New classroom issues

[Scifigirl]

Hi all,

 

Need some advice, maybe some of you might have come across this problem. Not sure in right place -mods feel free to move.

 

LA decides to extend the school, builds new classrooms- 1st one handed over all OK as was pre built and shipped to site--lovely.

 

Classrooms 2 and 3 built on site- much smaller-- all finished- handed over.

 

Rather large issue - walls not strong enough- we are told by contractors - to hold an interactive board.

issue 2 - you guessed it, under floor heating has been put in.

 

 

floor can't take weight of statically mounted (on height adjustable mount) screen- wall can't take the weight either.

 

teacher doesn't want one on a trolley as classroom smaller than anticipated.

 

Yes I know-- this should have been bought up before the build finished- but it hasn't.

 

Any ideas? other than crying in a corner-- much welcome

[Willott]

What are walls secured to, and would there be a way of putting bracing/horizontal bars in between the supports to hold IWB?

[Katy]

We have a couple of rooms that used to have those fold-up doors between them, which were removed and just a stud wall put in place. The board fitters just screw up a sheet of MDF into as many of the studs that it spans and then fasten the board and short-throw projector boom to that. Doesn't look too pretty but no choice when they want the board on a weak wall. I think the board guys said it was "pattressing".

 

In fact they can span quite a big gap, we do the same on our old roller black boards just a sheet of MDF screwed into the frame at each side with the board mounted, and they're the heavy Promethean boards with the built in speakers.

Edited January 13, 2017 by Katy

[unixman_again]

Not cheap, but maybe something like this https://www.epson.co.uk/verticals/interactive-projectors/products - an interactive whiteboard without the board - you just need a wall.

[snagrat]

Not sure why under floor heating would stop you from having a floor mount? As long as you don't screw into the floor you will be fine.

[Garacesh]

I think if you can't reinforce the wall in some way, you're going to have to lose the 'interactive' part. A medium-throw projector can be mounted into the ceiling securely and projected onto a 'standard' whiteboard (penboard, if you're PC), which means the member of staff can still annotate slides (which tends to be 90% of IWB use anyway). It's not a solution, admittedly, but you have to work with what you got.

[Boredguy]

Can't see an issue with a floor stand. We're having one installed in a room in our new sports hall. As the wall is just single skin pasterboard, the stand gets screwed to the metal studs to keep it upright, and the weight is via the 2 2inch posts on the ground.

[HBPS]

https://www.avpartsmaster.co.uk/p-48277-conen-motorized-wall-mount-for-42-70-display.aspx

 

used these on many occasions and have feet not screws to the floor with a but of 2x4 on the wall behind the support beam should be fine

[Scifigirl]

I think if you can't reinforce the wall in some way, you're going to have to lose the 'interactive' part

SEN school - can't lose the interactive.

 

Not sure why under floor heating would stop you from having a floor mount? As long as you don't screw into the floor you will be fine.

if it says screw it down it must be screwed down-- child may climb and if studs don't hold it may go over..... devils advocate

 

Can't see an issue with a floor stand. We're having one installed in a room in our new sports hall. As the wall is just single skin pasterboard, the stand gets screwed to the metal studs to keep it upright, and the weight is via the 2 2inch posts on the ground.

we were warned - if we break the underfloor heating chaos ensues !! lol

 

thanks for all the help-- looking at the interactive projectors--- they may have to live with trolleys.....lol

[jamesreedersmith]

Have a look at Loxits wall to floor mounts https://loxit.com/shop/led-lcd-mounts/led-lcd-wall-mounts/fixed-height-wall-to-floor-mount-multi-position-up-to-130kg/ transfers the weight to the floor (and no floor drilling needed) used them loads when wall wouldnt take the weight (can get them to suit whiteboards or LED/LCD interactive screens) they also do electrically height adjustable which are great for SEN schools as make the ideal for mixed ages etc.

[Scifigirl]

We are currently- now-- builders still onsite -- trying to find out what the studs can take....

 

although they put up lightweight display boards and they fell out of the wall without rawplugs

[Garacesh]

SEN school - can't lose the interactive.

Ouchie.

 

I think your best bet then is get a builder/surveyor in and find out what it would take the reinforce the wall. Which is gonna dent the wallet, but if it's definitely necessary, and the floor definitely cant take the weight, I'm not sure what other options are available to you.

[Boredguy]

If the underfloor heating was done correctly, it's got a concreate screed over it which should be fine for an IWB

[Lonix]

Any ideas? other than crying in a corner-- much welcome

 

"Not my job title, sorry but it sounds like some one above hasn't done their job right".

 

If it was my LM I know I could say it. I'm lucky I know some one else would have said it before it turned up. Once I became aware of any classrooms I'm always asking the question - What IT and where.

 

I'd do my job by saying what's needed for the IT and leave it to those above who are paid far more than me to make those kind of decisions. I can't authorise those decisions.

 

For the IT side though, there are options - mobile equipment. More costly but is an option, if the teacher decides they don't want it I'd still offer it as an option. Also isn't the authority of those above to state what they want not the teacher of the classroom.

 

I'd do an email with all the options, costs, possible contractor work, caretaker involvement and CC the teacher. Leave them to battle it out.

 

We have a few all in one setups that only use the walls as support - it's got it's own framework for the IWB/projector/speakers. Get a contractor to install some trunking, data and power. Sorted. All in one setup is more expensive and not my preference.

[Garacesh]

"I'd do my job by saying what's needed for the IT and leave it to those above who are paid far more than me to make those kind of decisions. I can't authorise those decisions.

 

For the IT side though, there are options - mobile equipment. More costly but is an option, if the teacher decides they don't want it I'd still offer it as an option. Also isn't the authority of those above to state what they want not the teacher of the classroom

This is your best course of action, really: Remembering that it's not up to us to fix everything. I know I often fall into that trap simply under the intention of trying to get the job done and done properly, but the choice isn't ours. All you can do is inform the higher-ups of the options and if they choose an option that the teacher isn't happy with, then that's not your problem. It will create friction at first, but they'll get used to it.