio frequency systems, lightning protection, and EMC equipment for broadcast, industrial, and government users worldwide. The companies are based in Greenville, N.C., USA.

Keep up with the latest LBA news and industry information on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LBAGroup.

David Horn is an award-winning business and marketing development specialist with LBA Group, Inc. He helps some of the largest mobile carriers in the country implement regulatory compliance programs. LBA also utilizes his decades of experience in communications and new media to supplement the global marketing initiatives of the company. He specializes in turning complex topics into informative and entertaining stories.

The post Six Steps to Understanding HazCom GHS Compliance appeared first on LBA Blogs.

Click here to view the press release.

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Mobile data requirements are exploding worldwide – Nokia

Ever since the first days of AMPS analog cellular service, wireless site design was based on macrocells; relatively few regional three sector cells employing frequency reuse such as could provide a coverage range of 10 to 15 kilometers or more. In the 1990s so-called “microcells” appeared. These access points, often simple outdoor repeaters, typically had service radii of less than a kilometer or so to add coverage to weak spots. Subsequently, the concept of distributed antenna systems (DAS), involving the chaining or grouping of small cells, emerged. Thus arose the notion of “picocells”, becoming popular for in-building systems. Picocells, by contrast to microcells, typically cover areas less than 100 meters. Notwithstanding, both pico and micro cells are “RF equivalent” cell sites placed under the macrocell umbrella, generally for capacity fill-in and expansion use, at least for now.

Femtocells are the smallest of the small cell family, with coverage on the order of single rooms or offices. In 2007, AT&T sold the first shoebox size “femtocell” for home and office use. Unlike many passive DAS systems who are backhauled “over-the-air” to a macro cell, an AT&T femtocell has a unique IP address and traffic is passed through the subscriber’s broadband connection to an access gateway installed in the AT&T network.

4G Metrocell requirements are exploding

Small cells deployed in metropolitan areas are often referred to as metrocells – compact and discrete micro base stations mounted on lampposts, positioned on the sides of buildings or found indoors in stadiums, transport hubs and other public areas.  Small cells typically can cover up to 200 meters for some applications. “Small cells” therefore is nothing new, technically speaking but they do present deployment challenges much different from “greenfield” sites. The discussion within the wireless industry about small cells and Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets is the combination of both macro and smaller cell sites) is reminiscent of the mid 1990s when there was talk about underlay-overlay techniques and macro versus micro base station.

One can say that small cells are in the orbit of Distributed Antenna Systems or “DAS”. I speculate that small cells will be the future because of spectrum demands; tower sites will be too high and thus a small cell “drop-in” will be appealing to the wireless carriers.  The idea is for a small cell “shoebox” to contain integrated 3G/4G/Wi-Fi, but most manufacturers are still in the product development stage for that topology.

A variety of small cells now cover the urban landscape – OFCOM UK

Wireless providers are and will continue to use small cells and some are now trialing them in strategic locations. Where DAS has been king for coverage fill-in and capacity growth, experts estimate that small cell equipment growth should catch up to DAS by late 2016. Small cells and DAS should complement each other. ABI Research estimates that one-fourth of DAS will eventually be fed by small cells due to smaller equipment and may be more inexpensive than feeding DAS with more expensive macro site. Because small cells are completely IP-based, a standard Internet service over a virtual private network can be used to connect to the carrier’s core network.

Small cells are designed to increase overall sector density or capacity, but can present challenges when it comes to acquiring sites and integrating them into the macro wireless network.  Some of the challenges faced by the macro network are similar to todays’ small cell deployment challenges, including the availability and cost of backhaul and commercial power. If carriers do not achieve significant economies of scale on small cell equipment, site costs could be more than expected and result in a negative NPV and no return on investment. In many urban and suburban areas, because the cost of acquiring a cell site can be greater than the cost of installing equipment, carriers are planning to deploy lower power and smaller antenna cells (or mini-cells) that occupy less space.

An often very frustrating consideration involves acquiring approvals from local regulatory and zoning bodies to permit installation of small cell sites. Regulatory processes can be time and resource consuming; thus the cost to acquire site access may exceed the cost to install the equipment. Concealment and aesthetics also require attention for these dense urban small cell sites. Many municipalities and permitting bodies require specific aesthetic designs and unappealing sites can face additional costs.

