All about recommended practices for the advancement of the custom integration industry

LEGITIMISING QUALITY SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

Bringing CEDIA’s recommended practices for the advancement of the custom integration industry to the forefront By Ian Bryant | Consultant, Residential, Commercial and IoT Technology Specialist

Of CEDIA’s three main pillars, Advocacy, Connection, and Education, Advocacy is the one most often overlooked. While Connection and Education are more forward facing, CEDIA’s Advocacy work, which consists of government affairs, recommended practices, and standards, often happens behind the scenes.

The purpose of standards and recommended practices is one of a highly misunderstood endeavour that CEDIA’s focus is on system performance standards, as opposed to device manufacturing or signal transport standards, and poses a few important questions.

When the components of your system come together, what elements of the experience can be defined and qualified? How should the system perform? CEDIA uses this research to design, install, and verify residential spaces. In the end, we have data-backed definitions for system performance when educating clients on what they can and should expect from custom solutions.

The largest and arguably most impactful of these groups is R10, a joint effort between CEDIA and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

The History of R10

The R10 group was formed to create standards and recommended practices for the installation and integration of technology into primarily residential environments. CEDIA took over management of the group when it became an ANSI accredited Standards Development Organisation (SDO). Today, both CEDIA and the CTA bring unique perspectives to the discussions.

“R10 is a cross-industry standards group that has no commercial or licensing ties, with all participants being volunteers,” explains Peter Aylett, Partner at Officina Acustica and recent CEDIA Fellow inductee.

The R10 group, overseen by CEDIA Senior Director of Technology & Standards, Walt Zerbe, consists of over 130 volunteer members made up of integrators, manufacturers, protocol suppliers, members of other associations like SMPTE, DTS, and Dolby, content creators, and more.

One volunteer called R10 “an amazing group of people with diverse backgrounds all dedicated to creating recommended practices and standards focussed on proper installation of technology.”

All About Recommended Practices (RPs)

Within the R10 group, there are a few current RP (Recommended Practice) sub-groups, RP22, RP23, and RP1. RP22 is the recommended practice for the design of immersive audio within private entertainment spaces. RP22 is nearly finalised, with projected completion estimated for Q1 of 2023. It is a revision of the CTA/ CEDIA-CEB22-B Home Theatre Recommended Practice: Audio Design.

When CEB22 was created, immersive audio was not fully specified or released, so the focus was on general home theatre practices. RP22 is described by Zerbe as “a major three-year revision,” that includes immersive audio, universal speaker layouts for all of the formats (Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, Auto 3D, etc.), a greatly expanded bass management section, coverage, seatto-seat variation, and a never-beforedone addition of performance levels. The terms “home theatre” and “home cinema” have also been removed from the title to be more inclusive of all immersive audio, including gaming, streaming, music, and more.

The performance levels section of RP22 may be the most disruptive element of a recommended practice in decades. A common problem in our industry, specifically in the entertainment space, is measuring a system’s quality and performance. In the past, most would either quantify it with a monetary amount or describe it is as a “reference system”. Instead, this group posed the questions: reference to what, reference how, and what does that even mean?

RP22 defines performance targets for reference as well as two levels below and one above. There are 21 parameters that are predictable at the design engineering phase of a project and measurable at post commissioning and calibration phases. Level 1 is the minimum that is considered able to convey basic artistic intent, level 2 is increased performance, level 3 is reference, and level 4 exceeds reference.

“For the first time, we will have objective rather than subjective definitions of in-room performance,” says Aylett.

RP22 will help integrators: • Compete on a level playing field by proposing systems based on performance levels, helping avoid competing situations where someone will say they can do it for less, as now “it” is objectively definable

• Deliver consistent user experiences through the application of engineering

• Separate themselves from the untrained DIY and DIFM markets by bringing engineering integrity to systems

• Deliver systems that are signed off on objective metrics

• Select the correct products through their engineering specification facts Why We Need RPs

Some might say the industry is doing just fine without these new recommended practices and standards, and that they’re not necessary. To that, Zerbe says, “We have a responsibility as an industry to do our work to the best of our ability all of the time, and we need the knowledge to do so.” Not to mention, standards and recommended practices give the smart home industry credibility among other industry associations, adjacent trades, and the design/build community.

