Control Room Installation: A Guide from Design to Handover

Designing and delivering a control room isn’t just about picking desks and screens. It’s a joined-up process that starts with understanding what your operators need and ends with a smooth handover that keeps the room running 24/7. This practical guide walks you through each stage of control room installation, from first conversations to final snagging and beyond.

What “Control Room Installation” Really Means

A proper control room installation covers discovery, design, manufacture, on-site build, testing, training and aftercare. When these parts are planned together, you cut risk, speed up commissioning and protect your budget.

Step 1: Discovery and Requirements

Up front, get clear on goals, constraints and success criteria. Capture the tasks operators perform, incident workflows, headcount by shift, and any special kit that must be housed. Map physical limits too: room size, access routes, power, HVAC and network.

Stakeholders and Use Cases

Bring in operations, IT/OT, health & safety, facilities, and security early. Walk through realistic scenarios (quiet monitoring, busy peaks, incident response) to decide what the space must handle on its worst day, not its best.

Standards and Human Factors

Modern control rooms should follow recognised guidance on ergonomics, layout, lighting and displays. In the UK, designers often reference BS EN ISO 11064 principles for control room design, while EEMUA 201 offers detailed guidance on console design, environment and human factors. Using these frameworks helps reduce fatigue and errors and proves due diligence.

Step 2: Concept Design and Layout

Before drawings get detailed, lock in the room “zoning”: operator consoles, supervisor positions, video wall/media wall, collaboration points, storage and circulation. A good concept balances clear sightlines with noise control and keeps critical paths uncluttered.

Ergonomics and Sightlines

Check seated and standing eye heights, reach zones, and the angle/height of displays. Make sure operators can see shared displays without strain and that alarms are visible/audible without being overwhelming. Small tweaks here save major rework later.

Technology Accommodation

Plan for CPU locations, KVM, cable routes, power distribution, network patching, and thermal load. Build spare capacity (power and rack space) for future integrations; it’s far cheaper now than after go-live.

Step 3: Detailed Design and Visualisation

Move from concept to accurate drawings and 3D visuals. This is where materials, edge profiles, branding, cable access, and maintenance access get fixed. Many specialist providers include a free design and consultation service with 2D/3D visuals to help you sign off with confidence.

Prototyping and mock-ups

For complex builds, consider a mock-up or an operator trial. Testing screen heights, armrests, task lighting and comms positions with real users often reveals simple improvements.

Step 4: Manufacture and Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)

Once designs are approved, furniture and structures are manufactured. Before anything ships, hold a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) to check build quality, dimensions, cut-outs, equipment positioning and cable management against the spec. FATs reduce on-site surprises and speed up installation. Many control room specialists invite clients to their factory specifically for this inspection.

What to Check at FAT

• Console dimensions, finishes and edging
• Mounting points for monitors and devices
• Power and data provision, cable capacity, strain relief
• Access for maintenance and cleaning
• Any special integrations (KVMs, radio cradles, task lights)
• Case studies show FATs are also a good time to catch final tweaks to equipment positions before delivery.

Step 5: Delivery, On-Site Build and Installation

With FAT complete, consoles and media walls are shipped, moved into place and assembled. Good installers sequence the room so trades aren’t tripping over each other, and they protect finishes from damage. Some providers offer worldwide installation and can also support your own team with training if you’re doing parts of the fit-out yourself.

Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and Integration

After install, perform SAT: power-up, device checks, KVM mapping, video wall sources, alarm routing and comms. Prove ergonomics and lines of sight match the plan and that critical workflows (e.g. incident handovers) actually work in the space.

Step 6: Handover, Training and Aftercare

A thorough handover isn’t a box-tick; it’s the start of smooth operations. Make sure you receive O&M manuals, finishes and cleaning guides, spare parts lists, as-built drawings, and any configuration files for displays or KVMs. Train supervisors on adjustments (monitor arms, sit-stand presets), cable access, and minor moves.

Snagging and Warranty

Agree a snag list, fix dates, and how you’ll log issues. Reputable control room furniture makers offer long warranties (for example, 10-year guarantees on furniture) and provide clear routes for support.

Pre-Installation Checklist

Before anyone arrives on site, confirm the following to keep your control room installation on schedule:

• Final approved drawings and 3D visuals issued for construction.
• Room prepared: flooring finished, walls/paint cured, power and data tested, HVAC commissioned.
• Access route planned (doors, lifts, stairs) with lifting gear booked if needed.
• IT/OT ready: switch ports live, IP ranges reserved, KVM plans agreed.
• FAT actions closed, as-built dimensions confirmed.

Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

Even well-run projects stumble over the same issues. Here’s how to dodge them.

Vague Scope and Late Changes

Lock the scope early, review visuals with operators, and resist mid-install changes unless safety or compliance is at risk.

Skipping Standards and Human Factors

If you ignore accepted human-factors guidance (e.g. ISO 11064, EEMUA 201), you risk operator fatigue and costly rework. Build these into your design brief from day one.

No FAT

FATs catch mis-cut worktops, missing cut-outs and awkward device placements before they become site problems. Schedule and attend it.

Cable Spaghetti

Without proper routing and capacity, cables become a maintenance nightmare. Specify trays, brush strips, strain relief and serviceable access panels in the design.

Need a Hand With Your Project?

If you want an experienced partner to take you from first sketch to a clean handover, Thinking Space can help. They offer a free award-winning design and consultation service with 2D/3D visuals, run formal Factory Acceptance Tests at their UK factory, and provide worldwide installation with experienced teams. Their furniture carries a 10-year guarantee and is designed for 24/7 control rooms. Tell us about your control room and we’ll get you started with a free design proposal.

Contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions