Different buildings, different coverage problems
Concrete, steel and energy-efficient glass keep weather out. They also keep radio and cell signals out.
IBWS designs, tests and maintains public safety radio systems (ERCES) and Cellular DAS for the buildings people live, work, heal and learn in across California.
Buildings we serve
Every building type blocks signal in its own way and answers to its own mix of codes, owners and occupants. Here is what we usually see, and how we help.
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Multifamily housing
Common problem. Concrete podiums, underground parking and energy-efficient glass weaken both firefighter radio and cell signal. In many jurisdictions a failed coverage test can hold up occupancy.
How we help. Signal surveys during construction, stamped ERCES design, and acceptance testing before move-in.
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Hospitals and medical offices
Common problem. Shielded imaging rooms and dense construction, in buildings that never close. Staff, patients and first responders all need coverage.
How we help. ERCES design for state and local review, Cellular DAS for staff and patients, and work planned around active clinical areas.
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Office buildings
Common problem. Low-E glass and steel cores block signal. Tenants expect full cell service, and the fire marshal expects radio coverage.
How we help. Coverage testing, Cellular DAS options compared across carriers and budgets, and ERCES for new construction and major renovations.
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Schools and campuses
Common problem. Multiple buildings, gyms and basements, often with area of refuge communication requirements on top of radio coverage.
How we help. Campus-wide coverage planning, ERCES with area of refuge two-way communication, and phased work that fits the school calendar.
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Hotels and resorts
Common problem. Dead zones in ballrooms, back-of-house areas and spread-out properties show up quickly in guest reviews.
How we help. Cellular DAS sized to the property and the actual complaints, plus ERCES for new and renovated buildings.
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Senior living
Common problem. Residents rely on cell phones to reach family and help, and staff and emergency response depend on coverage across every building.
How we help. Coverage assessments, carrier-neutral Cellular DAS options, and ERCES for new construction.
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Data centers and industrial
Common problem. Windowless, metal-heavy construction designed to keep things out, including signal.
How we help. ERCES design and testing for heavily shielded buildings, coordinated with strict site security.
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Parking garages
Common problem. Below-grade levels are usually where radio coverage fails first, and they are typically part of the building's required coverage area.
How we help. ERCES design for underground levels, annual inspections, and service when a system stops performing.
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Government and research facilities
Common problem. Multiple radio systems across several bands and buildings, often including P25 networks, with security requirements on top.
How we help. Multi-band ERCES design and coordination with regional radio system operators and the fire authority.
What we do, and who we do it for
Contractors usually need us during construction. Owners and property managers usually need us after the building is occupied. We work with both.
For general and electrical contractors
- Stamped ERCES designDrawings and link budgets prepared for fire department submittal and carried through plan check.
- Signal surveys during constructionBaseline and grid testing at the right milestones, so cable paths are planned before walls close.
- Parts and SmartsEquipment plus engineering support for your installing crew.
- Commissioning and acceptance testingCoverage verification and sign-off with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
- Design partner for low-voltage contractorsWe provide the engineering, you keep the customer relationship.
For building owners and property managers
- Annual ERRCS inspectionsTesting and documentation to keep your system in compliance.
- Corrective work after a failed auditA clear, priced plan for fixing deficiencies, with the code questions sorted out first.
- Restoring systems that stopped workingDiagnosis and repair of systems that fail, alarm, or were never properly commissioned.
- Cellular DAS assessmentsCoverage testing and solution options compared across all major carriers.
- A straight answer firstSometimes a building doesn't need a full system. We'll tell you when that's the case.
Outside our area? We manage ERCES projects in other states, handle service calls throughout Northern California, and will recommend a company we trust when a building is outside our service area.
Tell us about your building
Send the address, the building type and where the project stands. We'll tell you what the next step should be.