ERCES Glossary

Comprehensive definitions of key terms and acronyms used in Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement Systems.

Jump to: A B C D E F G I L M N O P R S T U

A

Acceptance Testing Testing & Measurement: Formal testing performed after ERCES installation to verify the system meets all code requirements before the AHJ grants approval for occupancy.
Active DAS Equipment & Components: A Distributed Antenna System that uses fiber optic cables and active electronic components to distribute signals. Offers better performance over long distances than passive systems.
AHJ Standards & Regulations: Authority Having Jurisdiction. The organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing fire codes and approving ERCES systems, typically the local fire marshal or fire department.
Annual Testing Testing & Measurement: Required yearly testing of ERCES systems to verify continued compliance with signal coverage and equipment functionality requirements.
Annunciator Panel Equipment & Components: A display panel that shows the status of ERCES components, typically located in the fire command center. Indicates normal operation, faults, and trouble conditions.

B

Bandwidth RF & Signal Terms: The range of frequencies over which a system operates. Public safety ERCES systems typically cover specific frequency bands in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, or VHF/UHF ranges.
BDA Equipment & Components: Bi-Directional Amplifier. The core component of an ERCES that amplifies radio signals in both directions—boosting signals coming into the building (downlink) and signals going out (uplink).

C

Cable Loss RF & Signal Terms: The reduction in signal strength as it travels through coaxial cable, measured in dB. Longer cable runs and higher frequencies result in greater loss.
Combiner Equipment & Components: A device that combines multiple frequency bands or signals into a single output, allowing one antenna system to support multiple public safety channels.
Commissioning Process & Compliance Terms: The formal process of testing, verifying, and documenting that an ERCES system meets all requirements before final AHJ approval. Includes acceptance testing and documentation review.
Coverage Area Testing & Measurement: The percentage of a building area that meets minimum signal strength requirements. IFC 510 requires 99% coverage in critical areas and 90% in general areas.
Critical Area Building & Location Terms: Building locations essential for emergency operations that require 99% signal coverage: stairwells, fire command centers, elevator lobbies, standpipe locations, and fire pump rooms.

D

DAQ Testing & Measurement: Delivered Audio Quality. A subjective measurement of voice clarity on a scale of 1-5, where 3.0 or higher is typically required for acceptable communication quality.
DAS Equipment & Components: Distributed Antenna System. A network of antennas connected to a central BDA that distributes amplified radio signals throughout a building to provide uniform coverage.
dBm RF & Signal Terms: Decibels relative to one milliwatt. The standard unit for measuring RF signal power. ERCES systems typically require minimum -95 dBm inbound and -100 dBm outbound signal levels.
Dead Zone RF & Signal Terms: An area within a building where radio signals are too weak for reliable communication, typically caused by signal-blocking construction materials like concrete, steel, or low-E glass.
Donor Antenna Equipment & Components: An external antenna, typically mounted on the roof, that receives signals from public safety radio towers and feeds them to the BDA for amplification and distribution inside the building.
Downlink RF & Signal Terms: The signal path from the public safety radio tower into the building. Also called the inbound signal, this is what first responders receive on their portable radios.

E

EMI RF & Signal Terms: Electromagnetic Interference. Unwanted electrical signals that can disrupt ERCES performance, often caused by electronic equipment, motors, or other RF systems in the building.
ERCES Process & Compliance Terms: Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System. A complete in-building system of amplifiers, antennas, and cabling designed to ensure reliable radio communication for first responders during emergencies.

F

FACP Equipment & Components: Fire Alarm Control Panel. The central control unit for a building's fire alarm system. ERCES systems often integrate with the FACP for monitoring and annunciation.
FCC Part 90 Standards & Regulations: Federal Communications Commission regulations governing private land mobile radio services, including public safety frequencies used by ERCES systems.
Fiber DAS Equipment & Components: A Distributed Antenna System that uses fiber optic cables to transport signals between the BDA and remote antenna units. Ideal for large buildings due to low signal loss.
Fire Command Center Building & Location Terms: A dedicated room in a building where firefighters coordinate emergency operations. Must have ERCES coverage and typically contains the ERCES annunciator panel.
FirstNet Public Safety & Communications: First Responder Network Authority. A nationwide public safety broadband network built on LTE technology, increasingly integrated with traditional ERCES systems.
Frequency Coordination Process & Compliance Terms: The process of registering BDA frequencies with public safety agencies and the FCC to prevent interference with existing radio systems.

G

Gain RF & Signal Terms: The increase in signal strength provided by an amplifier or antenna, measured in dB. BDAs provide gain to boost weak signals to usable levels.
General Area Building & Location Terms: All building areas outside of designated critical areas. IFC 510 requires 90% signal coverage in general areas.
Grid Testing Testing & Measurement: A systematic testing methodology where signal measurements are taken at regular intervals (typically 20-50 feet) throughout a building to verify coverage.

