How to specify display mounts for a hospital or aged care facility
build
Applications, products, and what to watch out for
Display mounting is rarely the first thing on an integrator's mind when a hospital or aged care facility project tender lands. Given the scale of such projects this is understandable – however, we contend it should be addressed a little earlier in the process. Especially as we make ProAV or AV mount specification very easy!
The mount schedule on a large health facility build can run to hundreds of units across three or four distinct application types, each with different structural requirements, display sizes, and installation considerations. Getting the specification right early saves time, cost, and substitution headaches later. This guide covers the main non-clinical display mounting applications in hospital and aged care projects, the products suited to each, and the specification issues most likely to cause problems on site.
Three main applications
Most hospital and aged care builds involve some combination of the following. Each is distinct enough to warrant separate consideration in the mount schedule.
Patient and resident room televisions
The highest-volume application in most projects. Wall-mounted TVs in patient rooms are typically 32" to 46", though some facilities are moving to larger formats. The mount is almost always a fixed wall mount – articulating arms are generally not appropriate in patient room environments.
Key considerations:
Profile depth – patient rooms are tight, so low profile wall brackets avoid conflict with bed clearance requirements or infection control guidelines; aim for 25mm//1" or less.
Weight capacity – patient room TVs are smaller but elements including on-board pay TV and content distribution technology, or very break-resistant screens add unexpected weight; always verify mount capacity again selected screens.
Installation efficiency – small time savings per install compound in large projects; features for installers like built-in spirit levels, slotted mounting holes, and quick-connect display attachment are a priority.
Stud pattern – many hospital and aged care facilities use non-standard stud spacing; a mount with lateral shift allows precise display positioning even when the bracket and display centres don't align
Wayfinding and digital signage
Corridor wayfinding, room entry signage, patient information displays, and monitor readout screens are often ceiling-mounted for easy visibility and avoidance of intererrence, with some wall-mounted applications for larger wayfinding or security displays 65" to 75".
Key considerations:
- Ceiling mount pole length – hospital corridors generally have high or suspended ceilings; check the finished ceiling height and required display eye level before selecting a mount; ceiling mounts from reputable vendors have telescopic poles for flexibility but have minimum and maximum ranges that need to match the site.
Dual display configurations – some applications achieve efficiencies from using a single ceiling mount with back-to-back or vertically stacked dual displays; check the selected mount system supports this with accessories.
Cable management – surface-run cables in a clinical or even clinical-adjacent areas are generally not acceptable; ceiling mounts with internal cable routing through the pole are recommended.
Display orientation – wayfinding and room signage frequently runs portrait; confirm the mount supports portrait orientation and that the cable management accommodates it cleanly.
Security and operations control rooms
Security at aged care facilities is primarily managed by nurse and support staff, vetting entry and exits. Hospitals, however, operate 24/7 security and facilities management functions that require dedicated control room environments. These are typically multi-monitor workstations – anywhere from two screens at a security desk to 20 or more screens at hospital operations consoles in major cities.
Key considerations:
Console configuration – unlike standard office desks, control consoles are usually custom to the operator's workflow; the mount system needs to support modular, configurable arrangements.
Futureproofing – control room technology changes frequently (compared to most office desks); the selected mount system that must allow reconfiguration without full replacement.
Ergonomics – operators in health facility control rooms work long shifts; ergonomic positioning of each display is a functional requirement, not a preference.
Monitor count and mix – a single console may carry monitors of different sizes for different functions; the mount system should accommodate mixed display sizes in a single configuration
Common specification mistakes
The following come up regularly on health and aged care projects. Most are avoidable with early attention to the mount schedule.
Specifying a single mount product for all patient rooms
Hospital wall constructions vary – concrete, plasterboard on steel stud, and masonry can all appear within the same building. A mount specified for one wall type may not suit another. The safer approach is to specify a primary product and a nominated alternative for non-standard wall constructions, with the decision made on site by the installer.
Underspecifying ceiling pole length
This is the most common ceiling mount error! Suspended ceilings in hospital corridors frequently sit lower than the structural ceiling, and the gap between suspended and structural ceiling consumes pole length before the display drops into the usable zone. This is why the longer version of our ceiling mounts is the most popular in hospial and aged care facilities.
Measure finished ceiling height and required display centre height, then add the display half-height and any ceiling bracket offset before selecting the pole length. Telescopic ranges give some tolerance but have hard limits at both ends.
Overlooking portrait orientation requirements
Wayfinding and room entry signage almost always runs portrait. Not all ceiling or wall mounts support portrait orientation, and those that do may have cable management that only works cleanly in landscape. Verify both before specifying.
Leaving the mount schedule too late
On a large health project, the mount schedule touches structural, electrical, and AV trades. Ceiling mount positions need to be coordinated with ceiling contractors before fitout begins. Wall mount positions need to align with backing plate installation. A mount schedule produced after these trades have committed creates expensive variations. The mount specification should be in the hands of the relevant trades before structure is closed.
Fragmented vendor list
Using different mount vendors for different application types creates multiple points of contact for technical queries, inconsistent warranty terms, and potential supply chain complexity. Where a single vendor can cover the full schedule – patient room wall mounts, ceiling mounts for signage, and console mounts for control rooms – there is a practical case for consolidating.
Get support from Atdec
Atdec support and engineering teams are available to assist with specification at any stage of a project – from early design through to on-site installation queries. This includes scale configuration drawings for control room console requirements and product recommendations for non-standard wall or ceiling constructions.