An Emergency Responder Communication Enhancement System (ERCES) is not proven reliable because it powers on during commissioning. It is reliable only when it continues supporting two-way radio communications after normal utility power has failed.

That distinction matters.

Battery backup is one of the most misunderstood elements of IFC 510, NFPA 72, and NFPA 1225 compliance, and one of the most common reasons a system fails acceptance testing or an annual performance test.

The central question for building owners is simple:

Will your ERCES operate at full required capacity when the building loses power?

The 12-Hour Versus 24-Hour Confusion

The first issue is understanding which requirement applies to which system.

For the fire alarm system, NFPA 72 generally requires secondary power to support:

• 24 hours of operation in the standby or quiescent condition
• Followed by at least 5 minutes of alarm operation
• Or 15 minutes for emergency voice/alarm communication systems, where applicable

ERCES requirements are typically governed by IFC 510 and NFPA 1225, where adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The commonly applied ERCES requirement is:

• At least 12 hours of operation at 100% system capacity
• Two independent and reliable power sources
• Supervision of power, charger, battery, and active system components

Some jurisdictions, project specifications, or AHJs may require 24 hours of ERCES backup instead of 12. That is why the adopted code edition and local amendments must be confirmed before design or testing.

Do not assume the fire alarm battery calculation automatically proves ERCES compliance. They are related life-safety systems, but their secondary-power requirements may be different.

What “Standby Load” and “Alarm Load” Really Mean

Battery calculations are not simply a matter of reading the amp-hour rating printed on a battery.

A proper calculation identifies the current draw of every device connected to the secondary power supply, including:

• BDA or signal booster
• Remote units and fiber nodes
• Power supplies and chargers
• Active RF-emitting equipment
• Supervisory modules and annunciators
• Network interfaces and monitoring equipment
• Fans, heaters, or environmental controls, if powered by the system

For a conventional fire alarm calculation, the basic model is:

Required capacity = standby current × standby hours + alarm current × alarm duration

That calculation must also account for manufacturer requirements, temperature, battery aging, wiring loss, and required safety margins.

ERCES is different. Because the system may continue transmitting and receiving during an emergency, its calculation must demonstrate the ability to support 100% operational capacity for the required duration. A low-current “idle” reading is not enough if the BDA, remote units, or other active components draw substantially more current during operation.

A practical example

Assume an ERCES power supply supports a continuous 8-amp load and the AHJ requires 12 hours of backup:

8 amps × 12 hours = 96 amp-hours before derating and safety factors

That does not mean a nominal 100 amp-hour battery is automatically acceptable. The final selection must consider the manufacturer’s discharge curve, ambient temperature, allowable end voltage, aging factor, and the complete connected load.

A qualified designer should provide a documented secondary-power calculation for each power supply and supplemental battery cabinet, not a generic equipment schedule.

Why a System That Passed Last Year Can Fail This Year

A battery can show normal voltage and still lack the capacity needed to support an ERCES during an outage.

Common reasons include:

1. Battery aging

Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries gradually lose usable capacity. Heat accelerates that process, particularly in poorly ventilated equipment rooms, rooftop locations, and spaces exposed to Georgia’s summer temperatures.

A battery may still charge and display an acceptable voltage while its available runtime has dropped below the required level.

2. High operating temperature

Battery life is strongly affected by temperature. Excessive heat can cause:

• Reduced service life
• Increased internal resistance
• Swelling or case damage
• Premature capacity loss
• Charger stress

Battery cabinets should be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer’s environmental requirements.

3. Loose or corroded connections

High-resistance connections can create voltage drop, localized heating, and unstable operation. Inspectors should check terminals, interconnects, lugs, fuses, and wiring, not just the battery label.

4. Charger failure

A failed or degraded charger may leave the system running on battery without the owner realizing it. If the battery is already partially discharged when utility power fails, the ERCES may not achieve the required runtime.

5. Increased system load

A building renovation, tenant improvement, additional remote unit, new radio frequency, or equipment replacement can increase the load beyond the original battery calculation.

The system may have passed when it was commissioned, but the installed configuration may no longer match the approved calculation.

6. Incorrect replacement batteries

Substituting batteries with different capacity, discharge characteristics, dimensions, or listing information can invalidate the original calculation. Replacement batteries must be compatible with the listed equipment and approved design.

0% Assumptions. 0% Missed Details. Battery condition must be verified through testing and documentation, not appearance alone.

What ERCES Battery Testing Should Include

Annual ERCES testing and certification generally includes more than a visual inspection.

