Eliminate Communication Deadzones

Simply put, an ERCES/BDA system provides reliable two-way communication coverage for emergency responders in a building or structure during an emergency. The ERCES/BDA boosts radio frequencies using radio repeaters and/or bi-directional amplifiers (BDA). The radio frequencies of emergency services from outside a building are re-transmitted inside the building via a distributed antenna system (DAS). This ensures reliable two-way communications between firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel throughout the entire location of an emergency – in-building, outside the building, on the roof, and at the dispatch or command center.

Today, ERCES/BDA systems are required for all new construction and most existing commercial buildings and are included in the International Fire Code (IFC) Section 510 and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and are enforced by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). They also adhere to the UL 2524 communication standard.

Sciens installs and maintains all the hardware required for an ERCES/BDA. This includes, but isn’t limited to, the following:

• Repeaters
• Transmitters
• Receivers
• Signal boosters
• Distributed antenna system
• Cell booster
• Power dividers/couplers
• Bi-directional amplifier
• Annunciators
• Operational control panels
• Power supply and back-up battery systems

The Sciens team completes a thorough walkthrough of your building(s) to evaluate the existing RF coverage in all critical areas and the general area overall. Using the RF Grid Testing method, as recommended by the NFPA and IFC, we provide a pass/fail report by channel and grid. This report determines if an ERCES/BDA is needed or requires updating.

If you have a newly constructed building, you’re required by local, state, and federal laws to have an ERCES/BDA in place. But consider that the purpose of an ERCES/BDA is to save lives. In a crisis, emergency responders are entering a dangerous environment they’ve never been in before. Reliable two-way communication is vital to their ability to perform their jobs in a hectic, confusing, potentially deadly situation.

Properly installed and maintained, an ERCES/BDA is 100% reliable. An ERCES/BDA boosts and re-transmits existing radio communications from first responders.

Almost any structural material can impair or block radio communications, including RF interference, below ground areas of a structure, and obstructions like elevator shafts and stairwells. And the advancements and modernization in architecture and construction have further contributed to the challenges of maintaining two-way communications during an emergency, such as low emissivity (Low E) glass, metal doors and walls, and even foliage can weaken or block RF signals. This increases the need for every building to have an ERCES/BDA installed.

An ERCES/BDA comes with a code-required panel that displays status and potential trouble conditions, such as a low battery or issues with the signal booster. Should a building lose power during an emergency, a battery charging system provides backup power.

No. ERCES/BDA are designed to work with existing emergency radio communication systems and simply boost whatever radio signals are transmitted. All emergency personnel can use their current handheld devices and equipment, ensuring seamless operation with our ERCES/BDA system.

All new buildings require an ERCES/BDA, while existing buildings have varying timelines for compliance. Sciens has the expertise to guide you through the rules and regulations that apply to your industry and facility.

We ensure that our designs and installations meet all local, state and national requirements, so that your systems are effective and compliant.

Our service begins with a comprehensive, top-to-bottom review of your space, including testing for all critical areas for public safety. Our surveys use the RF Grid Testing method as recommended by the NFPA and IFC. Based upon the survey results, we create a recommendation for an ERCES/BDA that is code-compliant, ensures uninterrupted communications and eliminates dead zones for first responders during an emergency event.

During 9/11, first responders were unable to properly communicate inside the World Trade Center. This tragedy led to the creation of Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems.  Installing an ERCES/BDA is a crucial responsibility of a business or building owner, commercial real estate developer, or facility manager to provide as safe an environment as possible during an emergency event.

Sciens is a trusted provider of fire protection, security, communications, and electrical solutions with thousands of systems installed and decades of experience. From small structures to massive high rises, our integrated emergency responder systems provide safe, compliant solutions. Our services and products include ERCES/BDA systems as well as data & sound communications, security systems, fire and life safety systems, and more.