Is Your ARC System in Compliance?

Building owners in NYC breathe a sigh of relief when their ARC System passes inspection because it’s one of the last steps before their building receives a Certificate of Occupancy. The 2014 NYC Building Code requirement for these systems has placed them top of mind for building owners. However, you might be surprised to find that many building owners overlook a critical section of the code that requires annual inspection and recertification. It’s important to note that when it comes to life-saving communications, they’re only as good as their last certification. A public safety system protects the public and the first responders who depend on its availability. Therefore, regular testing is vital to ensuring reliable service. A qualified public safety support team provides a building owner with peace of mind knowing they are covered in case “as and when” becomes “911, what is your emergency?” 

Just because you can’t see what lives in your building’s cable infrastructure doesn’t mean you should stop worrying about what’s in there. The space where your public safety cables live is shared with various voice and data system cables, mechanical pipes, HVAC equipment, and IT networks. All of these require ongoing maintenance and sometimes complete renovations. This buzz of activity over the life of a building significantly increases the chance that a public safety DAS cable becomes damaged. 

Many property owners might not know they are out of compliance or legally required to ensure their equipment never goes out of service, but more importantly, they might not realize this fact until it is too late. First responders rely on these systems in an emergency, but maintenance of these systems is sometimes ignored. Over time the active equipment, including the RAU and DRC, can require routine maintenance. That is why regularly scheduled maintenance and testing are so essential.  

In New York City by code, the ARC System components must be inspected and tested annually to confirm that the system is still in good working order. The certification document is then submitted to the FDNY for permit renewal. When an ARC System turns five years old, the system must be recertified. This process requires a radio coverage survey of the system, conducted in the same way the original commission test was performed. The results of the five-year recertification test are then compared to the initial commissioning test to determine whether there’s been any degradation to the system’s performance. Successful recertification results also require submission to the FDNY for permit renewal.

In many cases, especially in new construction projects, the building owner may not know about these annual maintenance and certification requirements. At RF Solutions, we are working to keep the building owner, and property managers informed to remain in compliance and ensure the system works when there is a real emergency.