The specialization required in properly designing audio, video, and control systems is far different from that required in the normal building trades. This is why in most instances where electrical engineers are given responsibility for technical systems; the work ends up being done by a vendor, or with significant input from a vendor. At CDAI, trained specialists in audio, video, controls, lighting, and acoustics analyze, design and fully engineer the systems and environments working with Architects and Electrical engineers to achieve fully integrated system and facility designs.

Ideally the specialty consultant should be hired at the beginning of the project, when square footages are allotted and the bubble diagram or building concepts are being developed. Presentation technology requirements will drive the design for the facility. Sight lines, viewing angles, image size, etc., will all impact the configuration of a presentation space. It is better to establish these requirements early in the process before significant design investments have been made. It becomes a matter of "function over form."

Since the speciality consultants's responsibilities (for systems' check-out, commissioning, training) typically continue after the design team's responsibilities, it is not uncommon for the contract to be direct with the Owner. The Owner ultimately pays for the consultant and should have direct access to the consultant's advice regardless of the contract arrangements.

The infrastructure (conduit, connection boxes, etc.) for a technical system is specific to that system and may impose requirements the traditional electrical trades are inexperienced in dealing with. The electrical consultant may also not be familiar with the infrastructure requirements. CDAI has found it necessary to make at least minimal site visits during construction to review conduit and connection box placements, to review the general construction progress and to address problems in coordination of the specialty items with the base trades. This is particularly important if value engineering or other modification exercised have been performed on the base building since the start of construction.

The installation for the specialty systems should be contracted approximately 6 to 9 months (depending on system complexity) from the substantial completion date of the base building. The specialty contractor generally does not need to be under the general contractor, although he will need to coordinate with some of the base building trades such as the electrical contractors work. The specialty contractor will order, receive and build up equipment racks off site during the final stages of the building construction. When the final finishes are being installed, (carpet, paint, etc.) the racks will be delivered and the remaining equipment installed.

As part of the overall process, as building becomes substantially complete, the systems begin to come together and the installation moves into testing, troubleshooting and finally, systems acceptance and sign-off. This "shakedown" can take from a few days to several months, depending on system complexity and usually overlaps the end users beginning use of the systems. Final refinements to control operations to accommodate minor preference changes are normally made at this point and discrepancies are identified and corrected. At final review and completion of discrepancy corrections, the system are fully "tweaked" or commissioned. Systems' warranties should not go into effect until after the system have been commissioned.

At the time of acceptance, the Owner should be provided with a set of "as-built" documentation. This documentation will enable the Owner to truly have control over his systems - easy troubleshooting, vendors will not need to spend excessive, billable, time spooling up on the systems intent and functionality, and should the Owner wish to change maintenance contracts he's not tied to only one vendor because "he knows the system."

Ideally, the Specialty Consultant that designed the system should provide training. The installing contractor will typically not know all of the history behind the design nor will he know all of the details. For complex systems, training require multiple sessions as the end users first learn the basic operations and then progress to use more of the sophisticated capabilities of the system. In addition, if desired, CDAI can develop an interactive reference program that can be installed on computers and accessed by end users on the facility's network.

Professional - characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession.

Consulting - providing professional or expert advice

Engineering - the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to man in structures, machines, products, systems and processes.