Faux trees concealing urban wireless antennas for zoning compliance – Spaceandculture

In addition to reducing the visual impact of the pico/micro cell equipment, carriers must address engineering challenges such as interference with adjacent sectors and providing adequate backhaul to reduce transport/backhaul congestion. Without self-optimizing network (SON) capabilities, interference and coordination may be unmanageable and impractical. Furthermore, to achieve maximum data throughput in areas with high data usage by customers, improving the signal level and reducing noise and interference so that all data packets can be successfully received is critically important. Performance degrades with distance from the cell, so antenna pattern shaping and signal-to-interference control needs to be optimum.

In summary, key considerations in the deployment of small cells will include: 1) development of flexible all-outdoor non-traditional structures, 2) meeting strict zoning/permitting requirements by blending into the urban environment using compact design and mini-antennas, 3) engineering systems to be simple to deploy, maintain, and operate with maximum integration, and 4) meeting microcell backhaul needs where fiber may not be available.

With all these challenges the big question is how to utilize the small cell for coverage and capacity enhancements without “splitting hairs” even further!

Chris Horne is Chief Technology Officer with the LBA Group, Inc. Chris is a Professional Engineer, and holds a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

He specializes in wireless and industrial communications, including DAS system design and evaluation, and RF interference management. Contact Chris at chris.horne@lbagroup.com or 252-757-0279.

The post What’s All This Small Cell Stuff, Anyhow? appeared first on LBA Blogs.

Planta del Sistema de Agua, Crossett, Arkansas

La utilización de tecnologías mas avanzadas por las industrias a nivel mundial significa que la protección de estos componentes sensibles a los rayos es más importante que nunca. En el caso de Crossett, los grandes motores industriales que mueven su serie de pozos son controlados por sistemas  electrónicos de estado sólido que no tienen que sostener una carga estática  masiva para sufrir daños. “Sabíamos que teníamos tomar el toro por los cuernos”, dijo Buddy Kinney con Crossett.

Después de buscar intensamente por la solución adecuada para la planta de agua, Kinney encontró a LBA Technology, Inc. en Greenville, Carolina del Norte y se puso en contacto con el representante de productos  Javier Castillo. “En la investigación de LBA, he encontrado algunos productos que yo pensé que eran adecuado para nuestras necesidades. Javier me ayudó a  determinar  cuáles eran  los productos que necesitábamos. ”

La Comisión del Agua Crossett ahora protege su instalación, que incluye una renovación de $ 6,6 millones, con mástiles especializados contra rayos de  LBA. Recientemente han instalado la protección contra rayos en una serie de pozos y en  un silo de cal alto, después de un largo calvario que comenzó en julio de 2010.

La serie de mástiles PLP protegen las  instalaciones de Crossett, proporcionando un cono de protección dentro de la cual las descargas por rayos se desvían hacia el mástil y  a tierra en lugar de ser enviado a través del objeto protegido, como es el caso de la protección  convencional contra rayos. Este cono de protección, que se define por la NFPA cono el método  de “bola rodantes” , es crítico. Este enfoque evita que equipos costosos y sensibles sean  un conducto para los rayos. Los mástiles también están equipados con terminales aéreas de disipación de estática aire para reducir significativamente el riesgo de una descarga por rayos  mediante la reducción del campo eléctrico en la proximidad del mástil  contra rayos.

“Estoy convencido de que los mástiles conra rayos LBA ya se han  pagado por ellos mismos, manteniéndonos  a salvo durante  varias tormentas que hemos tenido desde su instalación”, agregó Kinney.

La  historia de Crosset  para eliminar el riesgo de daños por rayos  comenzó en medio de una  renovación que costaba  varios millones de dólares. El proyecto de renovación estaba por completarse en julio de 2010, cuando les afectó un rayo que causó daños en  varios circuitos eléctricos y de instrumentación a través de su sistema.  La sustitución de piezas y volver a poner el sistema en operación  tuvo un costo de más de $ 13.000. Otro rayo cayó en la víspera de Año Nuevo de 2010 con un precio de reparación de casi $ 23.000. Estos costos no tienen en cuenta el tiempo de inactividad y las molestias resultantes causadas a los clientes.

Fue en este punto que el Sr. Kinney encontró a  LBA y Castillo recopiló información de Kinney en un esfuerzo por recomendar la solución adecuada. “Javier me ayudó a entender qué productos necesitábamos  y cómo instalarlos”, dijo Kinney.

Cabezal de pozo de Crossett protegido por un mastil contra rayos de LBA Technology PLP-22

LBA fue capaz de suplir los mástiles  especializadas a Crossett de manera rápida y eficiente ya que todas las partes y las longitudes de las secciones cumplen  con los estándares de envio via UPS. Kinney encontró que la  instalación  es sencilla y efectiva en costo; “La instalación fue sencilla y no requiere de mucha mano de obra, y lo mejor de todo, no es caro.” Los  mástiles PLP-22  fueron instalados. La instalación fue en una base sencilla  de concreto  ya  que  los mástiles s se han diseñado para ser instalados con labor manual sin que sea necesario el uso de grúas.

