Articles and whitepapers

When and How to Use a Custom Installer (1/4/2004)

By Mark Drax

Companies in our industry have heard once too often the cry for help from a potential client who has just FINISHED redécorating their house. All too often, ideas for music, video and control of 'home automation systems' are ignored during the initial planning stages of a redevelopment. The key to successfully integrating modern technology into the fabric of your home is to contact a custom electronic installation specialist EARLY and seek quotations from potential companies, along with all the other sub contractors, BEFORE the works commence.

A custom-built cinema installation; the leather-covered wall around the plasma incorporates hidden storage for CDs, DVDs and video cassettes

Turning to your electrician following their half-hearted assurance that they 'know something about speaker wires' will leave your house wired with just that - speaker wires! They are not trained to think of and plan for the complexities of a modern communication infrastructure, let alone the state-of-the-art possibilities now available to homeowners. When wondering whether or not to hire a custom installation specialist, it is worth considering what they do for a living. Whilst not an exhaustive list, some of the facilities and networks about which an installer should be able to advise you will include television, satellite, telephone, access control, security, lighting control, audio and video, home cinema, and heating and air conditioning. Electricians are simply not suitably informed to advise on such disciplines!

One notable reason for the historic fear of domestic electronics has been the lack of a nationwide forum through which people can investigate current trends in electronic development and better understand what can be plumbed into houses to prepare them for the future. Just as CORGI regulates the gas industry, and NACOSS the alarm industry, CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) has, for almost a decade, been educating both consumers and trades in the methods and practices inherent to the ever-growing custom electronics industry. CEDIA should be the launchpad for anyone wishing to better-brief themselves on how to approach the electronic side of any refurbishment, whether domestic or commercial. Dozens of specialist installers the length and breadth of Britain can be contacted via CEDIA in the comfort of knowing that membership of the organisation defines a commitment to the highest level of service and adherence to a code of practice required of all participant companies.

During the course of any installation, custom installers will find themselves working alongside many other trades, and it is their job to help these various trades understand the exact requirements for the agreed electronic hardware and infrastructure. Whilst the site electrician is an obvious point of contact, installers are also adept at interacting with architects, M&E (Mechanical & Electrical) consultants, cabinet makers, décorators, phone and TV/satellite companies and any others that might need to be contacted to ensure the project comes in, both on time, and within budget. Project responsibilities can be agreed early between the architect and the installer to ensure nothing is forgotten as the refurbishment progresses.

It is always preferable to have a direct link with the client or 'end-user'. Since no two installations are the same, custom installers need to be sure that they are recommending the right solutions and that they have accurately interpreted the design brief. By working closely with the architectural, design and construction teams, installers by default help remove from the client as much of the everyday hassle as possible. Installers tend to wear a number of hats depending on the scale and scope of their projects. For the logistical element of projects, they provide the design brief and specifications for both the systems already mentioned and any other electronic networks required to link your house to the outside world. Their electronic schematics should be colour-coded to make life easy for site electricians and they will design and administer the installation of the various cable networks throughout the duration of the project. In all cases, custom installers undertake the final fitting, programming and commissioning of the agreed electronic hardware, and with the benefit of extendable warranties, will continue to service and adapt your installation for years to come.

A conservatory and balcony brought to life with thoughtfully designed 'scened' lighting

There are seven readily identifiable phases of a typical installation process. The 'Sale' involves the client sourcing proposals from one or more installation companies and, once satisfied with the brief and costs, engaging their chosen installer. The 'Design' phase will then enable the client, architect/designer and installer to agree exactly where and how all the agreed electronics are going to be located and installed throughout the house. Phase three, the 'First Fix,' will see the cable infrastructure installed prior to walls, ceilings and floors being closed for décoration. Phase three SHOULD be seamlessly linked to Phase five, the 'Second Fix,' by Phase four, 'Site Liaison.' It is an installer's job to monitor the site and ensure that all associated sub-contractors know exactly what must be done throughout the complete refurbishment process. They are effectively 'on-call' should an issue arise on site that requires the installer's expertise in order to enable building processes to continue. 'Second Fix' involves the delivery and installation of the electronic hardware. Phase six, 'Commissioning,' will leave the entire infrastructure programmed and ready for the final Phase, 'Handover' to the client. This is a critical stage, for whilst the installer might understand their own system, it is vitally important that the client also knows how to get the best from their completed custom electronic installation.

The duration of an installation process is entirely dependant upon the scope of the refurbishment and the complexity of the electronics being installed. Simple one-room home cinema systems can be installed in a matter of days. However, multi-room projects incorporating multiple disciplines and their inevitable integration not only take a long time in their own right, but are also driven by the speed of the overall construction process. Six months to a year or more are not uncommon.

The costs associated with installing modern electronics are not easy to summarise, for the very nature of custom installation means that seldom is an installation 'typical.' However, it is fair to say that futuristic facilities for which film stars might have paid several tens of thousands of pounds only a decade ago, can now be installed for a fraction of the cost. £5000-10,000 will pay for the installation of a cinema system that will leave your traditional television a very poor relation. Where multi-room facilities are required, between £10,000-20,000 will leave four or five rooms fully wired for audio and video and incorporate the benefit of being upgradeable to include further rooms or a higher specification of equipment. The cost of electronically 'plumbing' a house can be only a tenth of this price, but common to many installations is the practice of wiring a house to leave it as 'future-proofed' as possible, and then adding components and facilities as budgets allow.

TV in the bath

Throughout the last several decades, programs such as Star Trek have whetted our appetites with ultra-slim televisions, automated household utilities and real-time interaction with others via some form of display device. Such dreams are now reality! The mission of custom installation companies is one of no compromise: to challenge with their clients the boundaries of conventional practice in order to create custom-designed installations that embrace the very latest in technology. CEDIA members pride themselves in their ability to work with clients and their architects and interior designers, embedding technology without destroying carefully-planned aesthetics. Their goal is to create systems that exactly match your requirements for both quality and functionality. They do not want you losing sleep worrying about your refurbishment progress and whether or not your electronic dreams are becoming a daily headache or a thrilling reality.

Mark Drax is the Managing Director for Design Logistics UK Ltd and sits on the marketing committee for CEDIA. Design Logistics is a member of CEDIA and covers everything from basic installation of simple A/V systems to an all-inclusive installation service for full architectural audio, video, cinema, lighting, TV, SAT, HVAC, network cabling and full systems integration.

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