automated-spaces

Planning Permission Approved...What Next? 6 Must-Have Design Features for Your Future Home

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:41:21 GMT

Congratulations! first time to celebrate

Next time to plan...what will be in your dream home?

Helping you understand the 'art of the possible'

Automated Spaces, through our 'tried and tested' client engagement process, will partner with you to help you maximise value at every phase of the construction process.

Helping our clients achieve best value is hardwired into our approach from beginning to end...it's what motivates and drives us as a company.

A lot of our clients, when we first commence discussions, don't have any previous experience or knowledge of the capabilities of smart home solutions.

Once we have understood your requirements and available budget, we can provide you with a tailored overview of a wide range of affordable potential solutions that will really enhance your dream home.

6 Must-Have Design Features for Your Home

We enjoy creating a tailored package of solutions for each of our clients...the following are 6 must-have design features that most of our clients tend to go for as a minimum.

1. Home Security Solutions

Multi-layered Home Security

We have a wide range of home security solutions that can all be integrated together to not only provide comprehensive intruder detection but can more importantly act as a deterrence to even approach your property.

Combining the following home security elements with a smart home hub allows us to provide you with a state-of-the-art security solution that will provide total peace of mind when you are both in and away from your home.

CCTV
Intruder Alarm
External Security Lights
Internet Connected Doorbell
Simulated Occupancy
24x7 Monitoring Service
Home Invasion Monitoring

Home Invasion Monitoring

With the worrying trend of home invasions, with weapons, occurring whilst a homeowner or their family is at home by themselves. We also can provide home invasion detection solutions that can vigilantly monitor the total number of people in your home. Should the number of people within your property suddenly increase we can alert you and our monitoring service to investigate further. With the option for the Police to be immediately notified should our monitoring service detect unauthorised intruders on your grounds or gaining access to your home.

2. Lighting

Superior Aesthetics

Great lighting can significantly enhance the beauty of your home and promote your well-being. Therefore, the opposites are also true i.e., bad lighting can seriously detract from the overall aesthetics of spaces within your home as well as negatively affect your overall health.

Lighting Design Service

We can provide you with expert advice and professional lighting design for your home. This thoughtful and inspiring service can cover both internal and external lighting fixtures. Want to add a real wow factor to key rooms in your home…whilst at the same time installing cost efficient lighting fixtures in the more functional spaces. Then we can provide you with a wide spectrum of lighting fixtures that suit the use case and budget.

Colour & Dynamic Movement

We can also provide you with light fixtures that can introduce the element of colour as well as be intelligently controlled down to the individual pixel. This allows us to create dynamic movement lighting effects in those spaces that might be used for entertaining.

Smart Lighting Control

We can provide you more than just on/off control of your lights:

Lights that are motion activated but only when it is dark in that room
Voice activated lights controlled by the power of your voice
Lights that automatically turn on in the morning as part of your waking up routine
Circadian rhythm enhancing lights whose colour, and intensity adjust throughout the day
Outdoor lights that automatically turn on at dusk and turn off when you have gone to bed
Security lights that can trigger when someone crosses the boundary to your property

3. Blinds & Curtains

Total Convenience

We have a fantastic selection of motorised roller blinds and curtains with a wide range of available fabrics to suit every taste as well as function. From patterned, plain, coloured and true blackout fabrics we’re sure we’ll have the fabric to match your needs.

With the comfort and convenience of being fully automated. No more having to manually open or close your blinds or curtains every morning and night.

Privacy & Security

Protect your privacy and your property…our range of blinds and curtains can conceal the contents of your home from prying eyes.

We can also make your blinds and curtains automatically open and close, when you’re not at home, to mimic your home being occupied to deter potential intruders.

4. Home Entertainment

Create Joy in Your Home

We can help your listen to your favourite music throughout your home.

Home Cinema Rooms

Bespoke rooms to fully immerse yourself in the latest Hollywood blockbuster or cinematic classic movie.

TV Rooms

Create the ‘best seats in the house’ to watch your favourite TV shows or streaming series.

Games Rooms

A space to hone your skills; play a rack of pool, game of darts, poker tournament, game of chess, tabletop games session or a round of simulated golf…create a games room for your favourite hobby.

Gaming Rooms

The perfect space to keep the kids entertained on their gaming console or PC. Alternatively, create the ultimate racing car or flight simulator set-up.

5. Home Network

Wi-Fi

With our best-in-class Wi-Fi we can provide you with the strongest signal throughout your home…no more dead zones.

Home Office

We can help you create a reliable network for all your home working needs. An office space to support all your equipment; laptops, desktops, printers, etc.

A place you can be proud to have as a live background on your next online video call .

6. Outdoor Entertainment

Extra Space

With space at a premium, ensure that you maximise all your available areas, free the potential of your patio or garden to be an extra room.

Enjoy outdoor dining or create a simple place to relax with your family and friends.

Inside Out .

With the right outdoor equipment, you can take the party outdoors, all times of the year.

We can help you select from an amazing range of outdoor speakers, lighting, weatherproof TV displays, outdoor Wi-Fi, etc.

Book a Free of Charge & No Obligation Initial Consultation

Use the form below to book a Free of Charge & No Obligation Initial Consultation ...to discuss which design features you would like added to your home.

Note: Search for a suitable date and time. Next complete the relevant details in the form to provisionally book your consultation. We will then get in touch with you to confirm your consultation.

Click here to book using our online scheduling tool

Self-Build Smart Home S pecification Budgeting Tool

Try our new ' Self-Build Smart Home Specification Budgeting Tool ' to identify the costs associated with adding your preferred smart home enhancements to your dream self-build future home.

