Draper, Inc.

When you’re planning an LED video wall, choosing the display is only half the battle. You also need to select the right mounting structure to make the installation a complete success.

Here are six things to consider when planning for LED mounts and structures.

Where should it attach?
Is the wall structure strong enough to hold the video wall and mounting structure? If not, you will need to consider a structure that provides additional support by attaching to the floor or ceiling. Another possibility is a structure that bolts to the floor only and doesn’t require wall attachment.

Is the wall flat? (Probably not.)
Not every wall is perfectly flat. You will find walls that have a very slight slant or barely detectable ripples that make the mounting surface uneven. Choosing a mounting solution with adjustability can save a lot of headaches when attaching to uneven walls.

What access is required?
Do the LED panels require rear or front access for maintenance? Rear-access displays require additional space behind the video wall to allow for installation and service. If space is limited, consider going with front-access LED panels, or exploring custom designs that allow the video wall to be temporarily moved away from the wall for access.

Is additional circulation/cooling required?
Most LED displays dissipate a majority of their heat through the front surface of the display but if the display is recessed where the display surface is flush with the surrounding wall, or enclosed by trim and cladding, overheating may become an issue. This can be addressed by providing trim with vents allowing for better air circulation behind the display to help remove any residual heat created by power supplies or other electronics.

How difficult is it to install/adjust?
Just because a mount is called “universal” doesn’t mean it works for every installation without modification. Less expensive mounts may be more difficult to adjust as the means to do so have been oversimplified or the adjustment mechanism has been value-engineered away. Explore your options and find the mount which best fits your needs for each particular installation. The mounting solution that gives you the optimal adjustment capabilities will shave considerable time and overhead from the installation.

Does it need to be ADA compliant?
Video walls and individual displays that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must meet general guidelines for installation height and projection distance from the wall.

For horizontal clearance, paragraph 307.2—Protrusion Limits states, “Objects with leading edges more than 27 inches (685 mm) and not more than 80 inches (2030 mm) above the finish floor or ground shall protrude 4 inches (100 mm) maximum horizontally into the circulation path.”

Paragraph 307.3—Post-Mounted Objects additionally states: “Free-standing objects mounted on posts or pylons shall overhang circulation paths 12 inches (305 mm) maximum when located 27 inches (685 mm) minimum and 80 inches (2030 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground. Where a sign or other obstruction is mounted between posts or pylons and the clear distance between the posts or pylons is greater than 12 inches (305 mm), the lowest edge of such sign or obstruction shall be 27 inches (685 mm) maximum or 80 inches (2030 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.”

For vertical clearance paragraph 307.4 states, “vertical clearance shall be 80 inches (2030 mm) high minimum. Guardrails or other barriers shall be provided where the vertical clearance is less than 80 inches (2030 mm) high. The leading edge of such guardrail or barrier shall be located 27 inches (685 mm) maximum above the finish floor or ground.”

Touch-enabled kiosks and digital signage enclosures must also meet rules on how far a person has to reach to use them. Make sure you understand the guidelines available here and that ADA consideration is part of the planning process. In future weeks we will cover ADA compliance more fully.

For more information on choosing the correct LED mount, click here and contact your Draper representative. You can click here to find Draper’s AV mounting solutions.