Under commonly adopted IFC 510 requirements, the backup power supply is tested under load for at least one hour. If the battery shows signs of failure during that period, testing may need to continue in additional one-hour increments until its integrity can be established.

Annual testing should evaluate:

• Battery voltage and current under load
• Charger operation
• Battery cabinet and terminal condition
• Internal resistance, impedance, or conductance where applicable
• Temperature and ventilation
• Automatic transfer or secondary-power operation
• BDA and remote-unit performance
• Alarm and supervisory signals
• Documentation of measured values and corrective actions

For NFPA 72 fire alarm secondary power, batteries are commonly inspected and tested at scheduled intervals, with capacity testing or replacement addressed on a periodic cycle. NFPA guidance describes three-year replacement or load-testing provisions for applicable fire alarm batteries, with replacement required when capacity falls below the permitted threshold.

ERCES batteries may also be subject to manufacturer instructions, AHJ requirements, project specifications, and local amendments. Many VRLA batteries have an expected service life of approximately three to five years, but actual replacement timing depends on temperature, loading, testing results, and battery chemistry.

Calendar age is a warning, not the complete answer. Capacity is the answer.

Monitoring and Supervision: The Battery Must Report Its Own Failure

A backup system that silently fails is not a compliant life-safety system.

ERCES monitoring should communicate required trouble or supervisory conditions through the building fire alarm system, including:

• Loss of normal AC power
• Battery charger failure
• Low battery or battery depletion
• Active component failure
• Active RF-emitter failure
• Signal-source malfunction
• Loss of integrity between the ERCES and fire alarm control unit
• Communication pathway problems

The exact signal type, annunciation method, and response time depend on the adopted code edition, listed equipment, and AHJ requirements. The important principle is consistent:

The building owner must know when the ERCES is operating on backup power or has lost backup-power capability.

A system that works only when a technician is standing beside it is not adequately monitored.

Atlanta and Georgia Enforcement Considerations

In Atlanta and throughout Georgia, compliance is evaluated by the applicable local AHJ, fire marshal, building official, and public-safety communications authority. Requirements can vary between the City of Atlanta, surrounding municipalities, and county jurisdictions based on adopted editions, amendments, radio-system requirements, and project-specific conditions.

That means an owner should confirm:

• Which edition of IFC 510 is adopted
• Whether NFPA 1225 is referenced or amended
• Whether the AHJ requires 12-hour or 24-hour ERCES backup
• Required battery test duration and documentation
• Required fire alarm supervisory points
• Technician qualification and certification requirements
• Whether a test report must be submitted to the fire code official

A failed test can create more than a technical correction. The real cost may include:

• A second mobilization and retest
• Emergency battery replacement
• Additional engineering or design work
• Contractor and inspector coordination
• Delayed Certificate of Occupancy
• Delayed tenant move-in or facility opening
• Lost revenue and schedule disruption
• Increased exposure if a known deficiency remains uncorrected

A proactive DAS maintenance and monitoring program is usually less expensive than discovering a failed battery during a final inspection or emergency.

Building Owner’s ERCES Battery Checklist

Use this checklist before an acceptance test or annual performance test:

• Confirm the adopted IFC, NFPA 72, and NFPA 1225 editions with the AHJ.
• Verify whether the project requires 12-hour or 24-hour ERCES backup.
• Obtain current battery calculations for every power supply and remote unit.
• Confirm the calculation reflects the actual installed equipment and load.
• Record battery manufacturer, model, installation date, and manufacture date.
• Inspect for swelling, leakage, corrosion, loose connections, or damaged cases.
• Test charger output and battery performance under load.
• Review internal resistance, impedance, or conductance trends.
• Confirm AC-loss, low-battery, charger-failure, and component-failure supervision.
• Verify signals reach the fire alarm control unit and required supervising station.
• Maintain annual test reports, corrective-action records, and replacement records.
• Schedule testing before, not after, the AHJ deadline.

The Bottom Line: Test the System You Have Today

Your ERCES did not earn permanent compliance when it passed commissioning.

Batteries age. Loads change. Chargers fail. Renovations alter equipment-room conditions. Monitoring pathways degrade. A system that passed last year can fail this year because its available capacity is no longer sufficient.

Global Network LLC provides ERCES design, installation, compliance testing, certification, and ongoing monitoring for Atlanta-area facilities. Our specialists help building owners verify secondary power, supervisory signaling, radio coverage, and documentation before a failed test becomes an occupancy or safety problem.

When communication matters most, backup power must be more than a line item on a submittal.

Schedule an ERCES assessment or annual performance test today.

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