Click the button below to use the 'Smart Home Specification Budgeting Tool'

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Automated Spaces Presents CEDIA 'NextGen' Initiative to Pupils at Long Field Spencer Academy

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:37:34 GMT

Local businesses are first in U.K. to deliver new Smart Home ‘NextGen’ initiative presentation for pupils at Long Field Spencer Academy

Melton Mowbray based smart home installation businesses Automated Spaces and Stuart Westmoreland Ltd. were the first companies in the U.K. to present the new Smart Home ‘NextGen’ initiative to pupils at Long Field Spencer Academy.

The ‘NextGen’ initiative has been created by CEDIA, who are a global Smart Home Industry trade association, with the aim to help promote awareness of the smart home industry amongst the next generation, including grassroots outreach by industry employers to local educational establishments and students.

Alan Matthews, Managing Director of Automated Spaces, liaised with Amanda Gwyther Head of Computing at Long Field Spencer Academy about the ‘NextGen’ initiative. “The ‘NextGen’ initiative includes raising awareness of the smart home industry, the companies that operate within the industry, the various types of jobs roles within these companies and potential routes into the industry such as the newly recognised ‘Smart Home Technician’ apprenticeship scheme” Automated Spaces, Managing Director Alan Matthews said.

Amanda immediately saw the potential benefits for the pupils at Long Field Spencer Academy of the initiative. “To have the opportunity for local businesses to come in and discuss upcoming dynamic career paths is essential to the visions of our young minds” Head of Computing, Long Field Spencer Academy, Amanda Gwyther said.

It was then arranged for representatives from Automated Spaces, Stuart Westmoreland Ltd. and CEDIA to go into the Academy and provide the ‘NextGen’ presentation to a large group of year 10 pupils.

“Long Field Spencer Academy were enthusiastic about the opportunity for their pupils to be able to learn more about the Smart Home industry. On the day of our visit the staff were very welcoming, and the pupils were very engaged. It was great to see that after the presentation and learning more about the opportunities in the smart home industry, that there were at least several pupils who said they might now consider a future career in the industry.” Automated Spaces, Managing Director Alan Matthews said.

“The ‘NextGen’ initiative that CEDIA recently launched is going to introduce a new generation of pupils and young people to the growing Smart Home industry, and what future opportunities it can offer them. It was therefore very important to us to be able to take part in the presentation to Long Field Spencer Academy, and wonderful to see the reaction of the teachers and pupils to it in such a positive way.” Stuart Westmoreland Ltd., Director Richard Westmoreland added.

“The CEDIA NextGen presentation was very informative for our pupils, highlighting various opportunities in the smart home industry, many of which are local based and inspiring, truly opening our eyes to the wonderful world of smart housing. We at Long Field cannot thank enough Automated Spaces, Stuart Westmoreland Ltd. and CEDIA for giving up their time in order to inspire and enlighten us in the smart home industry” Head of Computing, Long Field Spencer Academy, Amanda Gwyther said.

“I would like to thank Long Field Academy, as well as CEDIA members Automated Spaces and Stuart Westmoreland Ltd, for the opportunity to engage with these fantastic young people. It was great to see such genuine interest from the students and to share with them details about the Smart Home Technician Apprenticeship. CEDIA is committed to educating and inspiring young people about the career opportunities in the industry, and hopefully the visit in Long Field Academy will be the first of many more to come.” Education Manager EMEA, CEDIA, Aneta Armova-Levin said.

“Following on from going into Long Field Spencer Academy to present the NextGen campaign, we are now in discussions with Long Field Spencer Academy to arrange for their pupils to visit our smart home show house, that is in Melton Mowbray, so that they can get hands on with various technologies in an immersive real-world setting.”

“Its exciting times in the Smart Home sector and we hope that we can identify locally the next potential stars that could join the industry.” Automated Spaces, Managing Director Alan Matthews said.

If you would like to discuss having a representative of CEDIA present the NextGen Initiative for your pupils or students in the U.K., or if you would like to access to the 'NextGen' materials to present on behalf of CEDIA, you can contact the Education Team at CEDIA on education@cedia.org or 01480 213744 Option 3 for Education.

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2022 CEDIA Awards Integrated Home Level II - Highly Commended

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 11:20:39 GMT

2022 CEDIA Awards - EMEA - Integrated Home Level II - Highly Commended

It was a glamorous awards ceremony with some of the best smart home and home cinema integrators from across EMEA present. In the hotly contested ‘Integrated Home Level II’ category with 2 other fantastic finalist submissions, and with our first ever entry to the CEDIA awards, we are immensely proud to have been given the ‘Highly Commended’ designation.

We have been truly inspired by the quality of the various submissions across all the categories, we are excited to take this inspiration forward into our future projects.

Also, it was fantastic to see Peter Aylett (CEDIA Fellow) and Chris Pinder (Special Recognition) being recognised.

Thanks to all the CEDIA team and judges, for their hard work, co-ordinating the submission judging process and organising a great awards ceremony.

Background to the awards

CEDIA Smart Home Technology Awards

CEDIA's Awards program recognises technical excellence, product innovation and individual professionals succeeding in the residential electronic systems industry. The CEDIA Awards celebrates the many ways technology enhances the home.

There are a range of categories:

Auto, Marine or Aircraft
Home Cinema
Integrated Home
Media Room
Multiple Dwelling Unit Design
Showroom
Sub-Categories (Winner must be a finalist/winner in another category)
Excellence in Rack Cabling and Design
Excellence in Documentation
Excellence in Lighting
Excellence in Innovation
Life Lived Best at Home
Technology Meets Design

CEDIA ( Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association ): https://cedia.net

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Automated Spaces Earns Elite Global Designation

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:55:50 GMT

Automated Spaces Earns Elite Global Designation

Melton Mowbray based Automated Spaces has been named a CEDIA Member of Excellence .

