First Responder Radio System Testing and Installation FAQ
On March 23, 2022, Integrated Building Systems and the Columbus Division of Fire hosted a Zoom presentation to discuss how changes in ERRS life-safety codes and enforcement will affect new construction and renovation projects this year.
Below are questions raised by Central Ohio general contractors and building owners at the event. Answers were provided by Chip Chapman, President of Integrated Building Systems, and Bill Ehrgood, Inspector, Columbus Division of Fire, whose office oversees ERRS enforcement for the city.
Is it possible to pretest a building for ERRS?
Chapman: I think the question there, can we test ahead of all the walls, the doors and everything? My answer is no.
Now, we have pretested a site to see how strong the outdoor signal is. We have pretested when the structure is done to see, does it look like you're gonna need a system? So at least you know, you can tell the owner, "Yes, we're going to have to put a system in."
But you still got to come back and do that final test. That's the actual test that has to go in as part of the design package and that's the test that needs to be submitted to AHJ. If that final test is not submitted and there’s an issue later on…
Ehrgood: Actually, the building will then come into noncompliance and then a mandate will be issued to the building owner. And they will have to come in compliance. Otherwise, the building will be in question. And then it can proceed with fines and whatever else. Repercussions can occur.
Can a cellular distributed antenna system be used for ERRS?
Chapman: So I know that the way we handled this before, and I'll say the answer is, it needs to be a separate system for a variety of reasons.
Ehrgood: And I agree with that. I would say this system is strictly for emergency purposes. If a building or ownership choose to put in a DAS System for the cellular. That's their choice. The ERRS is strictly for emergency purposes. It is not for anyone else to use. And I think that's enough right there with that.
Is an annual ERRS inspection required if a system was not installed?
Chapman: If the system was not installed, I don't believe so, no.
Ehrgood: No. The only time an inspection will be required if a system was not installed is if there is an emergency run there. And most of our emergency runs in the city of Columbus are going to be an EMS situation. So, if you have an individual in the building that would have a heart attack or a medical emergency and the staff that come from one of the fire houses is not able to get out with their radio, that would be the time where this building would come into play as a nuisance and/or just an issue that they can't get out.
So that's where they would notify my office and then we would have to come out and then write up the building and then go from there. So as far as, if there is no system in the building, then they do not have a yearly inspection. They would just have the fire alarm inspection and/or sprinkler system if they do have that.
Do the MARCS radio frequencies also need tested along with fire frequencies?
Ehrgood: Yes. It's all part of the system. So it's not, you know, a piecemeal here where we just do the fire. It's all encompassed.
Are building owners required to provide annual reports to CFD or just keep them to show if asked?
Ehrgood: So, my take with that, at this point in time is, when a district inspector would come out and request it, the building owner should have ready. Otherwise, you have those done, but you keep them on file, like you would everything else. If the inspector asked for it, it needs to be presented. If it's not presented, then, of course, there would be a write-up for failure to comply with the annual inspection.
Do ERRS codes apply to all buildings or just public buildings? Is there a square foot requirement that triggers this life-safety code?
Ehrgood: It would be all buildings other than a single-family dwelling or an apartment complex that has common open breezeway. Everything is in play.
Chapman: Yeah. We've tested buildings of all sizes. The smallest is 1200 square feet. We’ve also had a million square feet and everything in between.
Ehrgood: And I'm really hammering down with the EMS side. When you get two paramedics or EMTs in on an incident and they call to get more help, and they can't get help, it doesn't matter what size building it is, it just matters on them being able to get help to help that individual or individuals. And when they can't, then there's a problem.
Would a fire alarm would be required even if the OFC wouldn't require it based on occupancy and use group? Or was that only for buildings that are grandfathered?
Ehrgood: If the ERRS system is required, and there is no fire alarm system, it has to have a monitoring system.
Chapman: Now what I will say, and this is something we haven't talked about, some of the manufacturers now have come up with their own enunciator panels that act like fire panels because of this issue. That would be [Columbus Fire Department’s] call to accept or not.
Ehrgood: And again, it's a case-by-case basis. So, you know, here's the scenario. If we have a preexisting building that doesn't have a fire alarm system in it, the new addition has to have a sprinkler system put in. Well, that triggers putting in a fire alarm system. So, now if that building is tied to the old building, that will require a new entire system for that preexisting building.
Can the ERRS cable run share space in another two-hour shaft assembly?
Bill: I don't have a problem with that.
Chip: Yeah, that's always been allowed, so far.
Bill: And especially in preexisting buildings.
Even more questions not covered here? Reach out with contact information below.
Inspector Bill Ehrgood: wwehrgood@columbus.gov or 614-645-7641
Chip Chapman: info@ibswebsite.com or 614-240-5999.