- Solutions
Public Safety ERRC System BDA/DAS
HISTORY
In an emergency situation timing and communication are pivotal for favorable outcomes. During the response to the tragic terrorist attacks of 9/11, it was reported that first responders were unable to communicate with one another via radio in high-rise buildings due to poor emergency responder radio coverage.
Since then, the NFPA 72 (Chapter 24) and IFC (Section 510) have incorporated code requirements setting guidelines for the design, implementation, testing, and monitoring of emergency response radio communication system coverage (ERRC). This enhances the ability of emergency personnel to have better communication to assist building occupants. Though not all AHJs have yet adopted these codes, it is only a matter of time before they will be required.
Emergency Responder Radio Coverage (ERRC)
Innovative offers boosted radio frequency systems that amplify radio signals in the building and subsequently conduct testing. BDA (bi-directional amplifier) and DAS (distributed antenna systems) are types of emergency response solutions for enhancing two-way communication coverage and reception in buildings.
After testing the current levels of radio communication within your building, we can design and implement fire-resistant DAS and BDA to boost coverage in areas that are common dead zones (e.g., basements, stairwells, tunnels, and or parking garages).
TESTING EQUIPMENT
Innovative maintains Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification and is certified to use the PCTEL IBflex testing solution. We utilize the PCTEL Public Safety Testing Solution – P25 that verifies critical communications coverage and signal quality in buildings such as:
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received signal strength indicator (RSSI) levels
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signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)
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frame bit error rate (BER) measurements
Instant pass/fail results that conform to NFPA and IFC standards are automatically reported.
Due to the accuracy of measurements, SINR and BER testing along with RSSI levels have been accepted by jurisdictions in lieu of delivered audio quality (DAQ) since being adopted by the 2018 IFC. The readings taken by the PCTEL testing solution ultimately have tighter tolerances yielding a higher degree of accuracy and precision.