Public Safety

In the unlikely event that you are in an emergency situation at your work, school, or local big-box retailer, how do you make sure that help is on the way? Emergency responder radio communications systems (ERRCS) are the primary means for reaching out to first responders when you need help in an emergency.

First responders use special handheld radios that pick up signals from ERRCSs so they can provide assistance quickly and effectively. Once the emergency personnel respond to the incident, the ERRCS (sometimes also called Public Safety DAS) will also facilitate communication between the members of the team, by eliminating “dead zones” where radios and walkie talkies don’t work.

Public Safety DAS for First Responders & EMS

While concrete and metal are strong building materials, they also block out radio signals. Radio frequencies are strong at their source and become weaker the farther they get from the transmitter, so when emergency responders enter your building, their radios may not be strong enough to penetrate the building’s materials.

It is more and more common for first-responders, (Police/Fire/EMS), to demand reliable ubiquitous radio coverage to ensure the safety of the public, as well as their own. In many high-profile cases, poor in-building radio coverage has a negative impact on first responders ability to communicate effectively in a crisis situation, further complicating serious tragedies. The prevailing thought today is that “Mission-critical” coverage can no longer end at the building’s doorway, basement, or stairwell.

Find out what an ERRCS might cost your school:

Want to learn more but not ready to purchase? We’re happy to help you find federal funding and learn about ERRCS.

SCHEDULE A DISCOVERY CALL

What Makes a Public Safety Distributed Antenna System Work In a Crisis

Emergencies happen when you least expect them. Managing a property is a large responsibility, but you can sleep soundly knowing that you’ve invested in the right insurances and assurances. An EERCS (also called public safety DAS) is one of those assurances.

To have a public safety DAS installed in your building, a team of professionals will survey your property and design a system that will provide your building or property with optimum coverage. As with passive DAS designs, professionals install a series of signal repeaters for public safety DAS. But because disaster situations can be highly volatile, local codes for a public safety DAS typically require some or all of the following features above and beyond a cellular DAS:

You must have a battery backup for your DAS in case you lose power during an emergency.
Your headend equipment must have NEMA-4 enclosures that are designed to withstand fire and water.
The signal of your antennas must meet a minimum requirement.
You must perform regular testing on your system to make sure it’s working correctly, and perform needed maintenance.

DAS Systems Case Studies: Public Safety

Ivy Tech Community College Case Study

Rock Hill School District Case Study

Benefits of A Public Safety Distributed Antenna System (DAS) or Emergency Responder Radio Communications System (ERRCS)

Proactive Prevention

Once you install the public safety DAS system and ensure that it meets the requirements of the authorities in your area, we will test your system to ensure that everything works. This usually happens while the installation is ongoing so that you don’t have to go back to square one.

A comprehensive test of your public safety DAS will identify any problems, find the source of the problems, and locate where they are in the system. After initial testing is complete, monitoring your system should be an ongoing process for optimizing its function.

This is one of the biggest steps you can take to keep your occupants safe, and ensure that first responders don’t get slowed down in the event of a crisis.

Code Compliance

When Harris Communications designs an emergency responder radio coverage system it will meet the system coverage requirements of both the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Fire Code (IFC), as well as state and local fire jurisdiction requirements. Each state and local jurisdiction will dictate which code to follow because there are differences between them. While IFC dictates that 95% coverage is needed in all areas, NFPA dictates that 90% coverage is needed in general areas and 99% coverage is required in areas of vital importance, such as those designated by your local fire department.

Implementing these minimum coverage standards into your next public safety DAS project requires more effort and a closer look at your materials and the final design. In order to have an accurate DAS design, a comprehensive initial radio frequency (RF) survey is needed. During the survey, Harris Communications takes into consideration the local radio frequencies used by local public safety personnel (UHF/VHF 700 and 800 MHz) to ensure your DAS coverage will be adequate.

Improved Emergency Communications, First Responder Communications

Those responding to an emergency will likely rely on two-way radios to communicate with each other during a crisis in your facility. If they cannot communicate properly, the entire facility will suffer. Thankfully with public safety DAS systems, they can communicate easily and in real-time, meaning that when problems do arise, they can address them quickly.

Cell phone DAS and public safety DAS (or ERRCS) are not mutually exclusive. Your facility may need both. Some systems run parallel to each other while others converge. You should talk to an engineer to decide which type of system is best for your building. With a converged structure, all system components are in the same enclosure, while a parallel system uses separate structures.

Knowing the difference between cellular DAS and public safety DAS can help you make smart decisions for your building. Not all buildings need both types of DAS, but if you don’t get a strong cell signal in your office building, you might consider contacting Harris Communications to see what our experts can do for you. Talk to our team of highly skilled engineers today.

Industries We Serve

school resource officer with handheld radio

Public Safety

Public Safety DAS for First Responders & EMS

Find out what an ERRCS might cost your school:

Begin a Quote