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Radio Communication System

Specification

This document is issued by PED, SABIC E&PM, Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The information contained in
this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It cannot be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose without approval
from SABIC. If you are not authorized to posses this document, please destroy it immediately.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................. 3
2. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... 3
3. DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... 3
4. GENERAL ......................................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Design Considerations ............................................................................................................... 4
4.2 Voice and data recording ........................................................................................................... 5
4.3 Propagation and System Dimension Study ............................................................................... 5
4.4 Site conditions ............................................................................................................................ 5
5. DESIGN AND INSTALLATION................................................................................................................ 5
5.1 Trunked Repeater Station .......................................................................................................... 5
5.2 Base Station ............................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Portable Radios .......................................................................................................................... 6
5.4 Mobile Radios ............................................................................................................................ 7
5.5 System Manager ........................................................................................................................ 7
5.6 System Interface ........................................................................................................................ 7
5.7 Communication Tower and Antennas ........................................................................................ 7
5.8 Power Supply to Radio Equipment ............................................................................................ 8
5.9 Cabling ....................................................................................................................................... 8
5.10 Labeling and Tagging................................................................................................................. 8
5.11 Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) ................................................................................................. 9
5.12 Inspection and Site Acceptance Test (SAT) .............................................................................. 9
6. REVISION HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 9
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1. Scope
This standard establishes the minimum requirements for the planning, design, specifications
and installation of UHF Radio Communication Systems.

2. References
Reference is made in this standard to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments
and supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES)
E11-E02 Grounding and Lightning Protection for Substation, Buildings and Structures
E13-S01 Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
E14-E01 Main Substation Design
K01-E01 Communication Systems Design Criteria
X05-S01 Process Control Cable Specifications
Basic Engineering Design Data (BEDD)
Applicable BEDD
High Commission for Industrial Security (HCIS)
SEC-05 Security Systems at Industrial Facilities
SEC-07 Power Supplies
SEC-08 Security Communications & Data Networks
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
TIA-222-G Structural Standard for Antenna Supporting Structures and Antennas
TIA-568-D Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises
TIA-569-D Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces
TIA-603-E Land Mobile FM or PM Communications Equipment Measurement and
Performance Standards
TIA-606-B Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure
TIA-607-C Generic Telecommunications Bonding and Grounding (Earthing) for Customer
Premises
Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
Part 15, Sub part J-RF Interference
European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI)
ETS 300 113- Radio Equipment and Systems

3. Definitions and Abbreviations

Spurious Emission: Emission on a frequency or frequencies which are outside the necessary
bandwidth.

Tone Remote Adaptor: It is a device that provides a means of connecting a base station radio
to dispatch consoles or handsets.
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CITC: Communications and Information Technology Commission

CSA: Canadian Standards Association
EMI: Electromagnetic interference
FM: Factory Mutual
MTTR: Mean time to repair
RF: Radio frequency
SINAD: Signal-In-Noise-And-Distortion-
SNR: Signal to noise ratio
UHF: Ultra High Frequency

4. General

4.1 Design Considerations

4.1.1 Designer shall estimate the number of frequency channel pairs for UHF Trunked Radio System
required at site, based on number of user talk groups.

4.1.2 The complete radio system design shall comply with all the requirements mentioned in HCIS
directive SEC-08 and SES-K01-E01.

4.1.3 All the frequency channel pairs shall be pre-approved by CITC before procuring the radio
equipment.

4.1.4 The radio system shall be class-A UHF and shall consist of sufficient repeaters, base stations,
handheld radios to support specific number of user talk groups.

4.1.5 The radio system shall provide communications coverage within authorized operating zones
that shall be non-fading, electromagnetic interference free, with high voice quality. All radio
devices shall conform to part 15 of FCC rules.

4.1.6 Designer shall ensure, the radio equipment specifications conform with ETS 300 113, for the
following parameters as minimum:

a. Frequency error

b. Adjacent channel power

c. Spurious emissions

d. Receiver sensitivity

4.1.7 There shall be equal number of trunk repeaters and frequency channels to support the required
number of frequency channel pairs for ensuring non-blocking radio traffic during peak usage.

4.1.8 The radio system shall be engineered for 99.99 percent availability with MTTR of 8 hours.

4.1.9 The system should include but not limited to the following components of a radio system:

a. Trunk repeater
b. Transmitter combiner
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c. Receiver multi coupler

d. Antennas
e. Site controller
f. Antenna tower
g. Feeder cables
h. System manager (computer, software, printer, keyboard, display)
i. Base station (transceiver) inclusive of transmitter combiner and receiver multi-couplers
where required
j. Desktop base station with push–to-talk (PTT) button, microphone and speaker
k. Base station towers and antennas with mounting hardware
l. Portable handheld radios with accessories

4.2 Voice and data recording

All voice communications into and out of the Security Control Center (SCC) shall be recorded
and maintained per HCIS directive SEC-05.

