Public Safety ERCES

Understanding Public Safety Requirements

Construction materials used in large commercial buildings—concrete, steel, glass, and insulation—can absorb or reflect VHF and UHF radio signals. This can present a significant problem for first responders, who rely on land mobile radios (LMRs) to communicate in and around a building during a fire, a medical emergency, a law-enforcement incident, or other crisis event.

An emergency responder communication enhancement system (ERCES) enables communication for first responders by providing emergency responder radio coverage (ERRC) inside a building. The ERCES is a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) that receives radio signals, amplifies them, and re-transmits them. ERCES components are fire- and water-resistant and include battery backup power.

A public safety communications system is often a code requirement before a building owner can receive an occupancy permit from state and local authorities. Many older buildings of significant size are also required to retroactively install an ERCES to bring the building up to code.

The building codes and other requirements governing public safety DAS (distributed antenna systems) often vary between jurisdictions; these regional differences can lead to confusion and delays for building owners, contractors, and developers. Knowing how and where to turn for expertise and information will save you time and money when selecting an effective and reliable public safety ERCES.

Features to Look for in an ERCES

There are a few things you should know about public safety DAS in order to make an informed decision about which system will best meet your needs and offer the best possible solution for first responders in an emergency.

1. The National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) specifies that communication equipment most be watertight, waterproof, and “exclude at least 65 GPM of water from a one-inch nozzle delivered from a distance not less than 10 feet for five minutes.” All equipment enclosures for public safety communications systems must meet NEMA’s enclosure standards to minimize exposure and damage in the event of an emergency.
2. Your system needs to include monitoring alarms that notify you of power or battery failure, antenna network malfunctions, and low battery capacity for backup. The level of monitoring required is dictated by the fire marshal or AHJ in your local jurisdiction.
3. NFPA and IFC both require −95 dBm signal strength within the coverage area of the system across all frequencies, including high-frequency VHF. This may require a greater number of interior antennas for 700 or 800 MHz to achieve the proper amount of coverage and signal strength.
4. Your system should accommodate the need for frequency updates, in case your local authority decides to switch to different bands or expand the bands they use.