15 Questions to Ask a Digital Signage Contractor Before You Sign

Two proposals can look similar on the surface and be completely different underneath. These are the questions that separate them. Ask them in writing and keep the answers with the board file.

Licensing and paperwork

1. Who does the electrical work, and are they a licensed electrical contractor? In Ontario, electrical work done for hire must be done by a licensed electrical contractor (LEC). Ask for the licence number. See licensed electrical contractor vs handyman.

2. Will an ESA notification be filed, and will we get the documentation? You should receive proof that the work was notified to and inspected or accepted by the Electrical Safety Authority. See ESA notification for signage installations.

3. Can you provide a WSIB clearance certificate before work starts? See WSIB clearance certificates.

4. What liability insurance do you carry, and will you name the corporation as an additional insured?

The work itself

5. Exactly how will each screen be mounted? Flush-recessed, surface-mounted, or something in between.

6. What happens if a wall is a fire separation? The answer should involve proper fire-stopping, not "we'll be careful." See fire separations and fire-stopping.

7. How will screens be powered and connected to the network? Where do the circuits come from? Wired or wireless data?

8. Who restores the finishes, and to what standard? Patching, painting, matching wallcovering.

9. What's the schedule, and how disruptive is it? How long will each location be a work area?

Equipment and software

10. What make and model of display, and is it commercial-grade? What's the warranty, and does it cover commercial use? See commercial vs consumer TVs.

11. What software runs the screens, and does it charge a monthly licence per screen? Over several years, per-screen fees can exceed the hardware cost. See signage software without per-screen fees.

12. Who owns the equipment, the software accounts and the content? The corporation should own its hardware and be able to get its content out.

After installation

13. What does ongoing support include, and what does it cost? Monitoring, updates, content help, hardware replacement.

14. What happens when a screen fails? How fast do you respond? Is a replacement covered?

15. How is the system secured? Media players on a building network need updates and sensible configuration. See network security for building signage.

How to use the answers

Put the answers side by side. Vague answers to the electrical, fire-stopping and software-fee questions are the clearest warning signs. A good contractor will be glad you asked.