Annual ERCES Test
AHJ-ready testing for every ERCES install in your portfolio — full grid re-measurement, BDA and donor re-verification, battery discharge, and a signed report the fire marshal will accept.
Why the annual test isn't optional
NFPA 1225 §18.9 (2022) requires an annual functional test of every installed ERCES, and IFC §510.6.5 gives the fire marshal explicit authority to withhold or revoke a certificate of occupancy when the record isn't current. Every year we field calls from facility teams who discover a lapsed test only after an AHJ inspection puts their tenants at risk — the fix is fast when it's scheduled, expensive when it's a citation.
Our annual test is scoped as a fixed-price contract per building. You know the number, we handle the AHJ paperwork, and the signed JBT-ERC-AR-002 report lands in your compliance file the same week we test.
What's included in every annual test
Every visit produces a complete, AHJ-defensible record. No line items are optional — this is the NFPA 1225 §18.9 baseline.
Full grid re-measurement
20′×20′ grid RSSI + DAQ 3.0 on every occupied floor to validate coverage still meets the AHJ threshold.
Donor antenna re-verification
Signal-strength and path-loss re-measurement of the donor path to confirm the outdoor source is still viable.
BDA performance test
Per-band gain, isolation, and forward/reverse power readings on the bi-directional amplifier.
1-hour battery discharge
Secondary-power (battery) load test proving the system holds runtime with utility power removed.
Supervisory alarm test
Functional test of every fault condition and confirmation the fire panel handshake is healthy.
Physical inspection
Donor + DAS antennas, coax, connectors, grounding, and NEMA enclosure walk-down with photos.
Deficiency list + signed AR-002
Ranked deficiency list plus signed JBT-ERC-AR-002 report, ready for the fire marshal / AHJ.
30-min review meeting
Debrief with facilities and (if requested) the fire marshal to walk through findings and next steps.
Contract pricing — 1YR / 3YR / 5YR
Fixed-price per building. Pricing scales by size (8 tiers from Up to 50K sqft to 1.5M–2M sqft) and complexity (Low / Medium / High). Prepay 3YR to lock in 15% off, or 5YR for 25% off — the best-value option for owners with certificates of occupancy on the line every year. Ranges below are for Medium complexity; scoping call establishes your exact tier.
1-Year Contract
- Up to 50K sqft (Med)$3,750
- 250K–500K sqft (Med)$12,750
- 750K–1M sqft (Med)$20,250
- 1.5M–2M sqft (Med)$31,875
Single-year term. Invoiced at the start of the contract, tested within the anniversary window. Ideal for owners evaluating the annual-test cadence for the first time.
3-Year Contract
- Up to 50K sqft (Med)$9,600
- 250K–500K sqft (Med)$32,600
- 750K–1M sqft (Med)$51,700
- 1.5M–2M sqft (Med)$81,300
Three consecutive annual tests. Prepay locks in pricing against inflation and simplifies your compliance budget for the term.
5-Year Contract
- Up to 50K sqft (Med)$14,100
- 250K–500K sqft (Med)$47,900
- 750K–1M sqft (Med)$76,000
- 1.5M–2M sqft (Med)$119,600
Five consecutive annual tests. Does not include the separately-scoped 5-year re-acceptance test (JBT-ERC-FR-003) — see the FAQ.
Which complexity tier is your building?
Complexity is the second lever in your quote. Pick the closest match — the scoping call confirms it, and low/high modifiers are applied against the Medium baseline shown above.
Low complexity
Single-band system, single BDA, one donor antenna, straightforward as-built documentation, no hazardous locations, coverage confined to occupied areas. Typical of single-tenant office, small warehouse, or a well-documented recent install.
-30% vs. MediumMedium complexity
The baseline. Two bands or one band with elevated attenuation, one BDA, multi-floor coverage, standard fire-panel monitoring, complete as-builts. Most commercial buildings land here.
