Your ERRCS permit expired or the installer walked away. Here is how to finish.

Call or email the office that issued the permit. Depending on where you are, an ERRCS or BDA permit may be a fire, building or electrical permit, and some places need sign-off from several offices. In Broward County, for example, work may not start until every authority having jurisdiction has signed the permit (BORA ERCES Guidelines, FBC Broward 118.4).

Ask these questions and write down the answers:

1. Is the permit active, expired, suspended or closed?
2. What was the last inspection, and did it pass?
3. Who is the contractor of record on the permit today?
4. What exactly does the office need to restart or close the job: a change of contractor form, a new permit, revised plans, or a re-inspection?
5. Can you get a copy of the full file: approved plans, inspection results and any correction notices?

Permits generally expire if work does not start, or stops, for a period set by the local building code. The time limits and the paperwork for a new contractor differ by office, so get the answer from your permitting office in writing.

For building permits, Florida gives owners some options (F.S. 553.79(16)):

"Substantially complete" is decided by the local enforcement agency, not by you or the contractor. A radio system that is installed but never passed its acceptance test is not finished from the fire department's view, so ask how they will treat it.

Even if the installer is gone, the work product often still exists. Ask the old installer in writing, and look through your own email, for:

• The design and plans submitted for the permit, including any as-built drawings. The fire code official may require as-built design documents (IFC 2021 510.4.2.7).
• The license holder's consent letter, if one was issued (47 CFR 90.219(b)(1)(i); F.S. 633.202(18)(d)).
• Any signal test or survey reports, with floor grids.
• Equipment lists and serial numbers for the amplifier, battery and antennas, and who owns any equipment not yet installed.
• Amplifier gain settings. If acceptance records and gain values are lost, the owner must rerun the acceptance test (IFC 2021 510.5.4 item 6).
• The contract, invoices and proof of payment.

Send one dated, written request and keep a copy. If the installer has closed down, note that in your file and move on.

1. Ask for a site assessment first. A new contractor should inspect what is installed and test it before quoting a fixed price to finish.
2. Check credentials. The designer and lead installer need an FCC general radio operator license and in-building system training at minimum (IFC 2021 510.5.3). In Broward, only a licensed electrical, fire alarm or BDA contractor can contract the installation (BORA ERCES Guidelines 1.6).
3. Get the scope in writing: who files the change of contractor or new permit, who updates the license holder's consent, and who schedules the fire department.
4. Ask who stands behind the old work. Under F.S. 553.79(16)(a)1, the new contractor answers only for its own work, so decide with them what must be redone.
5. Get at least two bids on the same scope if time allows.

The system is not done until it passes the acceptance test on every floor, with each floor divided into 20 test areas (IFC 2021 510.5.4). The fire department usually witnesses it. Only after that, and after the permit is closed, should you make the final payment. Then put the annual test on the calendar (IFC 2021 510.6.1). For how the tests work, see BDA system testing.

If a fire marshal deadline is running while all this happens, tell the fire marshal in writing what went wrong and your new dates. See the fire marshal ordered ERRCS for how to write that reply.

The form below sends your request to up to 3 licensed installers who serve your area. They reach you by email, or by phone only if you choose calls.