Ask the Expert

Do you have a question about RATH® Area of Refuge products, technology or code?
Read answers to common Area of Refuge communication questions or complete the form below to contact our team of Experts

"We have a Bi-Directional Antenna (BDA) or Directional Antenna System (DAS) being installed in our building,
why do we also need a two-way communication system in the elevator landings?"

Although both systems are for in-building emergency communication, they are meeting different codes and being used by different individuals. The BDA or DAS communication systems are being used by emergency responders in the building to amplify the coverage of their two-way radio communicators. These radio enhancement systems are required under IFC-510 and the NFPA 72, Chapter 24.

Two-way communication systems located in the elevator landings are used by the general public and/or building occupants during an emergency so they can notify emergency services in the building as well as outside of the building that there is an issue. These two-way communication systems are meeting IBC section 1007.8 for two-way communication and NFPA 72, Chapter 24.

"If multiple calls simultaneously come into the base station at the front desk, personnel can only take one call at a time.
What happens to the other calls?"

• The first call is the lead call and will show up on the Command Center screen
• The other call buttons will light up for the other calls coming in. Once the first call is answered the second one will show on the screen with an option to merge the calls or put the first one on hold
• This will continue for up to 10 calls

"We are designing a building with two egress stairways.
One stairway is on a steep slope so we are using an Exterior Area for Rescue Assistance.
Does this area need a two-way communication device?"

• If you have an exterior area of assisted rescue you need a two-way communication device in that area (Call Box)
• There is also code required signage at the door leading to the area and signage directing the person what to do during an emergency next to the call box

• It would depend on the type of building:
  • If the building has a level 2 or level 3 survivability the cable needs to have the same survivability rating and would require 2 hour fire-rated cable
  • If there is a 2 hour enclosure the cable can be pulled in, you could use a CMP or CMR cable in that 2 hour enclosure
  • If the cable needs to leave the 2 hour enclosure it would need to be 2 hour fire-rated from the enclosure out to the call boxes

• The code does not state a specific time frame, but 15-20 seconds is a standard duration before the call goes off-site. This can be adjusted in the field if an AHJ has a different requirement.

• Yes, we have multiple Command Centers on many of our projects. Each Command Center would need a single pair of wires from the Distribution Module to each Command Center.

• If the building has a 24/7 security desk that can monitor the two-way communication system you would not need it to call off-site.

• "Area of Rescue Assistance" was the original name used by the ADA but has now become a dated term. The NFPA and IBC now refer to these as "Areas of Refuge". Many of our current projects use the term "Elevator Landing Emergency Communication System" or "Two-Way Communication System" when referring to the communication.

• If the building has an elevator landing you would typically have the two-way communication located there. If you had an exterior area of assisted rescue you could have the two-way communication located there, and if you had less than 200 people on that given floor/level you would only need one Call Box.

• Our back boxes are not fire-rated. If you are installing in a fire rated wall you can either use surface mount call boxes instead, or you can apply putty pads to the flush mount call boxes.

• If there are stairs at the landing you need a two-way communication system. A handicapped person would be stranded on the landing during an emergency as they are not able to use the stairs.

This is a question we hear often.

Referencing IBC 1007 gives you the information needed to answer this common question:

• If a building has a supervised sprinkler system, you do not need a physical area for an Area of Refuge in the stairwell because the entire floor would be considered an Area of Refuge at that point.
• IBC 1007.3 reads, "Stairways shall either incorporate an Area of Refuge within an enlarged floor level landing or shall be assessed from an Area of Refuge".
• The first exception listed states Areas of Refuge are not required at stairways in buildings equipped throughout by an automatic sprinkler system.
• Although you would not need the physical Areas of Refuge in this situation, the building still requires a Two-Way Communication System in the elevator landings to meet IBC 1007.8 requirements. 1007.8 reads, "A Two-Way Communication System shall be provided at the elevator landing on each accessible floor that is one or more stories above or below the story of exit discharge".
• To summarize, if any building has a supervised sprinkler system with no means of egress out of the building (includes two story buildings or larger, and one story buildings with basements that have no means of egress) it would require Two-Way Communication in the elevator landing on these levels. The building would not require the physical “Area of Refuge” in the stairwells because of the supervised sprinkler system in the facility.

• All of our systems are used on a regular basis not only with CI & MI cable but also with 18 gauge. We recommend 22 or 24 gauge because it is readily available and it is easier to make the connections. With that being said, 18 gauge will still work great with our systems.

• IBC 1007.8 states that the Call Box shall call a remote monitoring location or 911 if the Base Station is not manned 24/7. Typically, we see it call remote monitoring locations but occasionally will see it go to 911.

• Below is a reference from NFPA Chapter 24 from the 2010 Code. There is no requirement, just a suggestion. The decibel level depends on the environment that the stations are in.
  • "The ECS system designer cannot control all of these factors, but he or she must design the system to compensate for those factors not under his or her control. The designer must address background noise or ‘ambient noise levels’ as part of the design. In order for the system to meet the intelligibility goals, the system must have an adequate signal-to-noise ratio. If the system provides a speech signal at least 15 dB higher than the ambient noise level, this will minimize the intelligibility loss from the ambient noise levels."

• We sell through Low Voltage Contractors all over the country. Typically, fire guys are our larger volume dealers and it really depends on the municipality on how they want the system submitted. It is best to reach out to the AHJs on your projects (Fire Marshal). Ask them if they have a specific form, if it is part of the fire permit, or if it is under the life safety aspect. It seems to be different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

• The 2015 IBC 1009.8 Exception 5 is referencing a multi-story, single family home. An elevator in an apartment building or condominium is considered a public use elevator, so a Two-Way Communication System is required.

• Your customer’s existing intercom product won’t be IBC or NFPA code compliant if it does not meet the following criteria:
  • Must meet the NFPA 72 requirement for battery back-up
  • Must meet the NFPA 72 requirement for supervision
  • If the building is level 2 or 3 survivability, 2 hour rated cable is required for the application
  • A location message must play after the button is pushed
  
  We guarantee that our Area of Refuge and Two-Way Communication Systems are fully code compliant.