BaselineHigh complexity
Three+ bands, multiple BDAs, campus/multi-building system, hospital critical-care coverage, incomplete as-builts, unusual donor path (rooftop obstruction, distant tower), or additional AHJ reporting requirements.
+50% vs. MediumAdd-ons
Priced à la carte and layered on any of the three contract terms above.
After-Hours
Nights, weekends, or holiday testing to avoid tenant disruption.
+25% laborMulti-Band
Additional public-safety band beyond the base scope.
+$1,500 / bandHazLoc
Classified-area testing (Class I / Div 1 / Div 2) with specialized procedures.
+$2,500 flatExpedited Report
Signed AR-002 delivered within 3 business days.
+20% of baseRe-Test
Return visit after remediation to close a deficiency and re-issue AR-002.
50% of originalCodes & standards that drive the annual test
Our test procedure is written against the current governing standards. If your AHJ has adopted an earlier code cycle, we conform to whichever the AHJ has formally enforced.
NFPA 1225 §18.9 (2022)
Annual test cadence and pass/fail criteria for in-building ERCES — the primary governing standard cited by most modern AHJs.
IFC §510.6 (2021)
Requires that the ERCES be tested at intervals not exceeding one year and be maintained in operable condition — enforcement teeth behind §510.6.5.
NFPA 72 §14.4.2.3 (2025)
Applies where the ERCES supervisory alarms report through the building's fire alarm system — governs the fire-panel handshake test.
FCC 47 CFR §90.219
Federal licensing rules for signal boosters used in ERCES — verified during the annual as part of the donor-path re-measurement.
Frequently asked questions
Written for facilities leads, property managers, and fire marshals evaluating our annual-test program.
How long does the annual ERCES test take?
Most tests are completed in a single field day. A mid-size commercial building (under 250,000 sq ft, single-band, single BDA) runs 6–8 hours on-site. Large buildings (750K+ sq ft), multi-band systems, and campus deployments run 2–3 field days. We follow up with a 30-minute review with facilities and (if requested) the AHJ / fire marshal.
Do we need to shut down the ERCES during the test?
No. The functional and grid tests are performed with the ERCES fully live — that's the whole point. The only interruptions are the 1-hour secondary-power test (which intentionally cuts utility power to prove battery runtime; the ERCES stays operational) and the supervisory alarm test (which briefly triggers fault conditions we coordinate with your alarm-monitoring central station in advance).
What if we fail — do we get the fixes on the same visit?
Minor deficiencies (loose connector, weak DAS antenna alignment, out-of-spec battery cell, monitoring dry-contact wired incorrectly) are usually corrected on-site the same day. Anything requiring parts, permits, or system redesign is documented on the deficiency list with a scoped remediation quote. Full post-remediation re-tests are 50% of the original test fee (see the Re-Test add-on).
Can we bundle multiple buildings on one contract?
Yes. Portfolio pricing is available for property managers, REITs, healthcare systems, campus operators, and multi-site franchisors. We tier each building individually by size and complexity, then apply a portfolio-level discount that scales with total contract value. Multi-year prepay stacks on top of the portfolio discount.
Does the 5-year prepay include the 5-year re-acceptance test?
No. The 5-year prepay covers five annual functional tests. The 5-year re-acceptance test — sometimes required by AHJs as a deeper re-verification and documented under JBT-ERC-FR-003 — is a separately scoped engagement. Ask us during scoping if you want to bundle re-acceptance into your annual contract.
Does JBT test ERCES systems we didn't install?
Yes. We routinely annual-test systems installed by other contractors. The first-year test on an unfamiliar system usually lands in Medium or High complexity because we need extra time to inventory components and verify as-built accuracy. Subsequent years typically drop to the standard tier once the system is fully cataloged in our records.
Ready to lock in your compliance calendar?
Send us the building address (or a portfolio list) and the anniversary date of your current ERCES. We'll come back with a fixed-price contract in one business day.
Schedule a scoping callNeed install or design, not a test? See our ERCES / BDA installation page.