DAS / In-Building Wireless
Distributed Antenna System installation for NYC and NJ. Passive DAS, hybrid DAS, and ERRCS/BDA public safety compliance for commercial buildings. Cell signal coverage where it matters.
What's included
- Passive DAS design and installation (buildings up to 30,000 sf)
- Hybrid DAS for mid-size commercial buildings
- ERRCS/BDA public safety radio coverage (NYC fire code compliance)
- Bi-directional amplifier (BDA) installation and testing
- Coaxial distribution network (RG-6, RG-11)
- Antenna mounting (omnidirectional, directional, panel)
- Signal survey and RF coverage mapping
- Rack builds and BDA equipment installation
- Conduit and pathway infrastructure
- Fire-rated cable and equipment room installation
- FDNY and AHJ coordination for public safety systems
- Annual testing and recertification
Cell signal does not stop at the lobby — neither should yours
Modern commercial buildings are designed to be energy-efficient, structurally sound, and aesthetically appealing. They are not designed to let radio signals through. Low-e glass, concrete cores, metal deck floors, and below-grade levels create dead zones where cell phones do not work, first responders cannot communicate, and business stops.
A Distributed Antenna System solves this by distributing cellular and radio signal throughout the building using a network of antennas connected to a signal source. The result: full-strength cell signal in every office, every hallway, every stairwell, and every basement level.
NYC fire code requires ERRCS in high-rises
If your building is 75 feet or taller in New York City, the building code requires an Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS). This is not optional — it is a condition of the Certificate of Occupancy.
Requirements:
- 95% floor area coverage at minimum -95 dBm signal strength (uplink and downlink)
- 99% coverage in critical areas: stairwells, elevator shafts, fire command centers
- Dedicated standby/backup power
- Fire-rated coaxial cable and equipment rooms with two-hour fire rating
- Annual testing and recertification
- FDNY is the Authority Having Jurisdiction — they test the system before signing off
Most building owners find out about this requirement when the FDNY arrives to test. If the building fails, there is no Certificate of Occupancy until it passes. We design the system to pass the first time.
What we install
Passive DAS (up to 30,000 sf)
The right solution for most commercial buildings. A bi-directional amplifier (BDA) mounted in the server room or telecom closet, connected to distributed antennas throughout the building via coaxial cable (RG-6 or RG-11). Covers all major carrier frequencies. Simple, reliable, and deployable in 1-2 weeks.
Cost: $0.27-$0.63 per square foot Timeline: 1-2 weeks Best for: offices, medical practices, retail, restaurants, small warehouses
Hybrid DAS (30,000-100,000 sf)
For mid-size buildings that need more coverage than passive DAS can deliver but do not require the complexity of active DAS. Combines amplified signal distribution with strategically placed active components for consistent coverage across larger floor plates and multiple floors.
Cost: $0.90-$1.80 per square foot Timeline: 2-4 weeks Best for: multi-floor office buildings, mid-size commercial, retail centers
ERRCS/BDA (public safety compliance)
Purpose-built for first responder radio coverage. Dedicated BDA amplifying public safety frequencies (700/800 MHz), fire-rated coaxial distribution, and antenna coverage mapped to meet the 95%/99% code requirements. Includes FDNY coordination, testing, and documentation for Certificate of Occupancy.
Cost: $0.55 per square foot starting Timeline: 2-6 weeks Best for: NYC high-rises (75 ft+), buildings undergoing renovation triggering code compliance
Active DAS (partner-delivered)
For large buildings (500,000+ sf), airports, stadiums, and multi-carrier neutral-host requirements. Sage installs the physical infrastructure — coaxial and fiber distribution networks, antenna mounting, rack builds, conduit, and pathway hardware. Our licensed RF engineering partner handles system design, carrier coordination, and spectrum optimization.
Cost: $2.00-$10.00 per square foot (depending on carrier count) Timeline: 3-18 months (carrier approval timelines dominate)
What it costs
| Solution | Cost per SF | Typical Project | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive DAS | $0.27-$0.63 | 30K sf office: $8,100-$18,900 | 1-2 weeks |
| Hybrid DAS | $0.90-$1.80 | 50K sf building: $45,000-$90,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| ERRCS/BDA | $0.55+ | 100K sf high-rise: $55,000+ | 2-6 weeks |
| Site survey + design | $2,500 flat | Credited toward signed project | 3-5 days |
Why the same team that pulls your cable should install your DAS
DAS is low-voltage infrastructure. The coaxial distribution network, the antenna mounts above the ceiling, the conduit runs, the fire-stop penetrations, the rack build for the BDA, and the cable certification — this is the same physical work as structured cabling. The same Fluke testers, the same BICSI installation standards, the same plenum and riser cable requirements, the same pathway hardware.
