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ERRCS and BDA requirements in Los Angeles, California
LAFD Requirement #105 applies to new buildings where radio signal is below code levels and the building has more than 3 stories above grade, 50,000 sq ft or more in total, a basement of 10,000 sq ft or more, any level 2 or more stories below grade, or 20,000 sq ft or more with a solar photovoltaic system. Group R-3 is excepted. Existing buildings meeting those conditions are covered when their fire alarm system is replaced.
Guidance, not engineering advice. Rules on this page come from the documents listed under Sources. Confirm with Los Angeles Fire Department, Fire Prevention and Public Safety Bureau before you design, permit or test a system.
Who must comply
State rules apply here too. See California statewide rules.
| Rule | Effect | Citation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group R-3 occupancies are excepted. | Not required | LAFD Requirement #105, Applicability (Exception) | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| New buildings with more than 3 stories above grade plane must have radio coverage where signal levels are below code. | Must meet | LAFD Requirement #105, Applicability 1 | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| New buildings with a total building area of 50,000 sq ft or more must have radio coverage where signal levels are below code. | Must meet | LAFD Requirement #105, Applicability 2 | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| New buildings of 20,000 sq ft or more that have a solar photovoltaic system are covered. | Note | LAFD Requirement #105, Applicability 5 | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| New buildings with a basement of 10,000 sq ft or more, or any level 2 or more stories below grade, are covered. | AHJ may require | LAFD Requirement #105, Applicability 3-4 | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| Existing buildings meeting the new-building conditions are covered when the building's fire alarm system is replaced. | AHJ may require | LAFD Requirement #105, Applicability (Section 510.2) | Los Angeles Fire Department |
| Trigger | Published value |
|---|---|
| Minimum building size | 50,000 sq ft |
| Minimum stories | 4 |
| Height trigger | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
| Below-grade areas | True |
| Building types named | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
| Existing buildings must retrofit | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
| Compliance deadline | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
Requirement #105 is dated August 7, 2018 and interprets the 2016 California Fire Code and 2017 Los Angeles Fire Code. LAFD's requirements page still lists it as updated. Later code editions may change details; confirm with LAFD.
Signal and coverage
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum downlink signal | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
| Minimum uplink signal | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
| Delivered audio quality (DAQ) | Not published; confirm with the fire marshal |
| Coverage, general areas | 90% of floor area |
| Coverage, critical areas | 99% of floor area |
| Critical areas named | Fire command centers, Fire pump rooms, Exit stairs, Exit passageways, Elevator lobbies, Standpipe cabinets, Sprinkler valve locations, Other areas LAFD deems critical |
| Public safety radio bands | LAFD 800 MHz, analog conventional repeat mode (856.2375-860.9375 MHz and 811.2375-815.9375 MHz) |
LAFD lists its assigned uplink and downlink frequency pairs and nine simulcast transmitter sites in the requirement, and keeps the current list for designers and Regulation No. 4 testers. Signal boosters must handle analog and digital at the same time. Riser cables go in conduit with 1-hour or 2-hour pathway survivability depending on the stair enclosure rating.
Testing
| Test | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance test | LADBS Electrical Inspection signs the pre-test sheet first. Fire Development Services inspectors witness the final acceptance test, check the as-built drawings and link budget, and test the radio channels in all critical areas with spot tests elsewhere. Backup batteries are load tested. | LAFD Requirement #105, Acceptance Test |
| Annual test | Annual testing is done by a person holding a valid LAFD Regulation No. 4 Certificate of Fitness for two-way radio communications enhancement systems, and reported on an LAFD-approved F-340R Fire Protection System Performance Report. A spectrum analyzer oscillation check is part of each annual inspection. | LAFD Requirement #105, Annual Testing and Proof of Compliance; 510.5.3(7) |
| Five-year test | Not published in the documents we read; confirm with the fire marshal. | None found |
| Coverage assessment interval | Not published in the documents we read; confirm with the fire marshal. | None found |
Maintenance and monitoring
- Service-affecting failure: a qualified technician evaluates within 24 hours, repairs are complete within five working days, and the owner notifies LAFD right away.
- Non-service-affecting failure: evaluation the next business day and repairs within 15 business days.
- Secondary power: a dedicated battery with at least 24 hours at 100% capacity, or a generator with 24 hours plus at least 2 hours of battery.
- The owner pays to modify the system if LAFD frequencies change.
Permit and inspection process
- LAFD plan review and approval is required to install or modify the system. LAFD Requirement #105, Approval and Permit
- Submit detailed as-built drawings and an 800 MHz ERRS RF test before final inspection and the acceptance test. LAFD Requirement #105, Approval and Permit
- No amplifier that can interfere with LAFD frequencies may be installed without prior coordination and LAFD approval. LAFD Requirement #105, Non-Interference
Codes and standards referenced
Notes
Medium confidence: Requirement #105 dates from 2018 and cites the 2016 California Fire Code. LAFD still links this 2018 document as "Requirement #105 (Updated)" on its requirements page, and publishes it only as an Issuu viewer, so we could not re-check the text with our tools in October 2026. Based on LAFD Requirement #105 (approved 8/7/2018); confirm the current version with LAFD.
Questions people ask
Who can do the annual ERRCS test in Los Angeles?
A person holding a valid LAFD Regulation No. 4 Certificate of Fitness in the two-way radio communications enhancement system category, reporting on form F-340R (LAFD Requirement #105).
How fast must a broken ERRCS be fixed in Los Angeles?
For a service-affecting failure, a technician evaluates within 24 hours and repairs are done within five working days, and the owner tells LAFD right away (LAFD Requirement #105, Maintenance).
Sources
Primary documents we read for this page. Rules change; confirm with your fire marshal (AHJ).