Public Safety DAS is Now Mandatory

Providing reliable indoor connectivity for first responders is our top priority.

CONTACT US

MISSION CRITICAL: DEADLINES HAVE NOW PASSED MANDATING TESTING AND COMPLIANCE IN FLORIDA. YOUR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

IS YOUR BUILDING IN COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY DAS REQUIREMENTS?

Code calls for 99% coverage in critical areas such as the fire command room, fire pump room, stairwells and elevators. For all other spaces, the coverage required is 95%.

WHAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY DAS

Name: TELECO, Inc.
Price range: $$

Mandatory Indoor Wireless Communications For First Responders
Public Safety DAS utilizing BDA technology provides enhanced two-way radio service via an antenna system. This ensures that our first responders can maintain wireless communications within a building during medical emergencies, fires, natural disasters and other life-threatening events.

A BDA (Bi-directional Amplifier) system is an in-building communication system that brings wireless signals into the structure from outside, amplifies those signals with a signal booster, and then evenly distributes the amplified signals via a Distributed Antenna System (DAS).

There’s good reason that in many areas BDA’s are now a code driven requirement. During 9/11, firemen and police officers couldn’t communicate properly inside the World Trade Center. This triggered changes to the IFC and NFPA codes greatly improving communications for first responders ensuring their radios work wherever they go.

NEW BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS

Many cities and counties in the US have enacted local ordinances and codes making in-building coverage for first responders mandatory. With these regulations every new building must meet a minimum level of first responder communication reliability as a condition for occupancy. It is the responsibility of the building’s owner or operator to have their building tested by a certified Public Safety DAS professional. If required, they must have a system installed and ensure it passes all code specifications. Understanding these local codes is imperative since every jurisdiction has slightly different ordinances. Some states have drafted their own statutes to govern Public Safety Communications. Many municipalities are adopting the language in the IFC and NFPA codes as basis for their interpretation. That means that the location of your building and the relevant local authority dictates which codes must be followed.

2-WAY RADIO COMMUNICATION ENHANCED
PUBLIC SAFETY DAS

Public safety signal booster systems, including DAS, must be installed in compliance with the latest 2024 NFPA guidelines. Systems must adhere to NFPA 1, NFPA 70, and NFPA 72 standards, ensuring compatibility with 700/800 MHz frequencies and Project 25 (P25) for public safety communications. Any system installed must meet these requirements and undergo testing for performance, coverage, and emergency communication reliability. Building owners are required to follow local municipality processes and secure approval from both local and county FCC licensees before installation. If directed by the authorities, the building owner must install or upgrade the public safety signal booster to meet these regulatory standards. Regular system checks and updates are also essential for ongoing compliance.

Does the Current Building Code Change Affect My Building?

If your building has “dead zones” where public safety radio signals are weak or nonexistent, it is mandatory to install a Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) system. These systems are critical for emergency responder communication and must undergo ongoing monitoring and annual testing to ensure compliance with current regulations.

As of 2024, local codes have been updated to enforce these requirements rigorously. Buildings that don’t meet these standards face penalties or delays in obtaining or renewing their Certificate of Occupancy. This code update impacts several types of facilities, including:

Office buildings
High-rise buildings
Parking structures and storage facilities
Hotels and hospitality venues
Malls and retail centers
Educational campuses
Stadiums and arenas
Airports, train stations, and other transportation hubs

Ensuring compliance not only protects occupants but also ensures that emergency responders can communicate effectively in critical situations. Building owners should act promptly to meet these standards and avoid potential fines.

TELECO WILL MAKE SURE YOUR BUILDING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH MANDATORY REGULATIONS

DEADLINES ARE IN NOW IN PLACE MANDATING TESTING AND TOTAL COMPLIANCE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS. TELECO’S ENGINEERS CAN DESIGN AND INSTALL A PUBLIC SAFETY DAS ENSURING YOUR BUILDING MEETS LOCAL JURISDICTION STANDARDS. CONTACT US TO EVALUATE YOUR BUILDING PRIOR TO RECEIVING A NOTICE OF VIOLATION FROM THE FIRE INSPECTOR.

SCHEDULE NOW

WHY TELECO PUBLIC SAFETY DAS?

At TELECO, we believe that people’s safety should always be a priority. Poor communication inside a building can be the difference between life and death. We are committed to delivering the best quality system possible that police, fire and medical staff can rely on to do their job. Deadlines are now in place for testing and compliance of new and existing building in many U.S. cities.

TELECO’s FirstNet™ compatible and scalable systems are trusted by the professionals that depend on them when responding to an emergency. Our team of Public Safety DAS engineers will install a system in your facility that complies with the Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems (ERRCS).

TELECO custom designs in-building systems that utilize both DAS and Small Cell technologies. Small Cells are low-powered cellular radio access nodes that operate in both licensed and unlicensed spectrums. They have a range of up to several miles and are used for in-building and outdoor wireless service in areas requiring much higher user capacity. TELECO will review your facility requirements and propose the best solution which may result in a combination of both technologies.

TELECO WILL EVALUATE YOUR BUILDING TO MAKE SURE MANDATORY REGULATIONS ARE MET

The Public Safety DAS system must be able to pass the commissioning test, acceptance test and annual system performance and battery back-up tests. When it comes to building codes for Public Safety DAS, the IFC and NFPA are the most commonly used standards. Understanding these is critical as the building and the Public Safety DAS must meet all requirements to pass the inspection.

OUR DAS TEAM

Peter Wilson

DAS Operational Manager

Marci Bridges

Director of DAS Operations

Chanton Smith Jr.

DAS Project Coordinator

Steve”Woody” Woods

Data Systems Engineer

Kelly Hawkins

Regional DAS Solutions Manager

Kevin McCloskey

DAS Sales Engineer

Tim Fletcher

RF DAS Field Technician

Tory Harrelson

RF Testing Technician

Stephen Hunter

Director of Innovative Technologies

Bobby Reiter

Regional VP of Sales

Arthur Gregory

Director of Purchasing & Logistics

PROUD PARTNERS

GET STARTED NOW & REQUEST INFORMATION

WHAT IS CELLULAR DAS?

A cellular distributed antenna system (DAS), also known as an in-building wireless system, is a way to deal with poor reception inside a structure. TELECO can provide a solution to this issue by installing a network of relatively small antennas to serve as cellular signal repeaters. These antennas are physically connected to a central controller which is integrated with the wireless carrier’s network.

IS YOUR BUILDING IN COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY DAS REQUIREMENTS?