Section 727.400  Private Emergency Answering Point

A non-business entity that has been certified by the Commission to operate a PEAP and to handle its internal emergency calls must meet the following minimum standards:

a)         The non-business entity applying to be a PEAP may have as its primary emergency telephone number a dialing code other than 9-1-1. At such time that its current telephone switching system is replaced, the non-business entity shall program its system to respond to 9-1-1 in addition to its current dialing code.

b)         The PEAP shall be operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except in cases where the entity is closed or shut down and no employees are or could be present in any part of the facility.

c)         Each PEAP shall have an operational TT if the business employs hearing or speech impaired persons or if there is a public area in the building where the public has access to a telephone to dial 9-1-1 or other emergency code.

d)         There must be at least one backup location remote from the primary answering point that will be promptly staffed by trained personnel should the primary location experience equipment failure or become unstaffed due to fire or other emergency. Instead of an on-site remote backup location, a written agreement may be established with the existing 9-1-1 system to be the remote backup/overflow answering point. The phone switch must be configured to automatically transfer calls to the remote answering point if a call to the primary answering point goes unanswered or if the primary answering point has to be evacuated.

e)         Personnel answering the emergency phone must be trained on how to respond to emergency callers and how to summon appropriate inside and outside assistance for an emergency situation. Eight hours minimum training is required based on competency and experience.

f)          The PEAP shall be equipped with an emergency back-up power source capable of supplying electrical power to serve the basic power requirements of the PEAP for a minimum of 4 hours.

g)         Critical areas of the PEAP must have adequate physical security to prevent the intentional disruption of service. In the absence of a high level of security, either of the following options may be substituted to ensure the answering and dispatch of the emergency call:

1)         A secondary back-up location remotely located from the primary answering point which is staffed 24 hours a day with trained personnel; or

2)         An alternative method of communication available which will transmit an emergency request and result in the dispatch of emergency services.

h)         Access to phone switch equipment will be restricted to those who have need to service the equipment.

i)          No emergency calls shall be placed on hold.

j)          90% of all emergency calls must be answered within 10 seconds.

k)         Emergency calls shall be identified by the telecommunications equipment in such a manner that indicates that the call is an emergency so the operator can give priority to the call. Where possible, the telephone switching systems shall provide top priority to all emergency calls if a blocking condition occurs in the phone system.

(Source:  Expedited correction at 25 Ill. Reg. 15001, effective July 15, 2001)