Hiring a separate DAS contractor means a second mobilization, a second set of above-ceiling pathways that may conflict with your data cabling, a second rack in the telecom closet, and a second team that does not know the building layout. When the same team handles cabling, cameras, access control, and DAS, the pathways are coordinated, the racks are organized, and the as-built documentation covers the entire low-voltage plant.
Where we work
- New construction high-rises (ERRCS code compliance)
- Existing buildings with cell signal dead zones
- Medical practices where reliable communication is patient-safety-critical
- Restaurants and retail where customers expect full signal
- Warehouses and distribution centers with metal deck roofs
- Below-grade offices, parking structures, and basements
- Multi-building campuses with inconsistent outdoor-to-indoor coverage
DAS / In-Building Wireless — questions we get
What is DAS and why would my building need one?
A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) extends cellular signal throughout a building using a network of antennas connected to a signal source. Buildings with thick walls, concrete cores, low-e glass, or underground levels often have dead zones where cell phones do not work. DAS eliminates those dead zones. If your tenants, employees, or customers complain about dropped calls or no signal in parts of the building, DAS solves it.
What is ERRCS and is it required in NYC?
ERRCS (Emergency Responder Radio Communication System) is an in-building radio system that ensures first responders — firefighters, police, EMS — can communicate inside your building during an emergency. NYC building code requires ERRCS in all new buildings 75 feet or taller (high-rise). The system must provide 95% floor area coverage at minimum signal strength, with 99% coverage in critical areas like stairwells and elevator shafts. The FDNY is the Authority Having Jurisdiction and tests the system before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.
What is the difference between passive DAS and active DAS?
Passive DAS uses a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) connected to antennas through coaxial cable — no active electronics between the BDA and the antenna. It is simpler, cheaper, faster to install, and handles buildings up to about 30,000 square feet well. Active DAS uses fiber optic cable and remote radio units with active electronics at each antenna location. It handles larger buildings and multiple carriers but costs 5-10x more and takes months to deploy due to carrier coordination. About 98% of commercial buildings can be served by passive or hybrid DAS.
Does my building need active DAS or will passive work?
For most buildings under 100,000 square feet, passive or hybrid DAS is sufficient and dramatically more cost-effective. Active DAS is typically reserved for airports, stadiums, large hospitals, and buildings over 500,000 square feet that need to support multiple carriers with guaranteed capacity. We survey the building, measure signal levels, and recommend the solution that fits — we will not sell you a $500,000 active system when a $15,000 passive system solves the problem.
How much does DAS cost?
Passive DAS: $0.27-$0.63 per square foot. Hybrid DAS: $0.90-$1.80 per square foot. ERRCS/BDA public safety systems: $0.55 per square foot starting. Site survey and design: $2,500 flat fee (credited toward a signed project). For a typical 30,000 square foot office building with passive DAS: $8,100-$18,900 installed. For ERRCS compliance on a 100,000 square foot high-rise: starting at $55,000.
How long does installation take?
Passive DAS: 1-2 weeks. Hybrid DAS: 2-4 weeks. ERRCS/BDA: 2-6 weeks depending on building size and AHJ coordination. Active multi-carrier DAS: 3-18 months (carrier approval timelines dominate). Most commercial buildings served by passive or hybrid systems are operational within a month of contract signature.
Do you handle the RF design or just the installation?
For passive DAS and ERRCS/BDA, we handle the full scope in-house: site survey, signal measurement, system design, coaxial distribution, antenna placement, BDA installation, rack build, and testing. For active and multi-carrier DAS requiring RF engineering and carrier coordination, we install the physical infrastructure — coaxial and fiber distribution, antenna mounting, rack builds, conduit, and pathway hardware — while our licensed RF engineering partner handles system design and carrier approval. This is standard in the industry: the low-voltage contractor handles the physical build, the RF engineer handles the spectrum.
What about 5G? Will DAS become obsolete?
No. 5G actually increases the need for in-building wireless infrastructure. 5G millimeter-wave signals penetrate building materials even less effectively than 4G. As carriers deploy 5G, in-building DAS and small cell infrastructure becomes more important, not less. A passive DAS built today supports the frequencies carriers are using now and the foreseeable future.
What happens if my building fails the ERRCS inspection?
No Certificate of Occupancy until the system passes. For new construction, this means you cannot legally occupy the building. For existing buildings undergoing renovation that triggers code compliance, it means the renovation cannot be closed out. We design the system to pass the first time. If you are in a building that has already failed an ERRCS inspection, we can survey, design, and install a compliant system — typically within 4-6 weeks of contract signature.
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