“Professional CI is under huge pressure from the mainly consumer Giga-companies who are offering increasingly compelling user experiences through the retail/DIY channel,” adds Aylett. “Standards will help professional integration companies to apply a humancentric engineering-based approach as opposed to a product-based one.”

As for what’s ahead, the R10 group plans to finalise RP23 (video design) and RP1 (performance facts) later in 2023. RP1 will be complementary to both RP22 and RP23, as it will ask manufacturers to give the industry real performance data on their products and allow engineers to make informed specification decisions. After that, R10 plans to tackle measurement and verification.

“My journey through the R10 group has been the most enriching of my industry career,” says Aylett. “I have learned a huge amount through collaboration with the finest industry minds that exist. This type of idea sharing, friendly debate, and sense of community is not available anywhere else in the industry. I feel privileged to still be part of it.”

Any CEDIA or CTA members interested in volunteering their time to make a difference in the industry can find out more at cedia.net/volunteer.

SAFESHARK

Jonathan Marshall and Alex Buchan, two of the founding directors of SafeShark, provide details on a new standard that will affect all connected products and how manufacturers, distributors, and integrators do business.

The Cyber Security Regulations

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Bill is currently in its final stages of approval. This bill includes a cyber security element aimed at ensuring consumer IoT products are built with cyber security in mind from the start. This standard includes, smart cameras, TVs, speakers, wearables, home automation systems, and white goods. It is designed to help the industry move away from the throwaway mentality where products only last for two or three years because a manufacturer no longer provides software updates. One of the provisions in the PSTI bill sets out that the manufacturer has to disclose at the point of purchase, how long they will keep that product updated for.

The bill has gone through the House of Commons and is now with the House of Lords. Once this has been signed off, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) will enforce the new law, setting out requirements, measures for non-compliance, and giving manufacturers a 12-month grace period to prepare. The initial proposal from the UK Government is that failure to meet these requirements will result in a penalty of 4% of worldwide turnover.

In Europe, the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) provides a regulatory framework for placing radio equipment in the EU market, telecommunication conformity assessment, and market surveillance committee, and guidance. The regulation, which increases cyber security, personal data privacy, and fraud protection for applicable wireless devices available on the EU market, came into effect on 1 February 2022, but will only become mandatory on 1 August 2024.

Ultimately, this means that by 2024, any connected product that falls under the connectivity requirements, whether that’s ZigBee, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, ethernet, Wi-Fi, will need to be compliant with the Directive.

The standard that will underpin both PSTI in the UK and RED in Europe is ETSI EN 303 645. This is essentially the set of tests that manufacturers will need to carry out in order to demonstrate compliance to the new laws.

Getting Your Products Certified

With the new requirements relating to so many products, it could be confusing for the purchaser to know if they are choosing a product that is compliant or not. This is where SafeShark’s Consumer IoT Verification Scheme comes into play. The scheme tests products against ETSI EN 3030 645 and then certifies them via BSI who will issue a logo to manufacturers to demonstrate a rigorous, objective, and independent verification of a connected device’s security.

The situation can become complicated when there are various OEM manufacturers involved and the testing is only carried out once the product has been fully developed/finalised. SafeShark advises against this

approach and instead, aims to help manufacturers during the product development stage when each element can be tested individually.

Once certified, products are continually monitored by the SafeShark Intercept platform to ensure compliance is maintained over the whole lifecycle of the product as software is updated and as cyber threats and standards evolve.

The Impact on the Smart Home Market

Thinking about the smart home market, this standard not only has an impact on the manufacturers, but also distributors, sales reps, and integrators. While the onus is on the manufacturer to have their products meet these requirements and disclose the information to the purchaser, the distributor will want to do their due diligence to ensure they are only agreeing to stock and sell products that are compliant.

Likewise, it is down to the integrator to check that the products they are installing are in line with this new requirement. This could mean that some integrators change the systems that they usually specify if their chosen manufacturer hasn’t yet ensured their products are compliant. It is also their responsibility to relay this message to their client.

Disclosure and clarity from the manufacturer to the purchaser is critical in minimising the risk of purchasing a product with security risks or an unacceptably limited lifetime.