But Crossett’s lightning challenges were not yet over.  Some of their critical infrastructure still had not been protected with the LBA lightning masts, leaving them vulnerable to strikes.  Two of Crossett’s unprotected wells were hit by lightning in 2012. One took a hit in August 2012 leaving a repair cost of just over $1,400 and another well was damaged in September 2012 resulting in a damage price tag of

Pero los problemas de Crossett  con los rayos aún no habían terminado. Algunas de sus infraestructuras críticas aún no habían sido protegidas con los mástiles contra rayos LBA, dejándolas vulnerables a recibri descargas . Dos de los pozos no protegidos Crossett fueron golpeados por un rayo en 2012. Uno recibió un descarga en agosto de 2012 dejando  un costo de reparación de poco más de $ 1,400 y otro también sufrió daños en septiembre de 2012 resultando en un precio por  daños de casi $ 2.000.

El Sr. Kinney no perdió el tiempo en contactar de nuevo  a Castillo en  LBA . “Se nos ocurrió un sistema de protección contra rayos para cada uno de nuestros pozos”, dijo Kinney.

Ellos fueron capaces de proteger a cada uno de los pozos con los mástiles especializados a un costo promedio de$ 2,400 dólares por pozo. “Una inversión muy cómoda teniendo en cuenta  que un rayo puede causar entre $ 1,200.00 a $ 2,000.00 en daños”, agregó Kinney. “Yo recomiendo sin reservas los mástiles de protección contra rayos de  LBA Technology  rayos a toda entidad  que crea una atmósfera propensa a atraer un rayo debido a la electricidad, instrumentación y componentes electrónicos”, dijo Kinney.

Mas Acerca de los Mastiles Contra Rayos PLP de LBA

LBA Technology ofrece el PP-14, PP-22, PP-30 y PP-38. Estos mástiles contra rayos son  ligeros, robustos, fijos y portátiles  están fabricados con aleaciones de aluminio del masalto grado. Los mástiles, que varían en altura desde 14 pies a 38 pies, son resistentes y están disponibles con diferentes estilos de montaje y sistemas de puesta a tierra. Junto con las terminales aéreas de disipación de estática , este sistema especializado de LBA  ofrece una defensa contra rayos  que es incomparable.

El montaje y desmontaje de la serie de mástiles PLP es un simple procedimiento para una  persona, utilizando herramientas manuales comunes, y normalmente requiere menos de una hora. Una vez montado, un mástil PLP puede ser fácilmente acoplado con un sistema de apoyo apropiado. La sección de base universal del mástil está diseñado para interactuar con una base fija opcional (FB-1), la base portátil (PB-1), o una base suministrada por el cliente.

Independientemente de la solución de protección contra rayos usada, hay un hecho que es cierto acerca del rayo y es  que es de  naturaleza impredecible. No hay un sistema en el mercado que pueda garantizar el 100 por ciento de protección contra un fenómeno natural, como un rayo, pero con 50 años de experiencia a nivel mundial en protección electromagnética, LBA tiene la experiencia para diseñar y proporcionar las mejores soluciones de protección contra rayos para  infraestructura especializadas.

Para mayor información acerca de las soluciones ofrecidas en protección contra rayos por LBA Technology, visite  http://www.lbagroup.com/es/productos/sistemas-de-proteccion-contra-rayos-para-torres-antenas-y-estructuras  Para discutir su aplicación contacte a  Javier Castillo, jcastillo@lbagroup.com o llamando al  252-757-0279.

Mantengase al dia con LBA siguiendo nuestro  blog en www.lbagroup.com/blog/ y en  Facebook  www.facebook.com/LBAGroup.

The post Como un Sistema de Agua en Arkansas Eliminó Costosos Daños por Rayos appeared first on LBA Blogs.

Crossett, Arkansas water system plant

More advanced electronics being used by industries worldwide mean protecting these sensitive components from lightning is more critical than ever before.  In Crossett’s case, the large industrial motors running their series of wells are controlled by solid state electronics which do not have to sustain a massive static charge to suffer damage. “We knew we had to put this horse out to pasture,” said Buddy Kinney with Crossett.