Automated Spaces has achieved this status by its dedication to residential technology design and installation services - often referred to as smart homes or connected homes - through continuing education, customer service, and community service and outreach. Automated Spaces has also met industry benchmarks in certification and craftsmanship.

CEDIA Member of Excellence is the highest designation a member company can achieve from the home technology industry’s only accrediting organisation.

“It is truly an honour to be only the 10th company in the U.K. and the 15th globally to receive this designation. It represents an important and significant milestone for our company. As well as recognising our continuing commitment to provide our clients with superior solutions and excellence in our services. We are very proud to be in the upper echelon of our peers at the leading edge of our industry” Automated, Managing Director Alan Matthews said.

Automated Spaces was founded in 2016. It has worked with clients and partners both in the U.K. and internationally. The company’s range of services include professional design, installation and on-going support services for smart home, home cinema and independent living technologies. Automated Spaces also provides significant industry outreach efforts to help demystify smart home and independent living technologies, for both clients and construction professionals alike, at our show home demonstration house in Melton Mowbray.

“Only a small percentage of members meet the rigorous CEDIA Member of Excellence requirements,” CEDIA Senior Vice President of Industry Engagement Giles Sutton said.

“Automated Spaces and other Members of Excellence represent the core values that many CEDIA companies already share and demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism and service quality. The programme showcases Automated Spaces as one of the best residential technology design and integration firms in the industry.”

Background to the Member of Excellence status

CEDIA Overview

CEDIA, the global trade association for companies that design, manufacture, and integrate technology in the home, empowers members with education, certification, and advocacy. Its members deliver technology solutions that allow families to experience their best moments in life in the comfort of their own homes. CEDIA Members make up the most powerful home Technology network, but not every company is the same.

CEDIA Member of Excellence

The CEDIA Member of Excellence status is the highest designation a member company can achieve from the home technology industry’s only accrediting organisation. Only given to CEDIA Advanced Members with a record of award-winning craftsmanship, and a dedication to advanced industry certifications. It places Automated Spaces among the upper echelon of our global peers in residential technology integration areas.

CEDIA ( Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association ): https://cedia.net

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2022 CEDIA Awards Finalist

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 09:00:05 GMT

2022 CEDIA Awards Finalist - Integrated Home (EMEA)

Automated Spaces is honoured to announce that we have been shortlisted in the 2022 CEDIA Smart Home Technology Awards as a Finalist in the ‘Integrated Home’ category (EMEA).

Winners to be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday 14 ^th October held at The Brewery London…wish us luck!

Background to the awards

CEDIA Smart Home Technology Awards

There are a range of categories:

Auto, Marine or Aircraft
Home Cinema
Integrated Home
Media Room
Multiple Dwelling Unit Design
Showroom
Sub-Categories (Winner must be a finalist/winner in another category)
Excellence in Rack Cabling and Design
Excellence in Documentation
Excellence in Lighting
Excellence in Innovation
Life Lived Best at Home
Technology Meets Design

CEDIA ( Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association ): https://cedia.net

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Automated Spaces Winner of Control4 Circle of Excellence Award 2022

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 11:35:09 GMT

Control4 Circle of Excellence Award 2022

We are very proud to announce that Automated Spaces has been selected by Control4 as a winner of it's Circle Excellence Award 2022.

Selected in the UK North & Ireland Group for the Marketing Initiative category.

One of the most special elements to winning this award is that it recognises a marketing campaign born out of extreme uncertainty during the global COVID-19 pandemic when many companies suffered severe impacts to their business operations.

Securing a Government Small Business Recovery Grant allowed us to create an overall marketing strategy with several focused specific social media campaigns as well as a complete website rebrand.

Automated Spaces would like to recognise the assistance of the following organisations and individuals during the creation and execution of the marketing strategy:

Melton Borough Council - Coronavirus Business Support Hub
Business Gateway Growth Hub and their funding agencies
Ella Umney - Snap One Marketing Manager, EMEA

Background to the awards

Snap One Unveils Winners of International Partner Awards

“We’re thrilled to recognize Partners that have demonstrated superior installation design, best-in-class service and enhanced business operations across the world,” said Ryan Marsh, Snap One EVP, Global Sales. “In 2022, our Partners continue to create elevated technology experiences for homes and businesses using Snap One’s products and solutions. On behalf of our entire team, we extend the deepest congratulations.”

All award winners were chosen either by regional distributors or Snap One representatives. Expanded from years past, Snap One’s 2022 Partner Awards Program crowned two Distributors of the Year, a Partner of the Year in 22 regions, an overall Top Volume Award to the highest spending direct Partner in Europe and twelve Circle of Excellence awards in the UK and Ireland.

Qualifications for each award include:

Distributor of the Year Award: Valuing a Distribution Partner who has demonstrated excellence across category and brand adoption, market building activities, and overall engagement with the Snap One team.
Partner of the Year Award: Acknowledging a Partner who has demonstrated allegiance to Snap One products and solutions, with an unwavering enthusiasm for their ethos and commitment to their shared growth.
Top Volume Award: Recognizing a Partner with the largest spend in Europe, demonstrating confidence, commitment, and allegiance to Snap One products and solutions in their projects.
Circle of Excellence Award:
Snap One Category Adoption: Appreciating a Partner who has successfully welcomed a broad range of Snap One categories into their business, illustrating their confidence and commitment in the company and its ecosystem.
Business Growth: Valuing a Partner with the most impressive year over year growth with Snap One, demonstrating business growth and allegiance to the company’s products and solutions in their projects.
Service & Support Proposition: Acknowledging a Partner who has expertly communicated and delivered aftercare to their clients and prospects in a way that is easy to understand and elevates our industry’s standard.
Marketing Initiative: Recognizing a Partner who has successfully delivered innovative campaigns to promote the industry, their business, and the solutions they offer with an impressive return on investment.