4.3 Propagation and System Dimension Study

This study shall be done by an experienced agency. Contractor shall review, validate and clarify
survey results and engineer a system to suit all requirements.

4.4 Site conditions

Refer to BEDD for details.

5. Design and Installation

5.1 Trunked Repeater Station

5.1.1 The output power shall be adjusted to 75 watts.

5.1.2 Channel spacing shall be 12.5/25 KHz.

5.1.3 Receiver sensitivity shall be equal or better than -116 dB.

5.1.4 All interconnection cables shall be low-loss, flexible coaxial cables and shall comply with SES-
X05-S01 requirements.

5.1.5 All transceiver equipment shall be housed in standard EIA 19-inch racks.

5.1.6 The design of transmitter shall comply with the following typical information as a minimum:

a. Output power: 25-100 Watts adjustable.

b. Frequency Range: 403-433 MHz, or 433-470 MHz (depends on approved SABIC
operating frequency range that may fall under either category)
c. Modulation: Frequency Modulation
d. Audio distortion: less than 3 percent at 1000 Hz
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5.1.7 The design of receiver shall comply with the following typical information as a minimum:

a. Input impedance: 50 ohms

b. Audio distortion: less than 3 percent at 1000 Hz.

5.2 Base Station

5.2.1 Estimate the base stations minimum one for each of the operator console.

5.2.2 Base station requirements within the same building where the main trunked radio system is
located shall use dispatcher units only, i.e. direct feeds to the trunked radio system. This shall
eliminate the need for additional transceiver units.

5.2.3 The design of transmitter shall comply with the following typical information:

a. Output power: 15-25 Watts,

b. Frequency Range: 403-470 MHz
c. Modulation: Frequency Modulation
d. Audio distortion: less than 3 percent at 1000 Hz;

5.2.4 The design of receiver shall comply with the following typical information as a minimum:

a. Input impedance: 50 ohms

b. Audio distortion: less than 3 percent at 1000 Hz

5.2.5 The following options shall be provided with each base station:

a. Tone Remote Adaptor (Junction Box)

b. Desktop microphone with push-to-talk (PTT) button
c. Telephone handset type speaker/microphone, with PTT

5.3 Portable Radios

5.3.1 Portable radios shall be handheld type, with top mounted antenna and channel selector, battery
and side mounted push-to-talk button with the typical transmitter and receiver characteristics
as mentioned below.

a. Output power: 1-4 Watts

b. Frequency Range: 403-470 MHz
c. Modulation: Frequency Modulation
d. Audio distortion: less than 3 percent at 1000 Hz.

5.3.2 The design of receiver shall comply with the following typical information as a minimum:

a. Sensitivity @ 12 db SINAD: 0.25 µv

b. Oscillator stability: 2.5 PPM
c. Audio distortion: less than 3 percent at 1000 Hz
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5.3.3 Handheld radios shall be provided with noise cancelling headsets with boom type noise
suppression microphones, for operations in high noise areas for hands free operation. In
addition to hand held radios, all audio accessories shall be certified by FM and CSA.

5.3.4 The radio equipment shall be capable of supporting multiple talk groups as required for the site.
Talk groups shall be indicated with an alphanumeric display. Portable radios shall be suitable
for immediate use on simplex frequencies.

5.4 Mobile Radios

5.4.1 Mobile radios are recommended for vehicles, forklifts, cranes users if specified.

5.4.2 Requirements of mobile radio shall be similar to those mentioned in transmitter and receiver
requirements of base station.

5.4.3 Additional features like fixing kits for dash board mount, power unit suitable for 12 Vdc or 24
Vdc, and vehicle mount antenna fixing kit with feed cable shall be provided.

5.4.4 Mobile radios shall have the same selection capabilities as portable radios supporting point to
point communication and talk group capabilities.

5.5 System Manager

5.5.1 A computer based, system maintenance and configuration station shall be provided that is fully
user configurable. It shall monitor the radio main equipment repeater, controller, power supply
etc. System manager shall display system malfunction alarm and status information about any
critical component.

5.5.2 The system manager shall allow user to add, delete or modify units of the system and it shall
provide continuous monitoring of the system. This shall be done with menu driven software
provided within the system.

