Knowledge is power
Education, education. It all started when I passed my THX Home Theatre Level One earlier this year. The next stage has to be Level Two, but in the meantime I’m about to embark on a ‘Part P’ course for domestic electrical installation.
One of the surprising aspects of finding out where I can study for Part P was the difference in the cost of courses - it all depends on whether the commercial or the local government-funded route is taken. There is merit in both, but costs of the former can be alarming.
Friends have reminded me that I am a journalist, not an installer, so why would I want Part P? Someone also made the point that a lot of custom install companies don’t have Part P-qualified people on the staff.
I responded with the oft-quoted Baconism, “Knowledge is power.” And not to forget that installers with a Part P staffer or two, find it a distinct advantage to perform, and be able to pass, domestic electrical work associated with the custom installation. Being able to officially install stuff in my own house is handy for me too - as a self-confessed automation freak, the whole thing comes together nicely.
Education also helps when writing about technical things, and while I would struggle to program a Pronto, I actually managed to come up with a motorisation control circuit for a colleague involved at the periphery of the custom install industry. After the circuit was built and tested (it actually worked!), he asked me if I would like to see the installation where it was going to be used.
We duly turned up at the site and found to my surprise that it was quite an expensive project with some motorisation and lighting control but no global system or centralised equipment. The overall modifications were far-reaching, giving the impression that the client was not short of cash, but it seemed that no traditional integration company had been involved at any stage of the job.
It appeared that the client might not have been exposed to all the possibilities by an experienced custom installer and ended up with what can only be described as a mish-mash of disparate events within the house. A matter, perhaps, of client education?
Moving on, it’s been a long time since I’ve contacted the British Audio-Visual Dealers Association (BADA), but recently caught up with developments at their AGM held at the Royal Institute of British Architects building in Portland Place (if you ever need to go there, avoid the official website map for directions, it shows streets which aren’t there!).
More talk of education came up, this time it was about the new Demcraft and Visioncraft courses. It was suggested by a spokesperson that the training taken by BADA members who do installations as well as shop presentations, equips them with extra skills to perhaps do a better job than dedicated custom installers.
Education for custom installers feeling left out of the BADA loop can easily be addressed, as I hear that Demcraft and Visioncraft courses are available to CEDIA members.
A company involved in installs and hi-fi demonstrations might be tempted to say ‘we are the best’ but perhaps the best of both worlds is the custom installer who uses, when appropriate, the facilities of a retailer with good dem rooms. I know that Maidstone-based Alphabet AV Solutions have a cooperative venture with Unilet (New Malden) and Home Media’s (Maidstone) demo facilities to show potential install customers the combination of free-standing equipment alongside an integration package.
Many installers I know would disagree with audio systems which major on discrete equipment when the custom route is to fill a room with sound without the clutter of CD decks and AV receivers. As an installer said to me once, “We use one of our show homes to give the client an experience and prove beyond doubt that you don’t have to SEE loads of kit to get good results.”
Martyn Williams is HCD’s Contributing Editor, and chief CI writer
