Florida's ERRCS law in plain English

Florida law says all new and existing buildings must meet the minimum radio signal strength for public safety communications in the Florida Fire Prevention Code, except for the exemptions listed in the statute (F.S. 633.202(18)(b)). Your local fire marshal sets the actual signal level (18)(a). If your building's interior falls short, the fire marshal may require a two-way radio communication enhancement system, which the industry calls a BDA system or ERRCS (18)(c)1.

The statute lists four groups that do not have to meet the signal requirement or have a signal assessment (18)(h):

Note the 12,000 square foot figure is an exemption with a condition attached, not a statewide trigger. A smaller building with an underground area is not exempt under that paragraph.

Existing high-rise buildings, as the Florida Building Code defines them, had until January 1, 2025 to comply. By January 1, 2024, an existing high-rise that was not in compliance had to apply for the permit with the local agency and show it would comply by January 1, 2025. The same two dates apply to existing high-rise apartment buildings (18)(a).

If the fire marshal requires an existing building to retrofit its system after those dates, the owner gets at least one year to finish. The year starts when the fire marshal issues the notice of code violation (18)(g). Separately, if the local public safety radio system changes in a way that forces changes to existing systems, owners get at least 180 days' notice (18)(f).

The fire marshal may require an assessment of interior radio coverage no more than once every 3 years for an existing high-rise or an existing building over 12,000 total gross square feet, and once every 5 years for other existing buildings. Exceptions allow more frequent checks after a Level III alteration, reconstruction, a reported radio failure inside the building, or an imminent life safety threat (18)(c)2.

The statute does not set an annual system test. Testing schedules come from the fire code and your local fire marshal, so check your county or city page.

Local fire marshals may not enforce requirements stricter than the Florida Fire Prevention Code and this statute for whether a system is required, or how it is designed or installed (18)(i). Signal levels, radio bands and permit steps still differ by county because the statute gives the local AHJ that job (18)(a).

• License holder consent. Any new system or change to an existing one needs the express consent of the holder of the radio frequency license being amplified, kept in a recordable format that can be shown to an FCC representative (18)(d).
• Weak signal outside. If the fire marshal finds the public safety signal inadequate at the outside of the building, neither a system nor an assessment is required (18)(e).

Confirm with your fire marshal (AHJ) before you design, permit or test anything.