[Adopted as Art. 40 of the Town Bylaws]
New buildings or structures or portions of existing buildings
or structures undergoing renovations or rehabilitation in accordance
with the State Building Code (780 CMR Chapter 34, Existing Structures)
shall be equipped with in-building radio systems as an integral component
of the life safety equipment of the building or structure. The primary
function of this requirement is to provide reliable public safety
communications within 95% of a building's or structure's floor area,
including any stairwells.
A.
Section 125-2 does not apply to:
(1)
One- and two-family dwellings as defined in the Massachusetts Building
Code;
(2)
Buildings constructed of wood frame with no metal construction and
no underground storage or parking areas and portions of buildings
or structures where the Fire/Police Departments have performed radio
tests for signal reception and determined radio coverage is adequate.
B.
Nothing in this bylaw shall be construed to be, nor in practice or
implementation shall be, inconsistent with the State Building Code
(780 CMR).
For the purpose of this bylaw, adequate radio coverage shall
include a minimum signal level of DAQ 4 [Delivered Audio Quality 4
(speech easily understood, with occasional noise/distortion)]. This
shall be determined utilizing hand-held portable radios used by the
Sharon Fire and Police Departments.
The in-building radio system shall provide signal strength as
follows:
A.
A minimum of -95 dBm available in 95% of the floor area of each floor
of the building, including any stairwells, when transmitted from the
Sharon Fire or Police Department or Norfolk County Fire Dispatch centers.
B.
A minimum of -95 dBm received at the Sharon Fire or Police Department
or Norfolk County Fire Dispatch centers from 95% of the floor area
of each floor of the building, including stairwells.
Buildings and structures shall be FCC-certified Class B bi-directional
UHF amplifier(s) (BDA) as needed. The system as installed must comply
with all applicable sections of FCC Rules Part 90.
Assembly and installation of the bi-directional amplification
system shall be in accordance with the Massachusetts Electrical Code
as applicable and shall meet NFPA 72, Section 6.9.10.4.3, 2007 Edition.
The radio system may utilize a radiating cable system or an
internal multiple-antenna system.
Radiating coaxial cables shall be run without conduit. Where
installed in a plenum-type ceiling, the cable insulation shall be
a fire-resistant, low-smoke-producing type, with a minimum rating
of CATVR.
The Sharon Fire and Police Departments and Norfolk County Fire
ground frequencies are established and the BDA shall be designed for
uplink and downlink for the appropriate public safety department's
frequencies designated by the Sharon Fire and Police Chiefs.
There shall be no connectivity between the in-building radio
system and the fire alarm system.
The system shall be capable of operating on an independent battery
system for a period of at least 12 hours without external power input.
The battery system shall automatically charge in the presence of external
power input.
Each amplifier shall be monitored for operation, primary and
low battery voltage. Failure of the amplifier, loss of primary power
or low battery voltage shall cause an audible alarm or other indication
as approved by the Fire Chief or his designee. The audible alarm or
other indication shall not be silenced or disabled until the fault
has been corrected.
Amplifiers shall be installed and secured in a two-hour protected
space in watertight NEMA 4 metallic cabinets. The words "Sharon Fire/Police
Department Radio" shall be marked on the cabinet as well as the maintenance
vendor and vendor phone number.
No certificate of occupancy will be issued for any structure
covered by this bylaw unless and until the building owner demonstrates
full compliance with this bylaw.
The building owner shall be responsible for modifications, updating
the system as required and testing all active components of the system,
including but not limited to amplifier, power supplies and back-up
batteries, a minimum of once every 12 months. Documentation of the
test shall be maintained on site and a copy forwarded to the Sharon
Fire and/or Police Department. All tests shall be conducted, documented
and signed by a person with a current FCC General Radiophone Operator
License or equivalent.
The building owner shall provide reasonable access to Fire Department
and/or Police Department personnel to conduct field testing of the
radio systems to determine if the radio coverage is adequate.
All cost and upkeep of the system will be the responsibility
of the building owner. Upon resale or transfer of the building, the
new owner shall assume all conditions of this occupancy requirement.
Upon failure of the system, the owner or his designee shall notify
the Sharon Fire and Police Departments and all repairs shall be mitigated
within 24 hours of the failure.
The Chief of the Fire Department is hereby authorized to adopt
regulations consistent with this bylaw for the implementation hereof.
