Loss of radio communications at the incident ground

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report (recommendation 113.61) stated that: 

“Since radio communications are inherently unreliable in certain environments, we recommend that firefighters be trained to respond appropriately to the loss of communications and to understand how to restore them 

In response, NFCC has developed a change request for the Incident Command Operational Guidance. The change addresses issues relating to the establishment and testing of communication strategies at high-risk premises, and ensuring personnel understand common radio communication limitations and the actions required when communications become ineffective or are lost.  

The updated guidance introduces content on pre-planning and testing communication arrangements, briefing personnel on communication methods and contingency arrangements, and implementing fallback measures to maintain communication resilience at incidents.  

The change request was endorsed by NFCC Guidance and Training Scrutiny Panel and NFCC Operational Guidance Forum and has subsequently been approved for publication by NFCC Operational Preparedness, Response and Resilience Committee.  

• A summary of impacts on strategic actions, including the reference numbers of: 
• 0 Strategic actions deleted  
• 1 New strategic actions  
• 2 Strategic actions that have had minor wording changes