Emergency Radio Communication Enhancement System (ERCES)
What are BDAs / DAS?
Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDAs) and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) refer to the main components of an Emergency Radio Communication Enhancement System (ERCES)– an array of indoor antennas, connected to a head-end unit and an outside antenna. These systems receive signals from the public safety radio network and rebroadcast them inside a building and receive signals from responder radios inside the building to rebroadcast them onto the radio network. When properly engineered, installed, and maintained, they improve indoor radio coverage.
What are the potential problems?
When a BDA is installed without the consent of the radio system operator, it may not have been correctly engineered and tested. Poorly designed and installed systems can cause interference around the outside of the building. They can also create interference that can disable a radio tower site. This interference is difficult to track down and mitigate.
How can fire marshals help?
When inspecting a building, look for a BDA head-end unit. These are typically installed in the same room as the fire alarm control panel and usually have a battery backup system. Many current-production BDAs can be connected to the fire alarm system to send a supervisory alarm when the BDA detects an internal fault.
The building owner or management must also have a rebroadcast agreement, sometimes also known as a retransmission agreement. This is an agreement with the radio system operator allowing the BDA to use radio frequencies licensed by the FCC to the radio system operator. Without a valid rebroadcast agreement, operating the BDA violates FCC rules.
Who should you contact for frequency coordination?
Frequency coordination should be managed between the BDA contractor/building owner and the radio system manager/frequency holder. Some areas may require coordination between more than one system owner. You may need to contact more than one system manager to verify compliance and ensure rebroadcast agreements are in place. If a Class A BDA is being used, the building owner will need to sign a frequency license agreement with the system owner prior to energizing the system.
The map below illustrates primary radio system owners and their contact information or process for frequency coordination.
System owners contact info:
TACN
TVRCS
NASHVILLE METRO (DAVIDSON COUNTY)
Nashville Fire Marshal Office: fmoplans@nashville.gov
Rich Rairigh: Metro Radio System POC: itsmseradioshop@nashville.gov
SUMNER COUNTY
Ken Weidner, Director
Sumner County EMA
(615) 714-4258
kweidner@sumnerema.org
MEMPHIS
Memphis Fire Prevention and Shelby County operate together at:
https://www.develop901.com/construction-enforcement
For Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett and Millington the permit is started at the link above and the BDA permit is passed to the City/Authority having jurisdiction.
Questions for Memphis Fire Prevention
fire.prevention@memphistn.gov
Builders or any citizen can apply for a permit at https://aca-prod.accela.com/SHELBYCO/Default.aspx and apply for a ERRCS permit.
MURFRESSBORO
https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/FormCenter/Fire-Rescue-25/Commerical-Building-Form-248
POC:
Joe Johnson | System Manager
Radio Communications - City of Murfreesboro
1004 North Highland Avenue
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Office: 629-201-5629 | Cell: 615-691-07180
0716@murfreesborotn.gov