I

IFC Standards & Regulations: International Fire Code. A model fire code adopted by many jurisdictions that includes Section 510 requirements for in-building emergency responder radio coverage.
IFC 510 Standards & Regulations: Section 510 of the International Fire Code that establishes requirements for emergency responder radio coverage in buildings, including signal strength thresholds and testing requirements.
Inbound Signal RF & Signal Terms: The radio signal traveling from the public safety tower into the building and to first responders' portable radios. Must meet minimum -95 dBm threshold per IFC 510.
Intermodulation RF & Signal Terms: Unwanted signals created when two or more frequencies mix in an amplifier or other nonlinear device. Can cause interference and must be minimized in ERCES design.
Interoperability Public Safety & Communications: The ability of different agencies' radio systems to communicate with each other. ERCES must support all public safety frequencies used by responding agencies.

L

Link Budget RF & Signal Terms: A calculation that accounts for all gains and losses in an RF system to ensure adequate signal strength at the receiver. Used in ERCES design to verify coverage.
Low-E Glass RF & Signal Terms: Low-emissivity glass with metallic coatings that improve energy efficiency but significantly attenuate radio signals, often creating the need for ERCES in modern buildings.

M

MI Cable Equipment & Components: Mineral Insulated Cable. A fire-resistant cable type with copper conductors surrounded by mineral insulation, used to meet pathway survivability requirements in ERCES installations.

N

NFPA 1221 Standards & Regulations: NFPA standard for installation, maintenance, and use of emergency services communications systems, including pathway survivability requirements for ERCES.
NFPA 1225 Standards & Regulations: NFPA standard for emergency services communications that consolidates and updates requirements from NFPA 1221, representing the future direction of ERCES regulations.
NFPA 72 Standards & Regulations: National Fire Protection Association standard for fire alarm and signaling systems, which includes requirements for ERCES integration with fire alarm control panels.
NICET Standards & Regulations: National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies. A certification body that credentials technicians in fire protection and other fields, often required for ERCES installers.
Noise Figure RF & Signal Terms: A measure of how much noise an amplifier adds to a signal, expressed in dB. Lower noise figures indicate better amplifier performance for weak signals.

O

Outbound Signal RF & Signal Terms: The radio signal traveling from first responders' portable radios out of the building to the public safety tower. Must meet minimum -100 dBm threshold per IFC 510.

P

P25 RF & Signal Terms: Project 25. A suite of digital radio standards used by public safety agencies in North America. Many modern ERCES systems must support P25 frequencies and protocols.
Passive DAS Equipment & Components: A Distributed Antenna System using coaxial cables and passive components (splitters, couplers) to distribute signals. Simpler and less expensive but limited by cable loss over distance.
Pathway Survivability Process & Compliance Terms: The requirement that ERCES cables and components remain functional during a fire for a specified duration (typically 2 hours), achieved through fire-rated materials and installation methods.
Public Safety Frequencies Public Safety & Communications: Radio frequencies allocated by the FCC for use by police, fire, and EMS agencies. ERCES systems must amplify all frequencies used by local responding agencies.

R

Redundant Pathway Process & Compliance Terms: A backup cable route that ensures ERCES operation continues if the primary pathway is damaged. Required in some jurisdictions for critical facilities.
Remote Unit Equipment & Components: In an active DAS, a device located away from the main BDA that converts optical signals to RF signals for distribution to nearby antennas.
RF Survey Testing & Measurement: Radio Frequency Survey. A comprehensive test conducted to measure existing signal levels throughout a building, identify dead zones, and establish baseline measurements for ERCES design.
Riser Building & Location Terms: A vertical pathway, typically a shaft or conduit, used to route ERCES cables between floors. Must meet pathway survivability requirements.

S

Signal Strength RF & Signal Terms: The power level of an RF signal at a given location, measured in dBm. ERCES systems are designed to ensure minimum signal strength throughout a building.
SNR RF & Signal Terms: Signal-to-Noise Ratio. The difference between the desired signal level and background noise, measured in dB. Higher SNR indicates clearer, more reliable communication.
Spectrum Analyzer Equipment & Components: A test instrument used to measure and display RF signal strength across a range of frequencies. Essential for RF surveys and ERCES testing.
Splitter Equipment & Components: A passive device that divides an RF signal into multiple outputs, used in DAS to distribute signals to multiple antennas.
Standpipe Building & Location Terms: A rigid water pipe in a building used by firefighters to connect hoses. Standpipe locations are designated critical areas requiring 99% ERCES coverage.

T

Talkgroup Public Safety & Communications: A virtual channel on a trunked radio system that allows groups of users to communicate. ERCES must support all talkgroups used by responding agencies.

