Page 12 - Campus Technology, April/May 2017

AV SMARTS
just have way too many power supplies to deal with in a rack. Those are situations where a DC power distribution box comes in handy. Installing a product like the Middle Atlantic PD-DC-125R or the TechLogix Networx TL-RKPS-01 allows you to eliminate the individual power supplies and feed typical DC voltages (5V, 12V, 18V and 24V) to your equipment. They’re not cheap, but very handy for those packed racks.
Rack security doesn’t necessarily pertain just to theft. Perforated security covers, for example, will prevent general users from adjusting equipment settings on equipment with front-facing buttons and knobs. Fill all empty rack spaces with blank or vent panels so users aren’t able to reach inside your rack and disconnect cables, store their belongings, power cycle equipment, etc.
thermal management could easily be a series of articles, but Middle Atlantic has written a nice white paper outlining many of these concepts.
ADA Standards
Lectern/teaching station design requires a strong understanding of ADA standards, but often equipment rack design doesn’t take these ADA Standards into account. AV equipment racks are subject to ADA standards for reach ranges and ground/turning space, to make sure that all “operable parts” on the rack are accessible to wheelchair users. Rack-mounted AV equipment that is to be accessible to general users (not just for servicing) needs to be within the reach range of no more than 48 inches above the finished floor, and no less than 15 inches AFF. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design also dictate acceptable ground and turning space that needs to be adhered to when considering the location of AV equipment racks. (For more on accessibility standards, see my November 2015 article, “Decoding ADA Standards for Classroom AV.”)
Mike Tomei is an AV design and management consultant based out of Central New York, and the owner of Tomei AV Consulting.
Every campus is subject to AV equipment theft. There’s thousands of dollars of AV equipment sitting unattended in each classroom, and some small steps can prevent that equipment from “walking off.”
Equipment Security
Every campus is subject to AV equipment theft. There’s thousands of dollars of AV equipment sitting unattended in each classroom, and some small steps can prevent that equipment from “walking off.” Using rack screws that require a security bit will slow down thieves who only have a Phillips head screwdriver with them. Equipment that doesn’t have rack ears needs to be secured with at least clamping shelves to hold it down. Locking rack drawers can prevent wireless mics from disappearing, and locking rear rack doors keeps the general public out of your rack.
Thermal Management
There’s no denying that heat kills AV equipment. Cramming all of our AV equipment into a metal rack with front and rear doors can really be a bad thing, unless you take some time to focus on thermal management. Prolong the life of your equipment by paying attention to your its heat output, active/ passive rack venting and cooling options, airflow around the rack, and AV closet HVAC solutions. This is one of those areas where an experienced AV system designer is needed to specify all the correct rack components and infrastructure considerations early in the project’s timeline. Proper rack
12
CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY | April/May 2017