Creating Designs for Existing Systems

Creating Designs for Existing Systems

When you’re working with an Account to install their first system, you typically only need to consider the Devices and Tasks to be installed and completed. However, Design Projects can become more complicated when you're repairing, improving and extending an existing system. In this case, you need to capture information about the Devices that are already installed as well as those that will be added. This extra effort is worthwhile as it will both ease the installation process and provide a complete picture of the Account's system - positioning you to provide more effective, higher-margin service over time.


The common scenarios you'll encounter when building a Design for an existing system are:

  • Working with Existing Devices

    • Operational and Will Not Be Replaced or Removed

    • Non-Operational and Requires Repair

    • Will Be Removed

    • Will Be Replaced

  • Adding New Devices

Getting Started

As with any new system, first add the Site, Building and Plan to the Plan Library. Then create a new Design Project to capture the information gathered during an assessment of the existing system. For each of the scenarios listed above, follow the steps below:

Existing Devices: Operational and Will Not Be Replaced or Removed

For these Devices, take the following steps when adding the Device to the Project Plan:
  1. Create the Device.

  2. Enter the Device name. Ex. East Hallway Camera.

  3. Add the word 'Existing' or ‘PE’ (for Provided Equipment) to the beginning of the Part Number. Ex. Existing: PVN-1234.

  4. Set the Install Status to Installed.

  5. Set the Operational Status to Operational.

  6. Add a photo of the Device.

Note: Even if you don’t know the Part Number, it’s recommended that you still add the word ‘Existing’ or ‘PE’ in the Part Number field to indicate existing Devices. In addition, they will be included in Device Counts for the Project.

Existing Devices: Non-Operational and Requires Repair

Take the following steps when adding these Devices to the Project Plan:

  1. Create the Device

  2. Add the word 'Repair' to the beginning of the Device Name. Ex. Repair: East Hallway Camera.

  3. Add the word 'Repair' to the beginning of the Part Number. Ex. Repair: PVN-1234

  4. Set the Install Status to Installed

  5. Set the Operational Status to Semi-Operational or Non-Operational, depending on the repairs needed.

  6. In the Installation Notes field, document the Device's issue and required repair.

  7. Add a General Task as a Secondary and include 'Repair' in its name.

  8. Add a photo of the Device.

When the repair is completed, take the following steps:

  1. Mark the Task as Completed.

  2. Remove the word 'Repair' from the Device Name and Part Number.

  3. Change the Operational Status of the Device to Operational.

Existing Devices: Will Be Removed

Take the following steps when adding these Devices to the Project Plan:

  1. Create the Device.

  2. Add the word 'Remove' to the beginning of the Device Name. Ex. Remove: East Hallway Camera.

  3. Add the word 'Remove' to the beginning of the Part Number. Ex. Remove: PVN-1234.

  4. Set the Install Status to Installed.

  5. In the Installation Notes field, indicate that the Device is to be removed.

  6. Add a photo of the Device.

When the Device has been removed, take the following step:

  1. Archive the Device

Existing Devices: Will be Replaced

Take the following steps when adding these Devices to the Project Plan:

  1. Add a Device that represents the new Device to be installed. 

  2. Include the Part Number and other important information.

  3. In the Installation Notes field, indicate that the Device is replacing an existing Device at the same location.

  4. Add a photo of the Device to be removed.

When the existing Device has been removed and the new Device installed, take the following step:

  1. Change the Installation Status to Installed

For additional clarity, you may choose to place the existing Device (the one to be removed) on the Plan as well, following the steps above. Showing both Devices on the Plan can help to illustrate the exact work to be performed onsite.

New Devices

Take the following steps when adding these Devices to the Project Plan:

  1. Create the Device, including Part Number and other important information.

  2. Add a photo of the location where the Device is to be installed.

When the Device has been installed, take the following steps:

  1. Set the Installation Status to Installed.
  2. If the Device is operational, set the Operational Status to Operational.
  3. Add a photo of the installed Device.



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