Education: The key to success

Over the years, there have been two factors contributing to DSE DIGITAL's success in the installation market. First, always have the right tools to do the best job and second, make sure education is a high priority for you and your staff. We signed up early doors to this and joined CEDIA, the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, way back in 2001. Over the years I have had numerous people ask me: "what do you get from being in CEDIA?"  Well, like anything in life, you get out what you put in. If you spend the time and effort, there is a wealth of information just a click away.

New publications

CEDIA has just published two new educational documents: the Second Edition Technical Reference Manual and Recommended Wiring Guidelines. The former is an in house guide aimed at technicians, designers and sales representatives, to help and guide them through the best practices of designing and installing a system that will perform the way it should.

Matt Dodd, CEDIA's Education Chair told us:  "The Technical Reference Manual is a vital resource for everyone in the industry wishing to better understand how to be more efficient and profitable in the field. Along with improving understanding and problem solving skills, the book prepares the electronic systems professional for key industry certifications, and is a necessity for anyone looking to better themselves or their business within the industry."

The second publication, Recommended Wiring Guidelines, is a great resource and something DSE will use on a daily basis. It's an easy to read and follow guide for clients, builders and designers that gets to grips with the theory and benefits of home cabling. As a sales tool it helps to educate the client on the importance of the right cabling and, more importantly, using the right installer to do the work. Over the years I have seen some shocking attempts by cowboy installers to jump into the CI market -one job had a bell wire cable wired in a radial circuit to stereo speakers (like this would work, let alone give you stereo!).

According to the guidelines there are three types of installation, Grade 1 systems are simple enough that they can be installed by the homeowner with confident technical abilities, or a qualified electrician. Grade 2 systems require some additional input at the design stage, and can involve a more complex installation depending on the multi room equipment used, and so may need help from a CEDIA member. Grade 3 is a truly bespoke installation that will benefit from consultation with a CEDIA member from the design stage through to handover.

You can see by the way the brochure has been put together that it contains a wealth of knowledge from people who have been in the trade doing this for years. It even goes into exacting details of depths needed for ceiling speakers and pin configuration of CAT 5 plugs.

CEDIA Verification

Now this is a smart new incentive; say the local electrician gets you involved in the smaller pre wire jobs, if you are a qualified CEDIA Structured Cabling Assessor (CSCA) you will be able to verify or certify the first fix cabling of the install. After passing all work, you will be able to issue a CEDIA Smart Home Cabling Certificate which will guarantee the electrician piece of mind that he can install the kit without problems, or gives you the ability to work with the electrician in partnership. An electrician is always a great source of work for your company as not all electrical contractors want to be Custom Installers.

After going through the whole brochure, I must say it is a great resource with in-depth installation information that will only help a smooth second fix of the contract. It has always been a bug bear of mine when we go out to second fix jobs that have been first fixed by a third party only to discover that every rule in the rule book has been broken.

For more visit www.cedia.co.uk. The Second Edition Electronic Systems Technical Reference Manual costs £65 for CEDIA members and £100 for non members. The Recommended Wiring Guidelines brochure is available for free download from the CEDIA website: Recommended Wiring Guidelines.

For more information call CEDIA on +44 (0)1480 213 744 .