Kamloops Fire and Rescue is heading to a City Committee Meeting Thursday looking for guidance to develop a bylaw hoped to improve radio communications for first responders in high-rise buildings.

This as a recent report suggests modern high-rise construction is making first responder radio communication difficult in the City of Kamloops due to building techniques and materials being used to increase energy efficiency.

However, Tom Calne, the Incoming president of the Canadian Homebuilders Association Central Interior says he does not believe there is anything in the residential sector that would make radio communication difficult.

“My understanding is these problems have come to the forefront after the inspections at the RIH (Royal Inland Hospital) tower. This tower is packed with medical equipment which for all we know, could be blocking the communication,” he says. “So we think it would be really disappointing to have these costs thrust upon our industry if our buildings aren’t even creating a problem.”

According to the report, the public safety radio in building amplification systems bylaw would require bidirectional amplifiers–which comes at a price tag between $4,000 and $25,000– a donor antenna as well as a distributed antenna systems, installed during the construction of new structures or when upgrades are made.

Calne explains if there is a regulation change, it will increase construction costs for residential high rises, which in turn, makes it tough to build affordable housing.

This as he explains their sector is already bracing for a tough year ahead.

“We have seen the step code come in, we have seen EV Readiness come in and we are anticipating significant increases in development cost charges.”

“We would like the City of Kamloops to actually analyze the situation, see if there are any equipment upgrades that they can do on their end rather than applying the costs to new housing,” suggests Calne.

“We always seem like a broken record, but sometimes it feels like we are the only ones advocating for affordable housing.”

He hopes that before any bylaw changes are made, the city will look into these issues.

“If the only solution is the bylaw, then our members will follow the bylaw because safety is more important than anything. But we just want to make sure the City of Kamloops exhausts all options before placing this additional cost on our industry.”