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Top 5 Outdoor Enhancements For Your Home

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 12:04:47 GMT

Top 5 Outdoor Enhancements For Your Home

Summer is here, now is the time to learn how to make the most of the outdoor spaces at your home.

We can help you free the potential of your garden or patio space to become an epic extra room in your home. Be that by creating an enjoyable space to entertain your family and friends or creating a tranquil setting where you can escape from hustle and bustle inside the house. Perhaps by providing a unique way to get together, in the fresh air and sunshine, to watch the deluge of major sporting events taking place over the next few months.

The enjoyment of the outside spaces at your home should not be limited to only daylight hours, we can also help you extend your usage of your garden into the late evening long after the sun has set, with the right type of outdoor lighting and heating solutions.

In this blog we will detail our top 5 outdoor enhancements for your home:

Music Everywhere
Outdoor Televisions
Exterior Lighting
Strong Wi-Fi Signal
Outdoor Heating

1. Music Everywhere

EXTEND YOUR LISTENING FROM INSIDE YOUR HOME TO THE OUTSIDE

From discreet small form factor outdoor speakers and speakers disguised as rocks, we can subtly introduce the ability for you to, listen to music outdoors without affecting the aesthetics of the outside spaces of your home.

The breadth and depth of the music you hear should not be comprised just because you are outside; we can provide you with a system capable of playing music at the best sound quality currently available; ‘Hi-Res Audio’. The integrity and the breadth of the sound can also be ensured as we can install either above ground or underground outdoor subwoofer speakers that truly have the capability to play low frequencies meaning you do not miss out on any of the recording artist’s original intent.

With the ability to play music from almost any source including your extensive collections of vinyl, compact cassette tapes or CDs…or alternatively your favourite playlist from any of the popular online streaming platforms.

We can also allow you to create a zoned listening experience with the ability to listen to your music in just one room/space or create that whole house party vibe with people able to seamlessly enjoy the same music tracks as they move from the inside to outside spaces in your home or create a varied listening experience as they move from room to room with a different playlist in each area.

Music should be fun and without limits…we can help you take your best music anywhere in your home.

2. Outdoor Televisions

THE BEST VISUAL EXPERIENCES NOW CAN BE ENJOYED OUTDOORS

As you can see on the video above, your outdoor entertainment sources are not just limited to listening to your favourite music, with the introduction of specialised weatherproof televisions, we can ensure that you can extend your viewing habits from indoors to any outdoor areas.

We can remove the traditional shackles of having to watch television indoors. Imagine hosting a party at your outdoor space to watch any of the major sporting events such as the Euro’s/World Cup, Olympics, golf tournament, cricket test match or the latest F1 race. Now imagine a situation where everyone no longer needs to head indoors to watch the action, leaving you stuck outside tending the food on the barbeque, but instead you can remain in the centre of the conversations and not miss a second of the coverage while still flipping the burgers.

3. Exterior Lights

ENJOY YOUR OUTSIDE SPACE LONG INTO THE NIGHT

Gardens provide the link between our homes and the great outdoors, you no longer need to limit enjoying your garden or outdoor space to just the daylight hours of the day, we can provide you with a well-designed and sympathetically lit space that allows you to remain outside in the evening long after the sun has set.

A well-lit garden will also look pleasing on the eye and provide an enhanced layer of security when you eventually do retire indoors.

4. Strong Wi-Fi Signal

A WI-FI SIGNAL THAT REACHES THE FAR END OF YOUR GARDEN

With the increasing proliferation of working from home and participating on a ‘Zoom’ or ‘Microsoft Teams’ web conferencing calls on your laptop, reliance on the Wi-Fi network in our houses has never been more pronounced as it is now.

As well as providing a robust and secure Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home, without any dead spots, we can also extend your ability to connect to your Wi-Fi network even if you are at the far ends of your garden. With the ability to seamlessly roam between rooms and even to the outside space without loss of signal.

Free yourself from your home working desk, stretch your legs, take a stroll out into the garden and top up your vitamin D without the fear of missing that important part of the call.

5. Outdoor Heating

DON’T LET SUNSET’S TEMPERATURE DROP SEND YOU INSIDE

That sudden drop in temperature at sunset no longer needs to send you inside seeking the warmth. Outdoor electric heating solutions, that can be controlled via a smart home solution are much safer than outdoor propane gas heaters or naked flame firepits. They can be monitored and switched off automatically, ensuring that they are not accidently left on for extended periods of time or at the end of the night, thus reducing any potential fire hazards and other safety risks associated with their usage.

Connect With Us

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?

To discuss how we can help you free the potential of your garden or patio space…connect with us using the button below.

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25 Year Warranty for Network Cabling Installations

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:14:54 GMT

25 Year Warranty for Network Cabling Installations

We are very excited to announce that all our clients, where we install a new network cable infrastructure into their property, will be able to enjoy peace of mind with a 25-year warranty.

This warranty not only includes the necessary parts but also covers the cost of any labour required, to repair or replace a failed component.

In this blog we detail some of the elements of our data network implementations that allow our clients to benefit from this fantastic 25-year warranty. It will include information about the first step in any installation which is our professional network design. It will then cover some of the key components of our intelligent installation service. We will then discuss the different types of cable testers available and how we utilise only the highest level of comprehensive cable testing for our installation work. Finally, we will highlight some of the high-quality cable and cabling infrastructure components we use as part of our network implementations.

By the end of the blog, you will appreciate why a data network installed by Automated Spaces is a long-term sound investment.