U

UL 2524 Standards & Regulations: Underwriters Laboratories standard for in-building 2-way emergency radio communication enhancement systems. All ERCES equipment must be UL 2524 listed for code compliance.
Uplink RF & Signal Terms: The signal path from portable radios inside the building out to the public safety tower. Also called the outbound signal.
UPS Equipment & Components: Uninterruptible Power Supply. A battery backup system that provides emergency power to ERCES equipment during power outages. IFC 510 typically requires 12-24 hours of backup power.

Browse by Category

Standards & Regulations (9 terms)

AHJ: Authority Having Jurisdiction. The organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing fire codes and approving ERCES systems, typically the local fire marshal or fire department.
FCC Part 90: Federal Communications Commission regulations governing private land mobile radio services, including public safety frequencies used by ERCES systems.
IFC: International Fire Code. A model fire code adopted by many jurisdictions that includes Section 510 requirements for in-building emergency responder radio coverage.
IFC 510: Section 510 of the International Fire Code that establishes requirements for emergency responder radio coverage in buildings, including signal strength thresholds and testing requirements.
NFPA 1221: NFPA standard for installation, maintenance, and use of emergency services communications systems, including pathway survivability requirements for ERCES.
NFPA 1225: NFPA standard for emergency services communications that consolidates and updates requirements from NFPA 1221, representing the future direction of ERCES regulations.
NFPA 72: National Fire Protection Association standard for fire alarm and signaling systems, which includes requirements for ERCES integration with fire alarm control panels.
NICET: National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies. A certification body that credentials technicians in fire protection and other fields, often required for ERCES installers.
UL 2524: Underwriters Laboratories standard for in-building 2-way emergency radio communication enhancement systems. All ERCES equipment must be UL 2524 listed for code compliance.

Equipment & Components (14 terms)

Active DAS: A Distributed Antenna System that uses fiber optic cables and active electronic components to distribute signals. Offers better performance over long distances than passive systems.
Annunciator Panel: A display panel that shows the status of ERCES components, typically located in the fire command center. Indicates normal operation, faults, and trouble conditions.
BDA: Bi-Directional Amplifier. The core component of an ERCES that amplifies radio signals in both directions—boosting signals coming into the building (downlink) and signals going out (uplink).
Combiner: A device that combines multiple frequency bands or signals into a single output, allowing one antenna system to support multiple public safety channels.
DAS: Distributed Antenna System. A network of antennas connected to a central BDA that distributes amplified radio signals throughout a building to provide uniform coverage.
Donor Antenna: An external antenna, typically mounted on the roof, that receives signals from public safety radio towers and feeds them to the BDA for amplification and distribution inside the building.
FACP: Fire Alarm Control Panel. The central control unit for a building's fire alarm system. ERCES systems often integrate with the FACP for monitoring and annunciation.
Fiber DAS: A Distributed Antenna System that uses fiber optic cables to transport signals between the BDA and remote antenna units. Ideal for large buildings due to low signal loss.
MI Cable: Mineral Insulated Cable. A fire-resistant cable type with copper conductors surrounded by mineral insulation, used to meet pathway survivability requirements in ERCES installations.
Passive DAS: A Distributed Antenna System using coaxial cables and passive components (splitters, couplers) to distribute signals. Simpler and less expensive but limited by cable loss over distance.
Remote Unit: In an active DAS, a device located away from the main BDA that converts optical signals to RF signals for distribution to nearby antennas.
Spectrum Analyzer: A test instrument used to measure and display RF signal strength across a range of frequencies. Essential for RF surveys and ERCES testing.
Splitter: A passive device that divides an RF signal into multiple outputs, used in DAS to distribute signals to multiple antennas.
UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply. A battery backup system that provides emergency power to ERCES equipment during power outages. IFC 510 typically requires 12-24 hours of backup power.

RF & Signal Terms (17 terms)

