Technology brief
Confirm the client expectation for lighting control, audio, Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control, cinema, gate control, remote support and future expansion before drawings become fixed.
DG Technologies
Architect smart-home specification guide
A practical reference for planning hidden AV, automation, CCTV, Wi-Fi, lighting-control and support infrastructure before finishes make changes expensive.
Why this matters
The technology package is easiest to hide when it is considered early
Premium residential technology should support the architecture, not fight it. The clean result clients expect depends on decisions that are often invisible on the finished project: rack space, conduit routes, ceiling coordination, power recovery, cable labels, access point positions, camera views and lighting circuit logic.
This guide gives architects a practical checklist for early-stage coordination. It is not intended to turn the architect into the AV contractor. It simply shows which decisions should be protected before the build reaches the point where every change affects finishes, joinery, ceilings or exterior aesthetics.
Design-stage inputs
What should be decided before drawings are final
Rack or head-end location
Allocate a serviceable technical space with power, ventilation, cable entry, network access and enough working clearance for future support.
Conduit and cable paths
Plan routes before walls, slabs, ceilings, driveways and joinery make changes expensive or visually disruptive.
Ceiling coordination
Coordinate speakers, access points, cameras, lighting, HVAC slots, beams, bulkheads and ceiling access panels before final reflected ceiling plans are locked.
Architectural allowances
Infrastructure items worth protecting on the drawings
These items reduce late-stage compromise and make the home easier to support years after handover.
Rack space
Dedicated, ventilated, serviceable space for routers, switches, control processors, CCTV recorders, audio equipment and power protection.
Network points
Wired routes for Wi-Fi access points, TVs, desks, cameras, gate stations, touch panels and key equipment locations.
Speaker routes
Ceiling or wall speaker positions coordinated with lighting, HVAC, ceiling details and room usage.
CCTV views
Camera positions planned around evidence, glare, height, weather, driveway/gate views and exterior aesthetics.
Lighting circuits
Circuit grouping, relay/dimmer decisions, keypad positions and LED load compatibility considered before DB and switch locations are final.
Future conduits
Spare routes to likely upgrade areas such as gates, patios, cinemas, studies, garages, cottages, network cabinets and roof spaces.
Power recovery
Allowances for router, switch, fibre, CCTV and automation recovery under South African power conditions.
Handover records
Drawings, cable schedules, rack records, device lists and support notes retained for the owner and future contractors.
Coordination timeline
When DG Technologies should be involved
Concept / sketch design
- Define client lifestyle requirements
- Identify visible technology sensitivities
- Agree broad rack/comms-room strategy
- Flag exterior CCTV and access-control implications
Developed design
- Mark access point, speaker, keypad and camera positions
- Coordinate ceiling services
- Confirm conduit routes and risers
- Review cabinetry and ventilation around technical spaces
Electrical first fix
- Issue low-voltage route requirements
- Confirm DB and lighting-control approach
- Check rack power and cable entry
- Confirm routes before closure
Second fix / commissioning
- Install devices cleanly around finished surfaces
- Commission scenes, Wi-Fi, CCTV, audio and control
- Train owner and house team
- Handover support records
Working style
Quiet coordination, clear records
DG Technologies works best when involved before the technology becomes urgent. We can review plans, mark up likely infrastructure requirements, coordinate with the electrical contractor and help protect finished surfaces from late changes.
The final client experience should be simple: reliable Wi-Fi, clean control, useful lighting scenes, discreet CCTV, maintainable racks and records that make sense to the homeowner, architect, builder and future support technician.
Need early-stage technology input?
Send the plans before the build is locked down. We'll help identify the routes, spaces and allowances that protect the finished result.