Why is it important to test public safety radio coverage on campus?
It is critical for first responders to maintain reliable two-way radio coverage when responding to incidents inside K-12 and higher education facilities.
When Police, Fire and EMTs enter your buildings, they depend on their radios to provide clear and uninterrupted communication. If radio signals between first responder personnel are compromised, critical situational awareness cannot be shared, incident response times can be delayed, and the consequences can be significant.
Hopefully the buildings throughout your district already include radio coverage for your local first responders. If not, you may need to implement an Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System (ERCES).
Having an ERCES, or Public Safety-DAS system, installed in your facility ensures first responders have two-way radio communication during an emergency. The requirement for dependable radio coverage as mandated by the FCC, IFC and NFPA even extends to hard-to-reach areas such as stairwells, underground tunnels, parking garages, electrical closets and pump rooms.
At PMC, we engage with the local code officials, or Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), to gather updated indoor coverage and code requirements and make sure all testing performed meets local annual code requirements.
As public safety signal enhancement needs vary from building to building, no two solutions are identical. PMC Wireless partners with the leading engineering and technology providers to design, install and maintain the optimal end-to-end solutions you can count on. Our in-house GROL (General Radio Operator Licensed) personnel are proficient with the technology to adjust, maintain and repair these radio systems, providing customers with a professionally installed and maintained solution. When installed, these signal enhancement systems are mandated to be tested annually for optimal performance.
Many districts have a checklist they work from to stay on top of annual certifications.
These lists typically cover important items such as:
- Fire Alarms
- Fire Extinguishers,
- Door Alarms
- Elevators
- Other Critical Infrastructure
Additional consideration for annual testing should also be given to testing the ability of first responders to communicate over their radio system throughout your campus.
New variables can emerge every year that might impact the reliability of radio coverage in your buildings. For example, new construction materials or projects like roof-mounted HVAC units, solar panels and new low e-glass windows can all negatively impact the radio coverage within your buildings. In addition, the trend of municipalities abandoning their local radio infrastructure and joining county or state networks could challenge their ability to provide adequate coverage within all local structures.
Once installed, an ERCES from PMC Wireless comes with a service agreement to give you peace of mind that y our facility’s PS-DAS system will stay optimized and compliant.
If you would like a free consultation to understand the steps that can be taken to test and, if necessary, enhance your public safety radio signals, contact PMC Wireless today. PMC Wireless can also help enhance in-building cellular coverage!