The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this
chapter, have the meanings shown herein:
APCO
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International.
CCDES
Chester County Department of Emergency Services.
FCC
Federal Communications Commission.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Goshen Fire Company or Malvern Fire Company, or their
respective successor fire companies who provide fire protection services
to the Township. The term includes any other fire company or other
emergency medical services unit providing intermittent coverage to
the Township.
LICENSED TECHNICIAN
A person in possession of a current FCC technician license
or a current technician certification issued by the APCO.
NPSPAC
National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The police department operating under the direction of the
Westtown-East Goshen Police Commission.
Buildings and structures which cannot support the required level
of radio coverage shall be equipped with either a radiating cable
system or an internal multiple-antenna system with or without FCC-type
accepted bidirectional 700/800 MHz amplifiers as needed. If any part
of the installed system or systems contains an electrically-powered
component, the system shall be capable of operating on an independent
battery and/or generator system for a period of at least 12 hours
without external power input. The battery system shall charge in the
presence of an external power input.
Police and fire personnel, after providing reasonable notice
to the owner or the owner's representative, shall have the right
to enter the property to conduct field testing to be certain the required
level of radio coverage is present.
This chapter does not apply to the following:
A. Buildings in Use Groups R-3 and R-4 (as defined in the Township Building
Code);
B. Any building constructed of wood frame;
C. Any building with a building height of 35 feet or less (as measured
in accordance with the Township Building Code);
D. The buildings listed in Subsections
A,
B, and
C above are exempt from the requirements of this chapter, provided they do not make use of any metal construction or utilize any underground storage areas or parking areas.
E. For the purposes of this chapter, parking structures, stairwells
and stair shafts are included in the definition of "building" or "any
parts of a building," but elevators may be excluded.
Any nonexempt building or structure existing, under construction, or for which a building permit application is pending or has been approved as of the effective date of this chapter, shall comply with the requirements of this chapter. Within 120 days of written notification from the Township, the property owner shall perform or cause to be performed, by a licensed technician, a test conducted in accordance with the testing procedures in §
119-4A herein to determine if the existing building or structure has adequate radio coverage as defined herein. The property owner shall provide a copy of the test results to the Township. If the test results reveal that the existing building or structure does not have adequate radio coverage, the property owner shall have a period of 18 months from the date of written notification from the Township to enhance radio coverage and bring it within the acceptable limits of the provisions of this chapter. Upon completion of the installation of a booster or other radio enhancements to the building to provide adequate radio coverage, the property owner shall send written notice to the Township. The Township may conduct its own field tests pursuant to §
119-5 to confirm compliance. Upon good cause shown, the Township may approve an extension of time to bring the existing building or structure into compliance and provide adequate radio coverage.