To hear more about the new regulations, how they affect you, and how SafeShark’s testing and certification can ensure you are prepared, listen to the ‘Cyber Security Law That Will Affect You’ episode of the CEDIA Podcast visit cedia.net/podcast SafeShark is focussed on helping manufacturers understand the current and upcoming IoT cyber security. Backed by the British Standards Institute (BSI), the SafeShark scheme certifies products against international standards.

While Buchan came from a product testing background at Digital TV Group (DTG), the UK’s leading tech testing house for televisions and radios, Marshall was running a cyber security company called Connect Devices. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) spotted the work that Connect Devices was doing and put Marshall in touch with DCMS who, at that time, was just beginning to think about their code of practice for what has become of the ETSI EN 303 645 standard.

This was the start of SafeShark’s work with manufacturers to help them ensure their devices are compliant with these new regulations before they even come to market. At this point, Buchan and Marshall decided to team up and form SafeShark helping manufacturers and distributors turn compliance into a competitive edge.

safeshark.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT POWER & ENERGY

AT CEDIA EXPO 2022

By Ian Bryant | Consultant, Residential, Commercial and IoT Technology Specialist

Power and energy discussions were on many attendees’ minds at CEDIA Expo 2022 in Dallas. There were four CEDIA Education sessions directed toward the integrator interested in getting into power and energy solutions for their client and looking ahead at what’s coming quickly down the road. Multiple manufacturers exhibited their new solutions and explained how integrators can easily implement them. Now is a perfect moment for consumers and trade suppliers to act, with nearly $400 billion in clean energy provisions included in the recently passed U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.

Parks Associates had a star-studded panel discussion with representatives from Span.io, Sunnova, Reliant, Schneider Electric, Savant Power, and Blink Charging. They discussed the role of energy management in the future home. These manufacturers are investing a lot into the future of energy with new R&D (research & development), new products and massive PR to the consumer and the design/build community.

CEDIA staff, Ken Erdmann, Darren Reaman, and longtime CEDIA volunteer and Principal at REV2 Consulting, Michael Cogbill gave two impactful sessions on topics that will directly affect and provide opportunities for the

At CEDIA Expo, there was no shortage of exhibitors with a power and energy focus. There were many new, up-and-coming power and energy companies looking to work with the CI channel. There were also big-name manufacturers launching and showcasing power and energy solutions. We expect to see this continue to expand and grow at CEDIA Expo as the show embraces all things technology in the home.

CI channel. One session was about digital electricity and other ways to power the home. Discussion included DC Micro-Grids, Digital Power, PoE Power, and USB power. on how to properly size energy storage solutions for residential and light commercial buildings. This topic is new for both integrators and electricians and requires some specialised training.

As the lines between low- and high-voltage start to blend, it’s more important now than ever before for integrators in the U.S. to pay attention to the new NEC codes. Cogbill and Erdmann worked on specification for the new NEC 2023 code as representatives for our industry. In the session “The NEC 2023: How Changes to the Code Will Impact Your Business”, they went through some critical parts of the new code in Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4 that will affect CI channel projects in the very near future. Reaman, CEDIA’s Director of Government Affairs, spoke on legislation and regulations that have the potential to restrict the industry now and in the future. With the help of industry partners and CEDIA volunteers, Reaman continues to advocate on behalf of the industry to prevent legislation that limits what integrators can do.

Power storage is also taking the spotlight as more companies jump into the ring and consumers look for ways to be independent from the grid. Adam Weinstein, executive sales manager at Sonnen, presented a session

Most manufacturers are making it easy to get this training and some are offering “white glove” design and support for dealers. For customers looking to save money, become more energy independent, or feel more secure as climate change brings additional uncertainty, implementing storage solutions is one of the last pieces to the puzzle for power and energy in the home of the future.

This is not a fad, nor is this something that should only be handled by electrical contractors or solar providers. This is an opportunity for the CI channel to lead and advocate for one of the most important systems in the home. For an industry that was mostly known for luxury theatres, TVs, and audio systems, we have an opportunity to educate our customers on the importance and impact of power and energy management and adding clean energy solutions to their homes.

What good is an amazing home theatre if you have no power? What good is all the amazing technology we integrate if the world outside is in pieces? Why not be an advocate for sustainability and the future of our industry - the future of the world.