In the world of AV systems design there is not a set standard put in place like the electrical or building codes.  Generally there is a lot of faith placed upon those installing the system.  This is normally not a problem however some things have made it  through a final quality control that should not have passed.

1.  Speaker Installation

I have walked into facilities and noticed speakers installed in precarious places with a section of chain run over a beam supported by only their handles.  This is unacceptable in any situation.  Not only because the handles are not designed for this application but because I have personally snapped handles off speakers while picking them up.

Speaker tip: The weakest point of the rigging is the part with the lowest weight load limit. This includes bolts and rigging frames.

2.  Poor Equipment Selection

Many times an AV company is trying to fit a randomly generated budget to a large project.  They squeeze every feature possible from equipment to meet this budget.  Next they cut logical equipment selections which would make the system easy to use and functional.  For example, a company installed a DVD/VHS player to rout live video feed to a projector 100+ feet away.  A poor video card produced distorted image and a noticeable delay on live video.  This eliminated the usefulness of the live feed to the screen.

Equipment selection tip: Just because it can, does not mean it should.

3.  Cable management

Gravity + copper + time = damage.  In order to slow down this process, proper cable management must be installed.  This includes supports in the racks, desks, floor boxes and any location cabling is installed.  There is a wide array of supports and tools to assist you in proper cable management.  My personal favorite manufacturer is Middle Atlantic:  http://www.middleatlantic.com/dcm/main.htm

Cable management tip: Use velcro straps to hold wires in place until completely finished and then replace them with zip ties.  Saves time and money. (Plus you still have the expensive velcro ties!)

4.  Rack Installation

This is often an overlooked detail of the installation.  There have been some interesting attempts at avoiding a rack, including using plastic plumbing parts and bread ties.  You have invested a lot of money in equipment and the best thing to do is protect the components.  Racks provide greater control, cooling, and neatness.

Basic Rack Recommendations

• Use steel racks for amp racks to support he weight
• Add wheelbases to amp racks for easy access
• Put heavier equipment at the bottom
• Install a drawer in racks for equipment remotes
• Install rack screws in all mounting locations for equipment

5.  Poor cable termination

When you install cables, be certain cables are terminated properly and that you are not wiring something together that could cause damage to the components.  Installers have connected amplifier outputs to a console’s monitor outputs and phone line splicing connectors used on mic cable.  The end result in these types of mistakes results in costing you money and poor performance.

Cable tip: If there is not a cable made to connect two pieces of equipment, it is probably not right.

When working on a system design, plan for proper installation.  If you have questions about proper installation methods you can also refer to the equipment manuals.  Manufacturers know their equipment best and their manuals will have instructions on how to use their products.

Final words of caution

Not as important as safety but also worth mentioning is insurance coverage.  Should your AV contractor install equipment inappropriately it is unlikely that an insurance company (even the AV contractors’s) will cover any accidental damage or personal injury caused by not using safe and proper methods.  It is wise to make sure you use a reputable company that uses safe installation practices.

If you have questions, post them below.