What to know about AV control systems in Glendale
Locked volume limits help with the 125-foot test
Glendale makes sound heard more than 125 feet from the premises unlawful when it disturbs a reasonable person, and bars excessive sound heard off the premises from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. A control system can cap each zone's maximum level, so a busy night cannot push the patio past what we set.
Schedules can help with the 2.5-hour break
Glendale bars sound heard off the premises for more than 2.5 hours without a 30-minute break when it is excessive or offensive. Control systems can run schedules that lower or pause outdoor zones. Which approach suits your patio depends on your site, and we plan it with you.
Bars count as kitchens for GFCI
Glendale's amended NEC treats any area where food or beverage is prepared, served or dispensed as a kitchen for GFCI protection. Rack and panel power near a bar is planned with that in mind, with your electrician.
Source: Glendale 2024 building code amendments (NEC 210.8(B)(2))
Fire key boxes sit next to the door
Glendale Fire's key box regulation calls for UL 1037 key boxes mounted 60 to 72 inches high, within 5 feet of the door on the swing side. The regulation cites the 2018 code, so confirm current requirements with Glendale Fire Prevention. We keep wall panels away from that spot.
Source: Glendale Fire Regulation 506
What a control system does
A control system sits between your staff and the equipment. A bartender touches Game Day and the TVs switch, the music zones change and the lights dim. A manager touches Close and everything powers down. The panel can be a wall touchscreen, a tablet or a phone app, and the logic lives in a small processor in the rack.
What it can control
Most jobs control the TV and video system, the audio zones and the display power. Some add lighting scenes, shades or room combine settings for a divided banquet room. If a device has an IP, serial, infrared or relay connection, we can usually tie it in.
- Sources and screens in the video system.
- Music zones, volume and mute.
- Display power and lighting scenes.
- Schedules, such as lowering the patio at a set time.
Keep it simple for staff
The best panel has few buttons. We build presets around how your venue runs, such as Open, Game Day, Happy Hour and Close, and give the manager a second page. Every button carries a label in your words, and we test the panel with your staff before we leave.
Limits, passwords and access
Not every person should change every setting. Volume ceilings and sources are locked, and changes need a manager login. If your network carries the control traffic, we keep it on its own segment away from guest WiFi, so a guest phone cannot reach the panel.
Planning the install
We start with a walkthrough and a list of every device the panel must reach: TVs, receivers, amplifiers, lights and anything else with a control port. Before programming, we sketch the panel layout on paper for your approval. After the install we run each preset with your staff on a real shift, fix what slows them down and leave a one-page guide. Control cabling runs beside the video and audio cable, so it is easiest to add during a larger AV install.
Service and changes
A control system is programmed software, so changes are quick. Add a TV, rename a zone or add a scene and we update the program, which we document and keep backed up. Service calls run Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and we connect to equipment you already own when it still works.
What the panel runs
Control sits on top of TV and video distribution, commercial audio and conference room AV. Call (602) 769-7992 and we will list the devices your panel needs to reach.
