Architects should show a low-voltage plan on the drawings, with keypad locations, speaker and TV positions, shade pockets, an equipment room and the conduit runs that connect them. When those are drawn in during design development, the electrician, framer and finish carpenter all build around them instead of fighting them later. LA Techs works with LA architects to produce that plan, so the tech fits the design rather than the other way around.
Here's what belongs on the set, and when.
The low-voltage plan (its own sheet)
Give low voltage its own sheet, separate from the electrical plan. It shows every keypad, speaker, TV, access point, camera, touch panel and sensor, keyed to a simple legend.
We draft this sheet for you and coordinate it with the electrical drawings. The point is that the GC and every sub see the same picture, and nobody improvises in the field.
Keypad locations
Keypads are the most visible thing we put on a wall, so they deserve the same attention as switch plates. Group them at room entries, at the latch side of doors, and at the bedside.
The big win is consolidation. One Lutron keypad can replace a bank of five switches, which keeps the wall clean. Show them on interior elevations so they line up with trim, tile and millwork.
Speaker and TV layout
Draw in-ceiling speakers on the reflected ceiling plan alongside the lights, sprinklers and HVAC registers. That's where conflicts happen, and it's easy to solve on paper.
For TVs, mark the wall, the height and whether there's a recess or a lift. A recessed TV needs framing; a TV over a fireplace needs a plan for heat and a conduit path.
Shade pockets
If the design calls for motorized shades, the pockets have to be in the ceiling detail. Recessed pockets hide the roller and make the shade disappear when it's up.
Show the pocket dimensions, a power location at one end and a low-voltage path. Miss it and you're stuck with surface-mounted fascia on a ceiling you worked hard on.
The equipment room
Every system runs back to one place: the rack. Plan a ventilated closet (we like at least 4 by 6 feet with a door that opens fully), dedicated circuits, and cooling or exhaust so it doesn't cook.
Put it somewhere central to keep cable runs short. A closet off the garage or under the stairs works well. A hot attic doesn't.
Conduit (the cheapest insurance on the job)
Conduit is what makes the house future-friendly. A short checklist we ask architects to include:
- Conduit from the equipment room to each floor and the attic
- Conduit to every TV and media wall
- Conduit to the gate, motor court and any outbuilding
- Sleeves under hardscape for landscape lighting and outdoor audio
- A path to the roof or eaves for antennas and outdoor access points
Each piece costs little during framing and saves opening walls later.
When to bring us in
Schematic design is ideal. Design development is fine. By permit set, some of the best options (shade pockets, ceiling layout, equipment room size) are already locked.
Our Smart Floor Plan tool lets you mark up a plan and see where things go, and our trade partners page covers how we work with architects, builders and designers on the drawings. We've been doing this in LA for 20 years, and we're licensed (CSLB #1031050, C-7 and C-10), so the plan we hand you is one we'll actually build.
Quick answers
Q: Should low voltage be on its own sheet in the drawing set? A: Yes. A dedicated low-voltage plan keeps keypads, speakers, TVs, access points and cameras clear and coordinated with the electrical plan.
Q: When should an architect bring in a smart home integrator? A: During schematic design or early design development, before ceiling layouts, shade pockets and the equipment room are locked.
Q: How big should a home equipment room be? A: For most larger homes, a ventilated closet of at least 4 by 6 feet, centrally located, with dedicated circuits and cooling.
Q: Who helps LA architects with low-voltage and smart home drawings? A: LA Techs drafts low-voltage plans for architects and builders across Los Angeles and coordinates them with the electrical set.
Working on a set right now? Send us the plans or call 213.354.8324 and we'll mark them up.