1. Professional Network Design

NETWORK DESIGN YOU CAN RELY ON

When we design a network for a smart home you can rest assured that we comply with the relevant British Standards Institute (BSI) code of practice [1 ] and when appropriate we incorporate recognised industry best practises [2] .

In most project situations, we will implement a star topology for your data network. This means that we will implement a centralised panel, located in a room called the ‘Head End’, from which cables will span out across the property to their intended location e.g., to the back of a data socket on a wall.

Subsequently between the panel and any equipment rack we install we will utilise a loom of patch cables. This means that should you ever wish to sell the property, and take your rack-based equipment with you, that there will be a neat panel left on the wall that any prospect buyer could easily use in the future. Meaning that any cable installation could be viewed as a long-term asset and thus a worthwhile investment in your property.

Our comprehensive design methodology will identify all those locations around your property where a data cable is required, as well as all the necessary rack-based equipment required to facilitate your networking infrastructure. We will then produce thorough documentation that will include:

A schedule of the data cables to be installed that summaries all the relevant details associated with the individual cables; location of both ends, the type of device that the cable will be connected to at both ends, etc.
Schematic drawings showing the individual component interconnectivity between the end point devices around the property and the central panel in the Head End as well as between the panel and the rack-based equipment
Plans showing the various elements in the Head End as well as the various elements in each room/controlled zone and the associated pre-wires to connect them together

References:

[1] British Standards Institute (BSI):

BS EN 50173-4:2018 Information technology. Generic cabling systems. Homes
PAS 35491:2017 - Design and installation of telecommunications and broadcast infrastructure within the home. Code of practice

[2] CEDIA:

Smart Home Infrastructure Recommended Guidelines
Infrastructure Cabling for Voice, Data and Video

2. Intelligent Installation Service

SAFE AND EFFICIENT ONSITE INSTALLATION

We utilise an installation methodology that not only promotes both safe working practises but also introduces efficiencies that the reduces the time required onsite.

The methodology has been designed, through continual refinement, so that we can work in a way that minimises all the risks associated with cabling installation issues/errors/faults delaying your overall construction project timeline.

One of the key steps is not relying on ‘just-in-time’ deliveries being made to site. Instead, all the required cable and components will be ordered in advance and delivered to one of our secure locations several weeks in advance of being required onsite. This minimises the risk of supply chain stock level or courier/delivery issues causing a delay to the other trades on the work onsite.

The initial activity, of the 1st Fix cable installation, will involve a walk around the site with the client and main contractor to agree the final locations for all components that need to be installed in each room. These locations will be physically identified onsite and fully documented for future reference.

Once all cables have been correctly installed, to their relevant locations around the property from the centralised panel, they will then be terminated in situ. This will then allow us to fully test the cables prior to the walls in the property being sealed up and plastered over. This reduces the risk of finding a faulty/damaged cable after the main contractor has completed their painting and decorating 2nd fix activities. Therefore, this reduces the risk of potentially needing to chase out finished walls/ceilings to install replacement cables. With all the disruption, dust and delay that this additional work would entail.

3. Comprehensive Cable Testing

A CABLE YOU CAN TRUST

An installed cable is not a cable you can rely on or trust until it has been fully tested. There are 3 general levels of data cable testing that come with increasing rigour and requirements to pass. It is only the highest level of testing that can confirm if a cable has complied with the performance requirements of the relevant International, European or British standards.

The 3 categories of testing are as follows:

Verification (lowest level of testing)
Qualification
Certification (highest level of testing)

Verification testing

A data cable will typically have 8 individual cable cores inside of the main outer plastic cable jacket. These 8 cores need to be installed in a specific sequence at both ends of the cable when it is terminated into either a device or wired into a data plug.

A verification test simply checks that each of the 8 individual cores have not been physically cut along the length of the cable (i.e., there is still end-to-end continuity along the cable), and the 8 cores have been terminated in the correct sequence at both ends.

Typically, a verification testing tool will cost between £30 - £350+Vat depending on the number of accessories.

Qualification testing

A qualification test is a step up from a verification test, along with checking the continuity of the cores and that they have been terminated in the correct sequence, it will also test if the cable can support the bandwidth requirements of the network and applications i.e., will the cable support certain data transmission rates.

Typically, a qualification testing tool will cost around £1,500+Vat depending on the number of accessories.

Certification testing

A certification test is the most stringent type of testing. Along with carrying out the checks that a verification and qualification tester would do, it also confirms that the cable complies with the performance requirements of the relevant International, European or British standards. The certification tester will also provide a detailed report of the results from the testing for each cable.

Typically, a certification testing tool will cost between £6,500 - £10,000+Vat depending on the number of accessories.

At Automated Spaces we have invested a significantly sum in our testing tools to ensure that we can comprehensively test our work and provide our clients with the peace of mind that the cables we install will perform as required. Along with numerous verification tools we also have purchased the highest level of cable tester, a cable certification tester. We use the cable certification tester on our client cable installations.

4. High-quality Cable and Cabling Infrastructure Components

NOT ALL DATA CABLES OR DATA CABLING COMPONENTS ARE BORN EQUAL

Firstly, a good quality data cable’s internal conducting 8 cores will be made of solid copper whereas a poor-quality cable will have conducting cores that are made mostly of aluminium with a very thin coating of copper on the outside of the core. These cables are called Copper Clad Aluminium (CCA).

Having these two different types of materials in the conducting core of the cable reduces the cost of the cable but it also significantly reduces the amount of data and power (when using power over ethernet - PoE devices) that can be transmitted along the cable and they also represent a fire hazard. That is why we will only use high quality cables that contain solid bare copper conductors.

Secondly, a good quality data cable will have an outer PVC jacket that is made up of halogen free compounds that are good fire retardants. The current UK British Standards (BS 7671:2018+A1:2020 - Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations) do not explicitly require cables in a domestic dwelling to be the type that produce low smoke or low halogen when they catch fire.

