ERCES Maintenance & Annual Compliance Audit |

The Significance of Yearly Maintenance and Compliance Checks for Public Safety Communications Systems: What Building Managers Need to Know

The safety of residents, occupants, and emergency personnel is essential in any commercial or multi-residential building. Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems (ERCES), also called Public Safety DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems), are vital public safety communications systems for dependable communication during crises. However, simply installing these systems is not enough. Like any other critical safety infrastructure (i.e., sprinkler systems), ERCES must undergo regular maintenance and compliance audits to ensure they function correctly when needed.

As the individual in charge of a building’s safety and functions—whether you are an IT director, facilities manager, or operations expert—it is essential to know why yearly checks and audits of your ERCES are advisable and sometimes required by law.

Failure to comply with these requirements could result in fines and the loss of occupancy until conditions are met.

What is ERCES, and Why is it Important?

ERCES ensures that emergency personnel can communicate reliably inside buildings, even where signals might be blocked or weak, such as in basements, elevators, or places with dense building materials.

The significance of ERCES is high. Respondents depend on these systems during an emergency to coordinate efforts, obtain crucial information, and communicate in real time. If your ERCES fails in an emergency, it can put lives at risk and slow down rescue efforts, potentially endangering your building, residents, and emergency personnel.

What is ERCES, and Why is it Important?

ERCES ensures that emergency personnel can communicate reliably inside buildings, even where signals might be blocked or weak, such as in basements, elevators, or places with dense building materials.

The significance of ERCES is high. Respondents depend on these systems during an emergency to coordinate efforts, obtain crucial information, and communicate in real time. If your ERCES fails in an emergency, it can put lives at risk and slow down rescue efforts, potentially endangering your building, residents, and emergency personnel.

Why Are Yearly Maintenance and Audits Important?

While ERCES are made to be very dependable, systems can weaken over time. Regular maintenance and audits ensure the system keeps working well. Here are some key reasons why yearly checks and maintenance are vital:

Follow Fire and Building Codes
Local fire and building codes require ERCES to be maintained and tested regularly. For instance, the International Fire Code (IFC) Sections 510.5 and 510.6 detail the standards for maintaining and testing these systems, including annual inspections to verify their operation. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, especially NFPA 1221-2016 to NFPA 1225-2022, also lay out testing procedures for ERCES to ensure compliance and safety.Failure to perform regular maintenance and audits could result in noncompliance with these codes, which can lead to expensive fines, permit delays, and, in severe cases, the safety of occupants is endangered.
Early Problem Detection
Routine maintenance helps find problems before they escalate. Spotting issues early can avert severe failures, whether a faulty component, outdated software, or damaged wiring. Since many ERCES problems are related to hardware or signal distribution, regular assessments help confirm that the system is operational, reducing the chances of failures during emergencies.
Enhance System Dependability
The performance of an ERCES depends on factors like signal strength, antenna location, and power supply stability. Over time, system performance can change, leading to weak or no signals in certain building areas. These changes often occur due to structural alterations within a building and additional surrounding urbanization or developments potentially blocking the signal. Routine maintenance allows technicians to test the entire system and ensure it works as intended and was initially designed.
Ensure Safety for First Responders
The primary purpose of an ERCES is to protect first responders by allowing them to communicate effectively during emergencies. A well-maintained system ensures that responders have the necessary tools to save lives and handle crises. If your system fails, it can cause delays in crucial communications and endanger lives.

What is a Maintenance and Compliance Audit?

Annual audits for ERCES generally include these steps:

System Testing

Confirming the system works well across the building and has good signal coverage.

Repeater

Ensure the ERCES repeater’s original settings have not changed since initial commissioning.

Battery and Power Source Checks

Ensure that backup power works and can support the system for the required time during any outages.

Inspection of Antennas and Cables

Check antennas and cables for damage, rust, or anything blocking signals.

Alarms

Test the repeater and battery backup alarms to verify proper functionality.

Grid Test

An annual grid test must be compared to the original one to verify whether signal levels have changed. A grid test measures and maps radio frequency (RF) signal strength in a given area.

Code Compliance Review

This ensures the system meets local and national fire and safety codes, such as IFC and NFPA.

Documentation

Creating reports showing the system meets regulations and works as it should. Annual acceptance testing results are submitted to the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for review. This may be required to renew a yearly Certificate of Occupancy.

Pierson Wireless: Leaders in ERCES Compliance

At Pierson Wireless, we design, install, and maintain Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems. As industry leaders, we know regular audits and maintenance are crucial for your building’s communication systems to stay up to code and work well. Our team understands the technical parts of these systems and the rules they must follow. We ensure your building’s ERCES meets all codes and is ready to function when emergency responders need help.

Pierson Wireless: Leaders in ERCES Compliance

At Pierson Wireless, we design, install, and maintain Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems. As industry leaders, we know regular audits and maintenance are crucial for your building’s communication systems to stay up to code and work well. Our team understands the technical parts of these systems and the rules they must follow. We ensure your building’s ERCES meets all codes and is ready to function when emergency responders need help.

The Pierson Wireless Process

Our first step is always to determine AHJ and research adopted fire code requirements, review rebroadcast agreement(s), and plan testing according to the adopted applicable codes and standards (NFPA 72, NFPA 1221, IFC, ICC, FCC).

Standard testing shall consist of the following:

The integrity of the ERCES should be visually inspected. All active and passive components should be checked for damage or changes from the original installation.
Depending on the adopted code or standard, a complete grid test may be required, as defined by IFC 510.5.3. This test must be compared to the original grid test to determine whether signal levels have improved or deteriorated. If any grids fail, the system must be evaluated, and issues, including additional coverage, must be resolved.
The ERCES repeater shall be tested to verify that the gain settings are the same upon initial installation and acceptance or set to optimize the system’s performance. Validate that there are no spurious oscillations and that donor antenna isolation is verified.
Backup batteries and power supplies shall be tested under load for one (1) hour to verify that they will properly operate during a power outage. If the battery exhibits symptoms of failure within one hour, the test shall be extended for additional one-hour periods until the integrity of the battery plant can be determined.
Other active components shall be checked to verify that their operation meets the manufacturer’s specifications. Any powered device that processes or passes radio frequency must also be inspected.
The fire alarm supervisory monitoring signals shall be tested for proper function.
After the testing, a report verifying compliance with Section 510.5 shall be submitted to the fire code official or AHJ. Pierson Wireless will coordinate the reporting directly with the AHJ or through AHJ-defined inspection tracking tools (like Life Safety Inspection Vault and The Compliance Engine).

Annual acceptance testing may be required to renew the building’s Certificate of Occupancy and maintain retransmission agreements with the FCC license holder.

AHJs have the authority to issue fines for non-compliance. Monetary penalties are issued based on onsite findings and can result in the revocation of a Certificate of Occupancy in severe cases.
Building owners should have a maintenance contract with a system integrator trained to ensure any issues are resolved promptly in case of failure with your ERCES. Pierson Wireless provides this level of service to maintain an ERCES with 24/7 monitoring.
Monitoring offers many advantages in catching issues that may not trigger a fire alarm supervisory alarm.
A maintenance/monitoring contract can resolve issues remotely versus an expensive site visit.

Conclusion: Keep Up with Annual Maintenance and Audits

ERCES are crucial for the safety of building occupants and first responders. Maintaining and complying with building and fire codes helps protect lives and ensures your system works well in emergencies. At Pierson Wireless, we simplify these inspections so you can focus on keeping your building safe.

If you need help with your ERCES maintenance or audit, contact Pierson Wireless today to learn how we can keep your system ready to protect lives and property.