Page 321 - TCDB combined Book

300 The Complete DESIGN BUILDER

Communications:

Depending on your project locations with respect to your office the need and method of
communication will vary. There is no denying the importance of being able to resolve problems
and contact people on an urgent basis. A direct line of communications between the Project Site
Office and others will not only make communications easier but will also save time and money.
Telephone service should be installed wherever possible and in some instances Health and Safety
requirements will require that a telephone be installed. There are other forms of communications
to consider and we offer the following.

Two-Way Radio:

With a base station located at the office and hand-held units distributed to your mobile
staff there can be a continuous communication system established. Although this method is
basically an internal system, the ability to make requests to the base station for relaying to outside
persons should give this system some consideration.

There will be no airtime charges to use this method of communication and other than the
initial radio equipment expenditure, licensing fee and some maintenance costs it will be fairly
economical to operate on an ongoing basis.

Cellular Phones:

The most convenient system to consider today would be the use of Cellular phones.
Project sites where regular phone services is not available, must be considered for a Cellular
phone due to the necessity of having a method of communications. Due to the intensive
marketing strategies by the Cellular Phone Service Companies the reasonable cost and ease in
obtaining the phone unit and your individual number make it hard to resist. The airtime fees long
distance charges and standby costs makes this system an expense that is difficult to control. The
fact that all outgoing and most incoming calls, are timed and charged, will suggest some
restriction on the distribution of these cellular phone numbers, particularly if multiple units are in
use.