But we firmly believe that our client’s safety is of paramount important therefore we will only specify Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) for all our domestic installations. Whilst LSZH cables may cost slightly more, than the less safe standard PVC clad cables, we feel the LSZH cables are worth the extra investment.

Whilst not directly related to the quality of the data cables we also firmly believe in delivering a high standard of finish as part of our data network installations. For this reason, we specify BeadMaster products for all the data wall sockets.

BeadMaster products allow you to achieve a high-quality finish around the opening in the plaster of wall sockets. They reduce the need for re-work and snagging of the plaster around the opening of the backbox for the socket and prevent the cables inside the backboxes becoming wet or being coated in plaster when the walls are being skimmed.

5. Conclusion

A PARTNER YOU CAN DEPEND ON TO DELIVER EVERYTIME

Hopefully after having read this blog, you will appreciate that our comprehensive approach to data network implementations, from the design through to physical installations, provides our clients with long-term peace of mind.

If you would like to discuss securing a 25-year warranty for a data network installation for your project or even just a general smart home wiring requirement, please feel free to connect with us on the following link: Connect with us

It should be noted that Terms and Conditions will apply to the 25-year warranty , these are available on request.

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Smart Home Show House Reopen

Alan.matthews@automatedspaces.co.uk (Alan Matthews) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 08:18:57 GMT

Smart Home Show House Reopen

We are very pleased to announce that inline with Government guidance, from today (Monday 12th April 2021), we will reopen our Smart Home Show House to visitors to participate in a peronsalised tour.

1. Come and see the 'art of the possible'

WHAT IS IT REALLY LIKE TO LIVE IN A SMART HOME?

Automated Spaces has significantly invested in transforming an entire property, detached garage and timber garden office in to a smart home show house.

You can get hands on with the technology and experience tangible examples of how a smart home could have positive benefits on your day-to-day life in a real-world setting similar to your own home.

It is a space where we can truly demonstrate the 'art of the possible'.

Click the button below to learn more about what you can see in our smart home show house during a tour.

2. Staying safe during your visit

YOUR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT TO US!

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has dramatically changed the way we live our lives.

We will have in place the following COVID secure measurements for the benefit of both visitors safety and our staff:

We have updated our 'Show House' risk assessment to reflect the latest Government COVID secure working guidance on the www.gov.uk website
Visitor groups will be limited in the following ways:
From 12th April - Maximum of 2 people from the same household
From 17th May - Rule of 6 will apply i.e. 5 visitors & 1 Automated Spaces team member (subject to Government guidance)
As part of the tour booking process all visitors will be required to complete and sign an e-booking form
All visitors and Automated Spaces' team members will be required to receive a negative Covid rapid lateral flow test in the 36 hours preceeding the tour date and time
The show house will be thoroughly cleaned immediately prior to arrival time
All tours will be conducted utilising social distancing and all persons present will be expected to wear a face covering
Immediately after all tours the show house will be thoroughly cleaned

These rules will be constantly reviewed. If you have any specific concerns regarding a visit to our smart home show house please feel free to give us a call 01664 500552 and we will be more than happy to discuss your individual requirements.

3. Online Booking Tool

TOTAL CONVENIENCE WITH OUR NEW SMART HOME SHOW HOUSE ONLINE BOOKNG TOOL

We have recently added an online booking tool where you can easily check the available tour dates/times and instantly secure the one that is most convenient for you.

Click on the button below and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the online booking tool.

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Top 5 Practical Benefits Of A Smart Home

Alan.matthews@automatedspaces.co.uk (Alan Matthews) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 07:48:08 GMT

Top 5 Practical Benefits of a Smart Home

Implementing Smart Home solutions into your home can have almost endless practical benefits. In this blog we provide some real-world tangible examples of how smart home solutions could help deliver the following top 5 practical benefits:

1. Improved peace of mind

DEALING WITH ANXIETY AND OBSESSIVE–COMPULSIVE DISORDERS

"Knowledge itself is Power" Francis Bacon

With more than 1 in 10 people likely to have a ‘disabling anxiety disorder’ at some stage in their life ¹ and around three quarters of a million people in the UK being affected by the serious anxiety-related condition Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) ² . Implementing Smart Home solutions, that can provide real-time access to status information about your home, is rapidly becoming an important part of the overall treatment plan for people living with an anxiety disorder or OCD.

How often have you, having left your home earlier, had those negative thoughts and doubts about whether you closed all your windows before you left or if you did lock your front door or arm the intruder alarm as you were leaving? With those thoughts becoming more pronounced and more anxiety producing the longer the doubts persist.

We have had clients tell us that they have personally experienced having, to leave their place of work in the middle of the working day due to these anxieties, to return to their home to physically check if they did close all their windows.

So, think about how fantastic it would be if your home could do the following for you:

As part of an automated routine, as you were leaving the property, it checked that all your windows around your home were closed before it armed your intruder alarm and made an audible announcement from your speakers to confirm that all the checks were complete.
Allowed you to remotely check whether any of the windows were open or closed, or that your front door was currently locked and/or that your intruder alarm was armed.

2. Staying safe while enjoying staying home

HOME ENTERTAINMENT - STAYING IN….IS THE NEW….GOING OUT!

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has dramatically changed the way we live our lives.

With most of the UK having to either not leave at all or significantly curtailing the reasons for leaving their home while shielding/social distancing. Also with many people having to work from their homes and for a significantly high proportion of these people it being the first time they have attempted to do this.

This new requirement to Stay at Home, with the additional levels of stress and anxiety caused by Coronavirus, has led to many people reflecting on the changed role that their home now plays in their lives. Our homes have taken on the role for not only sheltering us but also now have the responsibility for being our new places of work and our new entertainment venues.