5.6 System Interface

5.6.1 An interface capability between the radio system and the plant paging, public address and
telephone system should be provided. This interface shall allow base stations, mobile and
handheld radio units to receive or place calls through these systems.

5.7 Communication Tower and Antennas

5.7.1 The design of a self-supporting communication tower shall be based on the site coverage
requirement determined by a specialist agency and, its installation shall comply with all local
codes and standards for lightning, wind loading, color, grounding etc.

5.7.2 The tower design shall comply with TIA-222-G requirements.

5.7.3 The tower shall be located in a designated non-hazardous area.

5.7.4 Towers greater than 30 m in height shall have resting platforms at 20 m intervals. These
platforms shall be arranged such that personnel must leave the section ladder to get access to
the next section ladder.

5.7.5 The tower shall be located within 30 m of the building that houses the associated radio
equipment.
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5.7.6 The tower lightning protection shall follow recommendations and guidelines provided in SES-
E11-E02 and TIA-607-C.

5.7.7 The contractor shall provide lightning protection design for SABIC review.

5.7.8 Pure copper cable insulated with green PVC, 28 strand, 2 AWG, rope-lay and tinned shall be
buried 1 m deep to form a continuous ground ring around each tower base. Each tower leg
ground electrode and the building entrance plate shall be bonded to this ground ring.

5.7.9 Apex of the tower shall be mounted with a lightning terminal as finial, which shall be connected
to the ground ring by green PVC, 28 strands, 2 AWG, rope-lay and tinned copper conductor.
The copper conductor shall run down one leg of the tower and be bonded to the tower at least
every 3 m. The lightning terminal shall be at least 2.0 cm in diameter, highly polished solid
copper with pointed nickel tip. The terminal shall project at least 60 cm above the highest point
of the tower and tower accessories including antennas.

5.7.10 Cables connecting the antennas mounted on tower to the building shall be installed through
overhead cable trays.

5.8 Power Supply to Radio Equipment

5.8.1 Power supply shall be evaluated as per the equipment manufacturer’s requirement.

5.8.2 UPS for Security Communication Equipment and ISS shall comply with HCIS directive SEC-07
and SES E13-S01 requirements.

5.8.3 The designer shall estimate the consumption load of the whole system and specify the UPS
backup requirements in accordance with HCIS directive SEC-07 and SES E13-S01
requirements.

5.8.4 Power distribution

a. The rectifier/charger shall provide a circuit breaker distribution panel.

b. Each rack equipment load shall be connected through an appropriate circuit breaker for
protection.

5.9 Cabling

5.9.1 Cable pathways installation between the repeaters, base stations and end user equipment shall
conform to TIA-569-D.

5.9.2 All communication cables installation and termination shall conform to the TIA-568-D.

5.9.3 Coaxial cables used for interconnecting antennas and the repeaters, base stations and end
user equipment shall conform to SES-X05-S01.

5.10 Labeling and Tagging

5.10.1 All equipment and cables shall be labeled and tagged for the environment for which they are
installed. The tagging material shall be permanent, visible and readable. Tagging materials shall
comply with industry standards. Refer to the TIA-606-B for more information on tagging and
labeling.
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5.11 Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)

5.11.1 Simulation and validation of system setup, its total functionality test, programming and
configuration shall be done at factory as per the FAT procedures approved by SABIC.

5.11.2 Configuration and programming of pre-defined talk groups shall be done and tested at factory.

5.11.3 TIA-603-E shall be referred for the test conditions and methods of measurement to ascertain
the performance of equipment.

5.11.4 FAT procedure shall be provided to SABIC for review at least 2 weeks prior to FAT
commencement.

5.12 Inspection and Site Acceptance Test (SAT)

5.12.1 Following field tests as minimum shall be performed:

a. Verify operating frequencies of transmitters and receivers.

b. Verify RF power of transmitter and confirming coverage area of base station.
c. Check SNR and SINAD for receiver systems.
d. Check RF cable and antenna matching and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).
e. Check lightning protection devices are bonded properly to the outside building ground
grid.
f. Ensure that all the necessary certificates and approvals are available for radio system
equipment and its frequencies.
g. Verify that calibration certificates for all the testing equipment are valid.
h. SAT procedure shall be provided to SABIC for review at least 2 weeks prior to SAT
commencement.

6. Revision History
Revision No. 0, June 2012
Revision No. 1, March 2017
Revision No. 2, June 2022
Complete revision. Renamed and renumbered as per new
categories.
Alignment with international standards, References updates,
Editorial changes.
Addendums incorporated, references updates, editorial
changes.