Public Safety BDA
Bi-Directional Amplifiers
A Public Safety Life-Line
When first responders enter a building they need to know they can communicate with each other or call in help, yet surprisingly, communication among first responders is a big problem.
A public safety BDA (Bi-Directional Amplifiers) system ensures that first responders have the coverage they need to be able to communicate effectively.
Mandatory Indoor Wireless Communications For First Responders
Public Safety DAS utilizing BDA technology provides enhanced two-way radio service via an antenna system. This ensures that our first responders can maintain wireless communications within a building during medical emergencies, fires, natural disasters and other life-threatening events.
A BDA (Bi-directional Amplifier) system is an in-building communication system that brings wireless signals into the structure from outside, amplifies those signals with a signal booster, and then evenly distributes the amplified signals via a Distributed Antenna System (DAS).
There’s good reason that in many areas BDA’s are now a code driven requirement. During 9/11, firemen and police officers couldn’t communicate properly inside the World Trade Center. This triggered changes to the IFC and NFPA codes greatly improving communications for first responders ensuring their radios work wherever they go.
New Building Code Requirements
Since 2009 national building codes have mandated that emergency responder communications systems shall be installed in new and existing construction to assure that our Fire, Police, and EMS professionals have the communications they need inside buildings.
With these regulations every new building must meet a minimum level of first responder communication reliability as a condition for occupancy. It is the responsibility of the building’s owner or operator to have their building tested by a certified Public Safety DAS professional. If required, they must have a system installed and ensure it passes all code specifications.
If your building has “dead zones” for public safety radio signal, then installing a BDA system is required. The systems are so important that they require ongoing monitoring and annual testing. The new code will require buildings to be verified as in compliance by 2022, so time is of the essence. This applies to many verticals including:
- Office buildings
- High-rises
- Parking structures and storage unit facilities
- Hotels and hospitality venues
- Malls and retail centers
- Campuses
- Stadiums and arenas
- Airports, train stations, and other transit centers