After searching intensely for the right solution for the water plant, Kinney found LBA Technology, Inc.  in Greenville, NC. He then contacted product representative Javier Castillo. ”In researching LBA, I found some products I thought would fit our needs. Javier helped me understand what products we needed.”

The Crossett Water Commission now protects their facility, which includes a $6.6 million renovation, with specialized LBA lightning masts. They have recently installed the lightning protection on a series of wells and a tall lime silo after a long ordeal that began in July 2010.

The PLP series of lightning masts protect Crossett’s facilities by providing a cone of protection within which lightning charges are diverted to the mast and grounded instead of being sent through the protected object, as is the case with conventional lightning protection. This cone of protection, defined by the NFPA “rolling ball” method, is critical. This approach avoids making expensive and sensitive equipment a conduit for lightning. The lightning masts are also equipped with charge dissipating air terminals to significantly reduce the risk of an actual strike by reducing the electrical field in the vicinity of the lightning mast.

“I am convinced the LBA lightning masts have already paid for themselves, keeping us safe through several thunderstorms we have had since installation,” added Kinney.

Crossett’s story of how they conquered the risk of costly lightning damage started in the midst of their multi-million dollar renovation. The renovation project was nearly complete in July 2010 when the first lightning strike hit, shorting out several electrical and instrumentation circuits throughout their system.  Replacing parts and getting their system back on line came at a cost of over $13,000.  They took another lightning hit on New Year’s Eve 2010 with a repair price tag of nearly $23,000. These costs don’t take into account the resulting downtime and potential water customer inconvenience.

It was at this point that Mr. Kinney found LBA and Castillo gathered information from Kinney in an effort to recommend the right solution.  “Javier helped me understand what products we needed and how to install them” said Kinney.

Crossett wellhead protected by LBA Technology PLP-22 lightning mast

LBA was able to get the specialized lightning masts to Crossett quickly and efficiently since all parts and section lengths meet UPS shipping standards.  Kinney also found installation straightforward and cost effective; “Installation was simple, not time consuming, not labor intensive, and best of all, not expensive.” PLP-22 lightning masts were installed. Installation was on a simple concrete pier, and the lightning masts were designed to be set up with manual labor; no cranes needed.

But Crossett’s lightning challenges were not yet over.  Some of their critical infrastructure still had not been protected with the LBA lightning masts, leaving them vulnerable to strikes.  Two of Crossett’s unprotected wells were hit by lightning in 2012. One took a hit in August 2012 leaving a repair cost of just over $1,400 and another well was damaged in September 2012 resulting in a damage price tag of almost $2,000.

Mr. Kinney wasted no time contacting Castillo at LBA again.  “We came up with a lightning protection system for each one of our wells,” said Kinney.

They were able to protect each of the wells with the specialized masts at an average cost of $2,400 per well.  “A very comfortable investment considering one lightning bolt can cause anywhere from $1,200.00 to $2,000.00 damage,” added Kinney. “I would without reservation highly recommend the LBA Technology lightning protection masts to any facility that creates an atmosphere that wants to attract lightning due to electrical, instrumentation, and electronic components,” said Kinney.

More about LBA PLP lightning masts

LBA Technology offers the PLP-14, PLP-22, PLP-30 and PLP-38.  These lightweight, heavy duty fixed, portable, and kitted lightning protection masts systems are manufactured from highest grade lightweight aluminum alloys. The masts, which range in height from 14 feet to 38 feet, are rugged and are available with various mounting styles and grounding systems.  Coupled with LBA’s dissipater air terminals, this specialized system offers a lightning defense that is unmatched.

Assembly and disassembly of the PLP series of masts is a simple one person procedure, using only common hand tools, and typically requires under an hour. Once assembled, a PLP mast may be readily mated with an appropriate support system. The universal base section of the mast is designed to interface with an optional fixed base (FB-1), portable base (PB-1), or customer supplied base. Patents are pending on this unique lightning mast.

No matter what lightning protection solution is deployed, there is one fact that is certain about lightning and that its unpredictable nature.  There is no system on the market that can guarantee 100 percent protection against a natural phenomenon like lightning, but with 50 years’ experience worldwide in electromagnetic protection, LBA has the expertise to design and furnish the best lightning protection solutions for specialty infrastructure.

For more information on lightning protection solutions offered by LBA Technology, visit www.lbagroup.com/products/lightning-protection-systems-for-towers-antennas-and-structures. To discuss your application, contact Javier Castillo or Byron Johnson at lbagrp@lbagroup.com, phone 252-757-0279.

Keep up with what’s going on at LBA by following our blog at www.lbagroup.com/blog/ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LBAGroup.

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Click here to view the press release.

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