E-Comm Public Safety Radio Compliance in Port Moody
Port Moody’s Public Safety Radio Building Amplification System Bylaw, 2010, No. 2850
The City of Port Moody’s Public Safety Radio Building Amplification System Bylaw, 2010, No. 2850 sets requirements for in-building radio support and amplification systems that increase and support the radio frequencies used by E-Comm.
Fraser Valley RF Solutions supports Port Moody projects end-to-end – including coverage verification, design coordination, commissioning, acceptance testing, and annual testing documentation.
Key Dates (Bylaw 2850)
Bylaw 2850 adopted: December 14, 2013.
Amendment No. 1 (Bylaw 3005): July 14, 2015.
Does This Bylaw Apply to My Building?
This bylaw applies to building and construction in Port Moody where a permit is required, except for specific exemptions.
Exemptions include:
Single-family detached or semi-detached residences
Wood-frame buildings/structures that are not metal-clad
Buildings/structures with a horizontal area under 500 m²
Buildings/structures under 12 metres in height
Port Moody requirements at a glance
Adequate Radio Coverage includes (high level):
E-Comm system access with Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) 3.4 or better
Minimum portable radio signal strength requirement
Support for the specified E-Comm frequency ranges (700/800 MHz bands)
Coverage targets include:
90% coverage on each floor (including underground areas)
100% coverage in critical areas (fire command centres, stairwells, protect-in-place areas, lobby refuge areas, equipment rooms, high-hazard areas)
90% coverage in “shadowed areas” where coverage could have been achieved before construction/modification
Trigger (common): the bylaw applies to new work and also to additions over 20% floor area.
System requirements (equipment, UPS, alarms)
Port Moody allows several compliant approaches (as approved by the Fire Chief), including passive antenna/radiating cable systems, DAS with uni/bi-directional amplifiers, voting receivers, or other acceptable solutions.
If any component is electrically powered, the system must operate on an independent UPS for at least 4 hours, provide monitored alarm signals for primary power/UPS/battery issues, and requires owner notification if UPS failure extends beyond 2 hours.
Acceptance testing and annual testing (what to expect)
The bylaw sets detailed testing rules, including:
Grid-based testing (15 m grid for large areas; ~20 equal areas for smaller floor plates)
DAQ testing using handheld radios (5-second transmissions; limited movement allowed before recording a failure)
Pass/fail rules (limited number of failing non-adjacent grid areas; retest provisions)
Battery/UPS testing under load (minimum 1 hour, and extended testing if issues are detected)
Annual testing: at least once per calendar year, owners must test active components (amplifiers, power supplies, batteries), keep records for inspection, and load-test power supplies/batteries for at least one hour.
Engineer sign-off: test reports must be certified by a professional engineer registered in BC and qualified in radio communications.
Permit condition (important for approvals)
For a building where a radio amplification system is required, the permit applicant must provide the Building Official with a document signed by a professional engineer certifying the system is installed and tested in accordance with the bylaw, and that the engineer is qualified to certify it.
How Fraser Valley RF Solutions helps in Port Moody
We support Port Moody projects with:
Coverage surveys and verification testing
iBwave design support and implementation planning
Commissioning and optimization (including isolation/uplink-noise performance checks)
Acceptance testing and AHJ-ready documentation packages
Annual testing, troubleshooting, and ongoing compliance support
Official bylaw reference
Port Moody lists the Public Safety Radio Building Amplification System Bylaw (BL2850-C) on its Bylaws page.
Need certification in a different municipality?
View all E-Comm Service Areas
Contact US
Call 604-499-2667 or request your E-Comm radio coverage test today. Serving Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Langley, and beyond.
Contact US
Contact Fraser Valley RF Solutions today to schedule your site testing or learn how we can design, install, and commission your E-Comm public safety radio amplification system.
✅ iBwave Certified
✅ Serving 12 E-Comm Municipalities
✅ Fast Engineering Sign-Off
✅ End-to-End Service: Design → Install → Certify
Serving the Fraser Valley, Greater Vancouver area, and beyond.