Washington Administrative Code › Title 51 - Enterprise Services, Department of (Building Code Council) › Chapter 51-54A - State Building Code adoption and amendment of the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code › Section 51-54A-0510 - Emergency responder communication coverage

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
510.1
Emergency
			 responder communication coverage in new buildings.
Approved in-building,
emergency responder communications enhancement system (ERCES)
for emergency responders shall be provided in all new buildings. In-building
			 ERCES within the building shall be based on the existing coverage levels of the
			 public safety communication systems utilized by the jurisdiction, measured at
			 the exterior of the building. The
emergency responder communications
			 enhancement system
, where required, shall be of a type determined by
			 the fire code official and the frequency license holder(s). This section shall
			 not require improvement of the existing public safety communication systems.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Where approved by the building official and the fire
						  code official, a wired communication system in accordance with Section
						  907.2.13.2 shall be permitted to be installed or maintained instead of an
						  approved communication coverage system.
2. Where it is determined by the
fire code
						  official
that the communication coverage system is not needed.
3. In facilities where emergency responder
						  communication coverage is required and such systems, components or equipment
						  required could have a negative impact on the normal operations of that
						  facility, the
fire code official
shall have the authority to
						  accept an automatically activated
emergency responder communication
						  coverage system.
510.2
Emergency responder communication enhancement system in existing
			 buildings.
Existing buildings shall be provided with approved
			 in-building,
emergency responder communications enhancement
			 system
for emergency responders as required in Chapter 11.
510.3
Permit required.
A
			 construction permit for the installation of or modification to in-building,
emergency responder communication enhancement systems
and
			 related equipment is required as specified in Section 105.6.4. Maintenance
			 performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and
			 does not require a permit.
510.4
Technical requirements.
Equipment required to provide in-building,
emergency responder communication enhancement system
shall be
listed
in accordance with UL 2524. Systems, components and
			 equipment required to provide the in-building,
emergency responder
			 communication enhancement system
shall comply with Sections 510.4.1
			 through 510.4.2.8.
510.4.1
Emergency
			 responder communication enhancement system signal strength.
The building
			 shall be considered to have an acceptable in-building,
emergency
			 responder communication enhancement system
where signal strength
			 measurements in 95 percent of all areas and 99 percent of areas designated as
			 critical areas by the fire code official on each floor of the building meet the
			 signal strength requirements in Sections 510.4.1.1 through 510.4.1.3.
510.4.1.1
Minimum signal strength into
			 the building.
The minimum inbound signal strength shall be sufficient to
			 provide usable voice communications throughout the coverage area as specified
			 by the
fire code official
. The inbound signal level shall be a
			 minimum of -95 dBm in 95 percent of the coverage area and 99 percent in
critical areas
and sufficient to provide not less than a
			 delivered audio quality (DAQ) of 3.0 or an equivalent
			 signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) applicable to the technology for
			 either analog or digital signals.