Bandwidth: The range of frequencies over which a system operates. Public safety ERCES systems typically cover specific frequency bands in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, or VHF/UHF ranges.
Cable Loss: The reduction in signal strength as it travels through coaxial cable, measured in dB. Longer cable runs and higher frequencies result in greater loss.
dBm: Decibels relative to one milliwatt. The standard unit for measuring RF signal power. ERCES systems typically require minimum -95 dBm inbound and -100 dBm outbound signal levels.
Dead Zone: An area within a building where radio signals are too weak for reliable communication, typically caused by signal-blocking construction materials like concrete, steel, or low-E glass.
Downlink: The signal path from the public safety radio tower into the building. Also called the inbound signal, this is what first responders receive on their portable radios.
EMI: Electromagnetic Interference. Unwanted electrical signals that can disrupt ERCES performance, often caused by electronic equipment, motors, or other RF systems in the building.
Gain: The increase in signal strength provided by an amplifier or antenna, measured in dB. BDAs provide gain to boost weak signals to usable levels.
Inbound Signal: The radio signal traveling from the public safety tower into the building and to first responders' portable radios. Must meet minimum -95 dBm threshold per IFC 510.
Intermodulation: Unwanted signals created when two or more frequencies mix in an amplifier or other nonlinear device. Can cause interference and must be minimized in ERCES design.
Link Budget: A calculation that accounts for all gains and losses in an RF system to ensure adequate signal strength at the receiver. Used in ERCES design to verify coverage.
Low-E Glass: Low-emissivity glass with metallic coatings that improve energy efficiency but significantly attenuate radio signals, often creating the need for ERCES in modern buildings.
Noise Figure: A measure of how much noise an amplifier adds to a signal, expressed in dB. Lower noise figures indicate better amplifier performance for weak signals.
Outbound Signal: The radio signal traveling from first responders' portable radios out of the building to the public safety tower. Must meet minimum -100 dBm threshold per IFC 510.
P25: Project 25. A suite of digital radio standards used by public safety agencies in North America. Many modern ERCES systems must support P25 frequencies and protocols.
Signal Strength: The power level of an RF signal at a given location, measured in dBm. ERCES systems are designed to ensure minimum signal strength throughout a building.
SNR: Signal-to-Noise Ratio. The difference between the desired signal level and background noise, measured in dB. Higher SNR indicates clearer, more reliable communication.
Uplink: The signal path from portable radios inside the building out to the public safety tower. Also called the outbound signal.

Testing & Measurement (6 terms)

Acceptance Testing: Formal testing performed after ERCES installation to verify the system meets all code requirements before the AHJ grants approval for occupancy.
Annual Testing: Required yearly testing of ERCES systems to verify continued compliance with signal coverage and equipment functionality requirements.
Coverage Area: The percentage of a building area that meets minimum signal strength requirements. IFC 510 requires 99% coverage in critical areas and 90% in general areas.
DAQ: Delivered Audio Quality. A subjective measurement of voice clarity on a scale of 1-5, where 3.0 or higher is typically required for acceptable communication quality.
Grid Testing: A systematic testing methodology where signal measurements are taken at regular intervals (typically 20-50 feet) throughout a building to verify coverage.
RF Survey: Radio Frequency Survey. A comprehensive test conducted to measure existing signal levels throughout a building, identify dead zones, and establish baseline measurements for ERCES design.

Building & Location Terms (5 terms)

Critical Area: Building locations essential for emergency operations that require 99% signal coverage: stairwells, fire command centers, elevator lobbies, standpipe locations, and fire pump rooms.
Fire Command Center: A dedicated room in a building where firefighters coordinate emergency operations. Must have ERCES coverage and typically contains the ERCES annunciator panel.
General Area: All building areas outside of designated critical areas. IFC 510 requires 90% signal coverage in general areas.
Riser: A vertical pathway, typically a shaft or conduit, used to route ERCES cables between floors. Must meet pathway survivability requirements.
Standpipe: A rigid water pipe in a building used by firefighters to connect hoses. Standpipe locations are designated critical areas requiring 99% ERCES coverage.

Process & Compliance Terms (5 terms)

Commissioning: The formal process of testing, verifying, and documenting that an ERCES system meets all requirements before final AHJ approval. Includes acceptance testing and documentation review.
ERCES: Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System. A complete in-building system of amplifiers, antennas, and cabling designed to ensure reliable radio communication for first responders during emergencies.
Frequency Coordination: The process of registering BDA frequencies with public safety agencies and the FCC to prevent interference with existing radio systems.
Pathway Survivability: The requirement that ERCES cables and components remain functional during a fire for a specified duration (typically 2 hours), achieved through fire-rated materials and installation methods.
Redundant Pathway: A backup cable route that ensures ERCES operation continues if the primary pathway is damaged. Required in some jurisdictions for critical facilities.

Public Safety & Communications (4 terms)

FirstNet: First Responder Network Authority. A nationwide public safety broadband network built on LTE technology, increasingly integrated with traditional ERCES systems.
Interoperability: The ability of different agencies' radio systems to communicate with each other. ERCES must support all public safety frequencies used by responding agencies.
Public Safety Frequencies: Radio frequencies allocated by the FCC for use by police, fire, and EMS agencies. ERCES systems must amplify all frequencies used by local responding agencies.
Talkgroup: A virtual channel on a trunked radio system that allows groups of users to communicate. ERCES must support all talkgroups used by responding agencies.

Have questions about ERCES?

Connect with qualified professionals who can explain these concepts in the context of your building.

Find an Installer