The good news is that, with the changed role that people’s homes now play in their day to day lives and with the dramatically altered way that people can engage with services outside their homes, Automated Spaces has developed a series of 'At Home' Smart Home solutions.

Through these ‘At Home’ solutions we can help you transform your home into a secure and professional working environment as well create an entertainment safe haven where you might not want to or need to go back to visiting venues away from your home ever again.

We have several thoughtful and practical solutions available, to enhance the ‘At Home’ experience, please visit the ‘ At Home ’ section of our website or read the Blog ‘ Top 10 Reasons to WATCH at Home ’ for more information.

3. Increased security for your property

INTRUDER DETERENCE IS BETWEEN THAN INTRUDER DETECTION

It may be surprising for you to learn that 89% of burglars would be deterred from targeting a Smart Home, especially those properties with CCTV cameras, where there is the sound of a barking dog or where they can see a TV which is turned on ³ .

But it is this type of knowledge, that our Clients benefit from when, we design a comprehensive, multifaceted and multi-layered approach to incorporating various security devices into our Smart Home projects.

Imagine if you lived in a Smart Home that provided the following type of security solutions:

Your home can simulate being occupied, with lights and TVs/Music sources automatically turning on as well as windows blinds opening and closing in a realistic manner, while you are away.
Where the sound of a dog barking can be played, over covertly placed external loudspeakers, in response to specific trigger events detected by a Smart CCTV solution such as someone entering your driveway or approaching your front door.
That allows you, when you are away from your family and home while travelling for work reasons, to remotely check on the safety of your family members and your property.
Will send you push notifications to your mobile phone or smart watch for key events e.g. when the intruder alarm is activated or if a water leak is detected.
Allows you to see and speak with people who arrive at your property, remotely over a video call from your doorbell on an internet connected device like your mobile phone, when you are not at home.

4. Free up time in your day-to-day life around your home

CONVENIENCE THROUGH AUTOMATION AND SIMPLIFICATION OF TASKS

The current shifting trend of people’s desires, from ‘owning things’ to ‘experiencing things’, is leading to a hyper focus on removing from our lives those things that needlessly consume our time and seeking out those things that can free up our time to increase the potential for us to purse more leisure activities.

At Automated Spaces’ we strive to design a Smart Home that automates, out of existence, those common and mundane tasks that seem to continually steal our Client’s time. Through a process of thoroughly understanding how our Client’s will live day-to-day in their finished home we can identify those tasks that can be automated and free up some of their time.

Wouldn’t it be great if you lived in a home where, as part of an automated routine, when you woke up in the morning and said ‘good morning’ or pressed a ‘Morning’ button on a keypad next to your bed that the night-time setting on your intruder alarm deactivated, then depending on the time of morning…the lights for all rooms leading from your bedroom to the kitchen came on at an appropriate dimmed level so as to not temporarily blind you in your sleepy haze, switched on your coffee machine or kettle to begin brewing your favourite morning drink, turned on your favourite television or radio channel in the kitchen or turned on your shower to ensure that the temperature had raised to a comfortable level before you got under the flow of water.

Or, where instead of having several remotes in your TV viewing room, you have one consolidated and contemporary remote that declutters and simplifies the task of controlling the various sources of media on your display.

5. Assisted / Independent Living

SUPPORT TO REMAIN IN YOUR HOME

With 1 in 4 hospital beds being occupied by someone with dementia, and admissions which are often for preventable or treatable reasons such as infections, falls or dehydration ⁴ , we can help you implement solutions to support you to remain in your home by minimising these potential issues from occurring in the first place.

With the cost of residential care homes being up to an average of £55,000 per annum ⁵ investing in solutions that enable you to delay that point in time before you need to leave your home, to relocate to an external care setting, can be a very sensible purchase that protects your lifelong savings and inheritance that you want to be able to bequest to your family and friends. With the added benefit that these Smart Home solutions could also allow you to remain in a familiar setting, stay near your friends & family, continue to live with your pets and help you retain your dignity through independent living.

Imagine if you lived in a Smart Home that provided the following type of assisted living solutions:

Audible scheduled announcements e.g. an audible prompt to remind you to take medication, or to eat/drink something or imminent appointment
An acknowledgement or an exception report is sent to a concerned relative or 3rd party care service to confirm that medicine has been taken or that you have eaten/drunk something at the relevant time
Automated events e.g. arming the night-time mode of the Intruder Alarm if not done before going to bed
Room activity monitoring e.g. alerting if no presence is detected in kitchen at certain times of the day such as breakfast time, lunch time or dinner time, etc.
Voice control of TVs or Music players to reduce reliance of finding physical remote controls

As falls account for the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people. With a significant proportion of elderly people experiencing an episode of a fall at least once a year ⁶ and approximately 1 in 20 older people living in the community experiencing a fracture or needing hospitalisation after a fall ⁷ we can implement Smart Home solutions to help reduce the risk of falls.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if your Smart Home could help reduce the risk of falls or respond to a fall incident in the following ways:

Automation of tasks to reduce activities that involve a risk of falling e.g. occupancy activated room lighting, automated closing of blinds at sunset, etc.
Immediate fall detection and alerting to a family member or 3rd party monitoring provider
Voice activated communications e.g. ability to initiate a voice call with a relative or an emergency contact without needing to dial a number or even have your phone
close to hand

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Sources:

¹ Source; Ehlers, A. ‘Anxiety disorders: Challenging negative thinking.’ Quoted in the Wellcome Trust Reviews, 1997.

² Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a serious anxiety-related condition that affects 1.2% of the population, which is around three quarters of a million people here in the UK based on current estimates. https://www.ocduk.org/ocd/introduction-to-ocd/

³ Survey of 12 ex-convicts was conducted by Unlock on behalf of Co-op Home Insurance; https://www.co-opinsurance.co.uk/hub/securitytips/

⁴ Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dementia-patients-to-be-prescribed-smart-home-kit-n33ch83f6#

⁵ Source: LaingBuisson Care of Older People UK Market Report 29th edition 2018

⁶ Calculated by Public Health England (PHE) from using Hospital Episode Statistics 2017/18

⁷ NHS England - Falls and fracture consensus statement

Top 10 Reasons to WATCH at home

Alan.matthews@automatedspaces.co.uk (Alan Matthews) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:45:58 GMT

Watch movies from the best seat in YOUR house!

Visiting public cinemas (when they are open) to watch movies, with “COVID-19 Secure” guidelines in place, is a very different experience to pre-lockdown days [1] :

Advanced online booking
Providing your personal contact details for NHS Track & Trace purposes
Entry and exiting of the venue via prescribed routes
Use of hand sanitiser as you enter and exit the venue
Reduced auditorium capacities
Extended time between shows to allow the operators to thoroughly clean the auditoriums including the use of sprayed disinfectants
An increased scarcity of available seats
Possible increased ticket prices in the future due to reduced revenues
Increased risk levels of transmission of COVID-19 while sitting in an enclosed space for several hours with significant numbers of people from outside your household/support bubble
No longer able to purchase snacks that are not sold in sealed packaging e.g. popcorn or pick ‘n’ mix

All these conditions and guidelines are leading many people to consider the safer alternatives to visiting public cinemas to watch movies.

Top 10 reasons why you should WATCH at home

At Automated Spaces we help people create truly epic home cinema environments in their own homes. Where you can watch movies with the best quality visual images, immersive sound and comfortable seating solutions which are often superior to those found in public cinema spaces.

You also won't need to provide your contact details for NHS Test & Trace purposes.

Having your own private home cinema for watching the latest movie releases or a large screen for watching that action packed sport event is no longer viewed as a nice to have, increasingly it is seen as a necessity, contact us for a no obligation and free of charge consultation to find out how we can transform your experience of watching movies or sports events in your home in any of the following ways.

Creating a luxury bespoke and dedicated home cinema room with:

An aesthetically pleasing interior design and creative lighting
Extremely comfortable reclining seats to sofas/corner sofas that can extend into day beds
The best audio system capable of full Dolby Atmos 3D immersive sound that you place you into the centre of the movie
Superb picture quality with the latest 4K projector and screen technologies in a true wide screen experience

Or, for those situations where you don't have the space to dedicate an entire room exclusively for watching movies, we can update existing rooms into a multi-functional 'media room' that can be used as a normal living space for the majority of the time but effortlessly with the press of a single button transform into a private screening room utilising the best large format TV displays or by revealing projectors and screens that can be hidden from sight whilst not in use.

To find out how we can create an epic entertainment space in your home:

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Referenc es

[1] The UK Cinema Association has been working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the British Film Institute, the Screen Sector Task Force, the Independent Cinema Office and Bectu, Public Health England (PHE), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the devolved nations to develop guidance for the safe operation of cinemas in the UK. Their latest guidance can be found on the following link here.

Link: https://www.cinemauk.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/guidance-for-cinemas/

automated-spaces

Planning Permission Approved...What Next? 6 Must-Have Design Features for Your Future Home

Congratulations! first time to celebrate

Next time to plan...what will be in your dream home?

6 Must-Have Design Features for Your Home

1. Home Security Solutions

2. Lighting

3. Blinds & Curtains

4. Home Entertainment

5. Home Network

6. Outdoor Entertainment

Book a Free of Charge & No Obligation Initial Consultation

Self-Build Smart Home S pecification Budgeting Tool

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Automated Spaces Presents CEDIA 'NextGen' Initiative to Pupils at Long Field Spencer Academy

Local businesses are first in U.K. to deliver new Smart Home ‘NextGen’ initiative presentation for pupils at Long Field Spencer Academy

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2022 CEDIA Awards Integrated Home Level II - Highly Commended

2022 CEDIA Awards - EMEA - Integrated Home Level II - Highly Commended

Background to the awards

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Automated Spaces Earns Elite Global Designation

Automated Spaces Earns Elite Global Designation

Background to the Member of Excellence status

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2022 CEDIA Awards Finalist

2022 CEDIA Awards Finalist - Integrated Home (EMEA)

Background to the awards

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Automated Spaces Winner of Control4 Circle of Excellence Award 2022

Control4 Circle of Excellence Award 2022

Background to the awards

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Top 5 Outdoor Enhancements For Your Home

Top 5 Outdoor Enhancements For Your Home

1. Music Everywhere

2. Outdoor Televisions

3. Exterior Lights

4. Strong Wi-Fi Signal

5. Outdoor Heating

Connect With Us

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25 Year Warranty for Network Cabling Installations

25 Year Warranty for Network Cabling Installations

1. Professional Network Design

2. Intelligent Installation Service

3. Comprehensive Cable Testing

4. High-quality Cable and Cabling Infrastructure Components

5. Conclusion

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Smart Home Show House Reopen

Smart Home Show House Reopen

1. Come and see the 'art of the possible'

2. Staying safe during your visit

3. Online Booking Tool

Share:

Top 5 Practical Benefits Of A Smart Home

Top 5 Practical Benefits of a Smart Home

1. Improved peace of mind

2. Staying safe while enjoying staying home

3. Increased security for your property

4. Free up time in your day-to-day life around your home

5. Assisted / Independent Living

Share:

Sources:

Top 10 Reasons to WATCH at home

Watch movies from the best seat in YOUR house!

Top 10 reasons why you should WATCH at home

Share:

Referenc es