Public Safety Takes Priority at The Bristal Assisted Living Communities

The need to keep residents of assisted living facilities safe has never been more apparent than this past year, which is why we are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done at the Bristal assisted living facilities in Englewood, Somerset, and Waldwick, New Jersey. Engel Burman, a widely respected developer in the tri-state area, is the owner, developer, and manager of the Bristal assisted living communities. They hired our firm to design and implement an Emergency Responder Radio Communications System (ERRCS) at each of these new facilities. ERRCS plays a vital role in an emergency, ensuring emergency responders’ radios work throughout the facility. 

Like the Bristal communities, larger buildings typically have many “dead areas,” especially in the center of the building, on floors housing mechanical and electrical equipment, elevators, and in below-ground levels. These are critical areas where firefighters and other first responders must have reliable wireless communications. The International Fire Code (IFC) requires in-building emergency responder radio coverage for all new construction, depending on location and size. The NJ Building code requires IFC-compliant public safety radio coverage as a prerequisite for getting an occupancy permit. The systems we designed for three of the new Bristal locations, Englewood, Somerset, and Waldwick, are in accordance with the requirements of the 2015 Edition of the International Fire Code (IFC), Section 510, and the 2015 Edition of the NJ Building Code Section 916. They meet or exceed the technical and functional standards outlined in the codes. 

The Somerset installation took on an added level of urgency during a critical time in the pandemic. At one point, when the area hospitals were nearing capacity, the Somerset was considered as an overflow location for COVID patients. This was front of mind as our team worked diligently to get the system online so the building could receive its Certificate of Occupancy. At RF Solutions, we take pride in the work we do, and it’s gratifying to know that we play a part in making buildings safer for the people who call them home.