First responders rely on public safety radio system (PSRS) for critical communications and life safety. Many jurisdictions have implemented ordinances that adopt building/fire codes governing PSRS coverage within buildings. The codes are derived from different agencies and organizations including the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), International Code Council (ICC), International Fire Code (IFC), International Building Code (IBC) and First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). Responsibility for testing and certification of all applicable codes related to in-building PSRS coverage typically falls upon the building owner or their construction/general contractor.

Trott engineers are experienced with all aspects of public safety communications and can provide assistance with the challenges associated with communications code compliance. Trott can help alleviate the burden placed on building owners by offering a full array of engineering consulting services to test and certify that buildings meet the specific codes for Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems (ERRCS). The ERRCS certification is one of many requirements that must be completed by the building owner/contractor in order to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy. 

The NFPA 1221 and IFC 510 fire codes specify that RF grid testing and mapping should be performed on each floor of a building to verify that PSRS coverage meets the standards enforced by the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction). If the outcome of the grid testing confirms that the in-building PSRS coverage does not meet applicable codes, a coverage enhancement solution must be designed, installed, and tested to resolve the deficiency. Enhancement solutions could include repeaters, bi-directional amplifiers (BDA), or a large scale fiber-fed distributed antenna system (DAS).

Trott offers engineering and consulting services associated with certifying in-building coverage for public safety radio systems, including:

• Grid testing, signal level testing and reporting 
• Enhancement solution options and budgetary costs
• Procurement support
• Implementation support
• Project management
• Acceptance testing