AVIXA has released the Rack Design for Audiovisual (AV) Systems (F502.02:2020) standard which outlines the requirements for AV rack planning including design, accommodation and equipment layout. It gives integrators formalized guidelines for efficient design, build and integration of racks in AV systems.

It covers the fundamental processes and necessary decisions in rack design from rack selection, thermal management, power system design to earthing (grounding) and bonding requirements.

On top of that, it looks at the design input information that should be available to achieve an agreed-upon outcome prior to designing the rack, including system design documentation, rack location/environment, entry/connection method for site cabling and more.

“This standard ensures the system you’re designing is well built. It considers all aspects of the design — including cable management, thermal management and power — to ensure a reliable system,” Legrand product manager and standard task group co-moderator Jay Franetovich explains.

“Additionally, our customer base expects standardisation, particularly when there are people from other industries doing multiple aspects of a job. Often, the person who builds the rack is not the same person who services it. A rack designed and built to both AVIXA’s Rack Design and Rack Building standards provides assurance, consistency, and familiarity to the person servicing the rack.”

Visualization Limited director and co-moderator Nick Pidgeon says that the designs come down to the efficiency of the build and future serviceability.

“Thermal management and serviceability go hand in hand. If the thermal management is poorly addressed, then the system’s longevity will be compromised. And if there is overcapacity — too much equipment within the rack — it’ll be hard to get to the equipment to service it,” he says.

This standard is free to AVIXA Premium and Elite members and can be found through this link.