In the process of designing, assessing, and authorizing architectural blueprints, elements such as floor arrangements, plumbing and utility lines, building materials, land surveys, and numerous other aspects of new constructions are taken into account.
However, one critical aspect of new construction commonly disregarded in large public buildings is in-building cellular and radio communications. As in-building wireless communications have evolved into what we might call “the fourth utility,” overlooking this may result in expensive delays.
Although builders sometimes do not prioritize in-building wireless communications during a project’s early stages, incorporating it into your initial plans can prevent unnecessary, and expensive, redesigns or retrofits.
The Challenge | Ensuring In-Building Wireless Coverage
Often adhering to the codes for new constructions can be difficult, as they vary by town and municipality. Four codes, IFC-510 and NFPA-72, NFPA-1225, and NFPA-1221, deal with in-building communications for public safety.
As these codes stipulate, the radio and cellular frequencies that public safety agencies use to communicate during emergency situations must be able to propagate within large buildings.
Due to the wood, metal, brick, cement, and Low-E glass used in modern buildings, radio and cellular signals may be weak or even non-existent. Weak signals can cause inspectors to deny building occupancy, which sometimes results in costly delays and remediations.
The Solution | Including In-Building Coverage as the Fourth Utility During the Initial Design
To prevent costly delays, building architects should integrate Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) into the design phase of projects.
DAS systems distribute radio and cellular signals evenly throughout your facilities. They improve the transmission and reception of radio and cellular signals evenly throughout your facilities, even in building dead zones.
Apart from enabling first responders to communicate effectively during emergencies, installing a complete DAS solution in your building offers additional benefits. Dependable two-way radio coverage enhances the productivity and safety of your work teams during building maintenance, engineering, operations, and security.
Incorporating public cellular frequency enhancements (Cellular-DAS) in your initial plans is also a smart move. The surge in wireless communication devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops operating on carrier frequencies often results in compromised in-building signal coverage. This can lead to customer or tenant dissatisfaction, which ultimately impacts your bottom line.
It is important to note that Public Safety-DAS (ERRC) should function independently of Cellular-DAS. Both systems should be evaluated separately and incorporated into your planning process.
The Result | Enhanced Communication Capabilities
Creating plans that attend to both your public safety and communication requirements provides a dual benefit for your clients. First, they will have the assurance that their building is equipped with communication enhancement that ensures the safety of its occupants.
Second, your clients will avoid the inconvenience of unforeseen delays and incurring the substantial expenses that come with having to rework designs or even retrofit buildings to meet the mandatory safety requirements of modern building codes.