Avoid Mounting Mishaps
Back in 2013, a display board at an Alabama airport fell to the ground, injuring several people and even killing a young boy. The survivors sued the project contractors, saying that the display was not properly installed. This is why proper mounts, backing and other options are extremely important.
“You don’t want to use inexpensive, cheap mounts,” says Beitz. “There are a lot of mounts that are not well made and you want to stay away from those.”
Mounts also need to be UL-rated. Besides being able to survive snow, rain, wind and other weather conditions, UL mounts have to meet certain load and weight requirements, as well as structural integrity testing. The display install location may dictate that type of mount that’s used. For instance, Burnley says you should avoid putting an articulating mount in an area that’s prone to high winds.
“[The wind] could grab that TV and turn it,” he says. “It would be like a big sail.”
Wind isn’t the only thing to worry about, which is why added support is always a good idea in an outdoor installation. Beitz always asks for backing, which basically means additional plywood or studs in the wall to make the installation more secure.
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“If you have a mount that’s a 24-inch plate; the studs are typically at 16 inches on center,” he says. “Well sometimes, they may not be 16 inches on center. It may be a little further down, so you’re really only able to get two mounting points in—and that’s inadequate. You should really have at least four more mounting points for a TV that’s 65 inches or less.”
Burley agrees, saying that you shouldn’t install an articulating mounted display into a metal stud without that extra backing or support. And he also says that most commercial jobs are using metal studs these days.
“If you’ve got a corner and you don’t have extra bracketing in that wall, you can do a ceiling mounted TV,” he says. “That way, you’re actually attaching to the ceiling structure. If you’ve got to do a corner and you don’t have the support in the wall, hang it from the ceiling. That way, you can attach to an I-beam and not to a stud in the wall, for a little extra support.”
Safety in Security
Creating a safe installation also includes protecting equipment, which goes beyond actual damage. Expensive AV devices in a commercial setting are often susceptible to theft. Burnley says that something like a rock speaker is very easy to walk away with, making in-ground and mounting speakers a smarter choice. Of course, even something as big as a TV isn’t immune from sticky fingers.
“If you are the security dealer on a project or can consult with the security provider on the project, there are different types of sensors that you can put inside the TV to essentially secure it,” he says. “One would be putting an extra piece of Cat5 cable or two connector-types of cable inside the TV. When they cut that wire, it would trigger the alarm system. You can also put an asset sensor, kind of a flip-type sensor. If someone grabs a TV and tilts it, that can trigger the alarm system.”
Burnley says that even a padlock in the mount would be a good solution. “That will at least deter them a little bit, slow them down,” he says.
Weather Watch
Of course, there are also obstacles that we can’t always predict—mainly, the weather. If you’re planning to tough it out, be cautious of slippery ladders, wind and sun glare, which can create a hazardous work environment.
Frosbite dangers and lightning may even put a project on hold, but adding in that time could save you money and expense in the long run.
Planning ahead for safety issues and other obstacles will help you to avoid wasting time, energy, money, and even your reputation. It’s important to know what you’re doing.
“I’m sure there are integrators out there or probably more subcontractors that aren’t properly trained on how to mount a TV,” says Beitz. “We’ve seen really, really bad installs on displays and had to go in there and redo it for clients.”
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