Keep your system ready for an emergency
A public safety BDA / ERCES is designed and tested for the building, the donor signal, the equipment and the radio network that existed on the day it was installed. When any of those change, coverage and reliability can change too, even if the equipment looks like it is working.
We provide inspection, testing, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, documentation and repairs, based on the installed equipment, the manufacturer requirements and the testing criteria set by the AHJ and the radio system license holder. That includes systems we did not install.
Why systems drift over time
The building changes
New walls, tenant build-outs, racking, roof work and low-e glass change how radio signals travel. An area that passed can stop passing after a renovation.
The donor signal changes
New buildings, rooftop equipment, trees, storm damage or changes to the county radio network can weaken the signal the donor antenna receives. Any change to the system must be coordinated with the AHJ and the license holder.
Parts wear out
Amplifiers, antennas, coax, connectors, splitters, grounding, surge protection and batteries degrade with moisture, heat, corrosion and construction damage, often without an obvious failure.
Power and monitoring fail
A dead battery, a charger problem, a disconnected monitoring circuit or an unreported trouble alarm can leave the system without backup power or fault reporting.
What our service includes
System inspection
- BDA, battery cabinet, annunciator and active components
- Mounting, enclosures, locks, labels and condition
- Corrosion, moisture, overheating, damage or unauthorized changes
- Equipment rooms, antenna locations and pathways
- Installation compared against the system records
RF coverage and system testing
- In-building grid testing when required
- Uplink and downlink communications
- Signal strength, signal quality and delivered audio quality
- Authorized frequencies and system configuration
- Gain, oscillation, interference and noise
Battery and backup power
- Batteries, terminals, connections and cabinets
- Battery age, condition, voltage and charging
- Backup power testing
- Primary power and power-loss alarms
Monitoring and alarms
- Annunciator operation
- Equipment trouble and failure alarms
- Supervisory signals to the fire alarm panel
- Antenna and donor path alarms
Repairs and troubleshooting
- Failed amplifiers, antennas, coax and connectors
- Donor antenna realignment
- Interference and oscillation problems
- Systems from other installers and manufacturers
Documentation
- Test locations, readings and results
- Deficiencies found and repairs made
- Reports for the AHJ and the building owner
When to schedule a check
Besides the annual inspection the AHJ requires, plan an evaluation after:
Renovations or build-outs
New walls, ceilings, racking or materials in the building.
Reported radio problems
Firefighters, police or your own staff report dead spots.
Radio network changes
The county or city changes frequencies, towers or radio technology.
Repairs or alarms
After equipment repairs, system changes or any trouble alarm.
Need your annual BDA test?
Call us for inspection, testing or repair, even if we did not install your system. Se habla español.