What You Need to Know About Two-Way Radio Communication ERRCS Booster Systems and NFPA 72

What You Need to Know About Two-Way Radio Communication ERRCS Booster Systems and NFPA 72

Keeping up with building codes can be strenuous. Regulations and requirements are always being updated to improve building functionality and overall safety. Recently, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 72) has been updated, and all buildings must be up-to-date with all changes by the end of 2020.

New regulations are requiring building owners to provide wireless coverage throughout his or her facilities to securely aid first responders. The State of Florida is going to require high-rise residential and commercial buildings, like condos and hotels, to install DAS ERRCS Radio Boosters. Each building’s specific coverage requirements will vary by the property’s location and structural details.

Requirements for a ERRCS Communications system:

• The system must be on a different spectrum than your commercial wireless.
• The system’s signal must cover the entire building. This includes 99 percent of the building including critical areas such as pump rooms, exit stairs, exit passageways, elevator, and elevator lobbies.
• The system has a backup power source that keeps the system operations intact in case power in the building is out.
• The system must have monitoring capabilities that alert you of any system malfunctions and low power.

Current NFPA 72 consists of:

• Critical areas such as fire command centers, the fire pump rooms, exit stairs, exit passageways, elevator lobbies, and other areas deemed critical by the authority, must be provided with 99 percent floor area radio coverage. 
• A minimum inbound signal of -95 dBm must be provided throughout the coverage area.
• A minimum outbound signal strength of -95 dBm at the donor site must be provided from the coverage area.
• The buildings that cannot support the required level of coverage must be equipped with radiating cable system or distributed antenna system (DAS) with FCC-certified signal booster in order to achieve the required adequate coverage.

Contact RF Freqs to test the radio signals and determine if your building needs a Radio Booster system or install an ERRCS Communications system in your building. That way, you can help first responders receive crucial support in the most difficult circumstances.