02/26/2026
BUILDLAB
4 min readDAS and ERCCS Site Surveys: When You Need One and How to Save
Emergency radio coverage is now required in most jurisdictions for new multifamily construction. Here is how the permitting process actually works.
Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and Emergency Responder Radio Communications System (ERCCS) requirements have been spreading across California jurisdictions for years. Most new multifamily construction over a certain size needs an initial radio coverage survey for permit.
What the survey does
A licensed technician walks the building with a calibrated signal meter, measuring public-safety radio coverage in stairwells, corridors, garages, and emergency staging areas. The output is a coverage map and a recommendation: pass, partial supplement, or full DAS/ERCCS buildout.
When you can skip the buildout
Many wood-frame mid-rise projects pass coverage outright — public safety radio penetrates wood and stucco well. The survey is required regardless to demonstrate compliance, but a passing report avoids the much larger DAS installation cost.
Why specialty vendors quote high
Standalone DAS/ERCCS vendors structure their pricing around the assumption that you will need a full system. Their site survey is sold as the lead-in. A technology consultant that performs the survey in-house gives you an unbiased read for a fraction of the cost.
