Your building has to work for first responders. Every time.
At Wiginton Fire Systems, we design, install, inspect, test and maintain Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) systems starting with precise BDA testing to ensure when an emergency happens inside your building, firefighters, police and EMS can communicate clearly.
No dead zones. No dropped signals. No compliance gaps.
Quick BDA Testing and Compliance Overview
- Wiginton Fire Systems tests BDA systems and designs, installs and maintains BDA systems to keep your building compliant with Florida fire codes and NFPA 72/1221.
- BDA systems enhance emergency radio signals in areas with poor or no coverage.
- Required by Florida Fire Prevention Code and NFPA when in-building signal is weak or unreliable.
- Services include system design, AHJ permitting, installation, signal surveys, annual inspections and repairs.
- One vendor for sprinklers, alarms and BDA systems: simpler compliance, fewer contractors.
What Should I Expect from a BDA Testing Company
We handle every stage, from your first coverage survey to your annual inspection years down the road.
- Signal-strength BDA testing and coverage surveys: We verify that your building meets code-required coverage levels and provide detailed documentation you can show any inspector.
- System design and permitting: We assess your building, determine required coverage, select the right equipment and manage coordination with your AHJ from start to finish.
- BDA installation and integration: We install your BDA system and integrate it with your existing fire alarm and communication infrastructure. No patchwork. No loose ends.
- Comprehensive performance BDA testing: Our technicians perform in-depth BDA testing to confirm signal reliability, isolation and amplifier performance across all designated coverage zones, ensuring your BDA system delivers consistent communication during emergencies.
- Annual and periodic inspections and BDA testing: Scheduled visits keep your BDA system operational, current with code changes and ready for any AHJ review.
- Maintenance and repairs: When something needs attention, we’re fast. Preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and prompt repairs mean your system stays online.
How This Fits Your Overall Fire Protection
Your BDA system doesn’t exist in isolation and neither does our approach to protecting your building.
We treat your BDA system as one integrated piece of your fire protection strategy, alongside your sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers and suppression systems.
When one vendor manages all of it, you get simpler scheduling, fewer contractors to track down and a single point of contact when something needs attention.
That’s less overhead for you and tighter compliance across the board. One call indeed covers it all.
Bill Weinhold
Former Battalion Fire Chief, Concord NH | 32 Years in Emergency Services Years of Service
Director of Safety & Risk Management, Wiginton Fire Systems
"When communications fail, lives hang in the balance. I have personally experienced situations where I could not communicate with my teams under my command. Bi-Directional Amplification has the potential to overcome this deficiency — allowing emergency communications to function and ultimately save lives and property from further risk."
Frequently Asked Questions
Although it varies by building size and complexity, a BDA test typically takes a few hours for most commercial buildings. Larger or more complex BDA systems may require additional time. We give you a realistic timeline upfront so BDA testing is efficient and minimally disruptive.
It depends on your building’s signal penetration. If first responders can’t achieve minimum radio coverage inside your facility, the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), typically your local fire marshal, can require you to install one. We can perform a coverage survey to tell you exactly where you stand before any regulatory pressure lands on your desk.
NFPA 72 and most AHJ requirements call for annual inspections at minimum, with functional BDA testing to verify signal coverage levels. Some jurisdictions require semi-annual testing. We provide scheduled visits so you’re never scrambling before an inspection. We keep the documentation too, so you have detailed records ready when the fire marshal asks.
A failed inspection typically triggers a Notice of Violation from the AHJ, with a correction timeline attached. In serious cases, it can affect your Certificate of Occupancy. The good news: most failures are correctable quickly with the right contractor on call. If you’re dealing with a failing system, whether we installed it or not, we can step in, diagnose the issue and get you back into compliance quickly.
Yes. We service, inspect and repair BDA systems regardless of who originally installed them. We carry the certifications and equipment to work with all major BDA manufacturers. If you’ve inherited a system with spotty maintenance history or you’re looking for a more responsive service partner, we’re ready to take it over.
Speak to a Specialist About BDA Testing and Compliance
If you need emergency service for your BDA system, contact us at 800-549-9912.
Nothing can be left to chance when it comes to first responder communications. If your BDA coverage, testing or compliance needs attention, discuss your options with our fire protection experts today.
Join Our Team of Fire Protection Professionals
Grow your career at an industry-leading fire protection company. If you’re an industry expert of nearly any specialty, we could have a fire sprinkler job for you. If you’re a motivated individual looking to break into the industry, talk to us. There’s something special about Wiginton — see it for yourself.