Systems, components, and equipment required to provide emergency responder
radio coverage system shall comply with Sections L104.1 through L104.2.6.
L104.1
Radio signal strength.
The building shall be considered to have acceptable emergency responder radio
coverage when signal strength measurements in 95 percent of all areas on each
floor of the building meet the signal strength requirements in Sections
L104.1.1 and L104.1.2.
L104.1.1
Minimum
signal strength into the building. A minimum signal strength of -95 dBm
shall be receivable within the building at a hip-worn device.
L104.1.2
Minimum signal strength out of
the building. A minimum signal strength of -95 dBm shall be received by
the agencys radio system when transmitted from within the building from a
hip-worn device.
L104.2
System design. The emergency responder radio coverage system shall
be designed in accordance with Sections L104.2.1 through L104.2.6.
L104.2.1
In-building coverage systems
allowed. Buildings and structures which cannot support the required
level of radio coverage shall be equipped with a radiating cable system, a
distributed antenna system with Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
certified repeaters, bi-directional amplifiers, picocells or their equivalents,
or other system approved by the fire code official in order to achieve the
required adequate radio coverage.
L104.2.2
Technical criteria. The
fire code official shall maintain a document providing the specific technical
information and requirements for the emergency responder radio coverage system.
This document shall contain the various frequencies required, the location of
radio sites, effective radiated power of radio sites, and other supporting
technical information.
L104.2.3
Secondary power. Emergency responder radio coverage systems shall
be provided with an approved secondary source of power. The secondary power
supply shall be capable of operating the emergency responder radio coverage
system for a period of at least 24 hours. When primary power is lost, the power
supply to the emergency responder radio coverage system shall automatically
transfer to the secondary power supply.
L104.2.4
In-building coverage system
requirements. If used, in-building coverage systems shall meet the
following requirements:
1. All in-building
coverage system components shall be contained in a National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 4-type waterproof cabinet.
2. Battery systems used for the emergency
power source shall be contained in a NEMA 4-type waterproof cabinet.
3. The in-building coverage system and
battery system shall be electrically supervised and monitored by a supervisory
service, or when approved by the fire code official, shall sound an audible
signal at a constantly attended location.
4. Equipment shall have FCC certification
prior to installation.
L104.2.5
Additional frequencies and
change of frequencies. The emergency responder radio coverage system
shall be capable of modification or expansion in the event frequency changes
are required by the FCC or additional frequencies are made available by the
FCC, or public safety entities operating in a given jurisdiction make
modifications, changes, or upgrades to their communication system(s) that
change the frequencies such systems utilize.
L104.2.6
Availability. The
in-building coverage system, in general, shall operate according to its
intended specification with "5-9s" availability of 99.999 percent of each year;
i.e., no critical component of the system shall be out of normal operation for
more than 5.26 minutes of each year.