Let's not forgot aesthetics. A professional installation must balance the aesthetic with the engineering required to do the job safely.
Faced with the scenario of hanging heavy steel over people's heads in an open ceiling here's how I see this playing out:
THE HILLBILLY: Welds together some bits & pieces of old car parts to fashion a beam clamping mechanism from which 4 swing chains are strung down to some eye bolts protruding through a piece of flat plywood that has no surface preparation or sealer. Power & video cables drap across empty space over to a convenient ceiling receptacle. No client consultation. Aesthetic: none. Safety: none.
THE AMATEUR: kludges bits and pieces of strut, beam clamps and threaded rod together by 'best guessing' what he/she thinks 'ought to do the job'. PVC tape used to neatly bundle power & video. No client consultation. Aesthetic: seventh grade mechano-set construction. Safety: it depends...
THE AMATUER with an 'artistic eye': does the same as the amateur but spray paints the entire mess to match the surrounding colour. Even considers using matching cable ties for the power & video cables. No client consultation. Aesthetic: a bit better. Safety: it still depends...
- - ...everything in between... - - THE SEMI-PROFESSIONAL: Consults with structural engineer for permissable loads on ceiling steel. Finds a pre-engineered solution, or has a structural engineer design something that will work. Aesthetic: it depends... Safety: Excellent.
THE PROFESSIONAL: Consults with client for a general look. Consults with structural engineer for permissable loads on ceiling steel. Has fly steel designed and modeled with consideration for power and video cabling, serviceability, and user-operation. Coordinates power and video locations with electrician. Renderings submitted to client for approval, and determination of paint colours. Fabrication and/or assembly drawings stamped by structural engineer. Installation by installers trained for rigging, safety, and lift operation. Aesthetic: Just as the client wanted it. Safety: Excellent.
