Installing the board on a wall

A board is typically installed at the room’s focal point, such as at the front of a classroom or meeting space.

Selecting an appropriate location for the board is crucial for ensuring the best possible experience with the product. Consider the following factors as you choose a location:

Factor

Considerations

Room setup

  • The location allows users, including those in wheelchairs, access to the board.

    Refer to local regulations regarding accessibility.

  • The location allows for multiple users to access the board at the same time.

  • The location accommodates room traffic patterns, and there are no tripping hazards.

  • The board is not installed where it could be hit by a door or gate.

  • There are no nearby heat sources directed at the board, such as a radiator or heat vent.

  • There are no nearby shelving units, desks, or other furniture that has doors or drawers that could hit the board.

  • Furniture, wall décor, and other room features, such as light switches and thermostats, do not block the board and are not blocked by it. (You might be able to move some of these room features to accommodate the board.)

Power and other connections

  • The location is close to:

    • A power outlet

    • A network outlet (if you plan to use a wired network connection)

    • A room computer (if you plan to connect a room computer)

    • External audio systems and other devices that you want to connect to the board

    Notes 

    • If the location is not near a power outlet, consult an electrician for the power setup you need.

    • Determine if you’ll need additional equipment, such as power bars, additional cables, or cable extenders.

  • The location is not where the mains power supply enters the building.

Visibility

Lighting

  • The location is not near bright light sources, such as windows or strong overhead lighting.

    Risks of light Interference include:

    • Reduced visibility: Light sources can cause glare on the board’s screen, reducing its visibility.

    • Touch system interference: Boards use infrared (IR) light as a key component of the touch system. Strong light that hits the board’s screen directly can cause interference with the touch system and prevent the board from working properly.

    Tip 

    To reduce light interference, install blinds or shades on windows or skylights and install switches to dim or turn off any lights shining directly on the board’s screen. Keep in mind that sunlight can come through windows at different angles at different times of the year.

Acoustics

Environment and ventilation

  • The location meets the environmental requirements in the board’s specifications (see About your board).

  • The board isn’t subjected to strong vibrations or dust.

  • Ventilation systems don’t blow air directly on the board.

  • There is adequate ventilation or air conditioning around the board so that heat can flow away from it and the mounting equipment. SMART recommends at least 2" (5 cm) of space on all sides of the board for proper airflow.

  • If you plan to install the board in a recessed area, there is at least 4" (10 cm) of space between the board and the recessed walls to enable ventilation and cooling.

Consider the general height of the user community when you choose the height for the board.

Child, man in a wheelchair, and women standing using boards

SMART recommends that you mount the board so that its top is 6' 5" (1.9 m) from the floor.

Note 

If participants will be sitting at a steep angle (such as in a lecture hall), you may have to adjust the installation height or angle.

Be sure the wall you’re installing the board on can support the weight of the board and mounting equipment. If it can’t, consider using a SMART wall stand to transfer some of the weight from the wall to the floor (see smarttech.com/accessories).

Note 

Refer to the board’s specifications for its weight (see About your board).

In some situations, you may need to request an engineering analysis to determine if the wall can support the board.

Although a wall might appear to be completely flat, it might have a degree of variation, depending on how it is constructed. Installing the board on a wall with a large variance can lead to issues with the board’s touch system, and in extreme cases can damage the board. The area of the wall where you will mount the board should be no more than 3/16" (5 mm) off plumb horizontally and vertically.

To evaluate the wall’s flatness

  1. Place an object that has a long flat edge of at least 3' (1 m), such as a meter stick or level, across the wall where the board will be mounted.

  2. Look along the object to find places where there is a gap between the object’s edge and the wall’s surface.

  3. Measure any gaps to see if they exceed 3/16" (5 mm). If a gap is wider than 3/16" (5 mm), this indicates the wall is not flat enough for mounting a board.

  4. Repeat steps 1–3, this time placing the object’s flat edge diagonally across the wall in the other direction (if you previously placed the object diagonally from the top‑left to the bottom‑right, place the object from the top‑right to the bottom‑left).

    Tip 

    Gaps located at the center of the object indicate a concave wall, while gaps located on both ends of the object indicate a convex wall (consequently, the object may make a “rocking” motion). Walls with a significant degree of concavity or convexity may require the use of shims with the mounting hardware.

The type of wall affects how you can mount the board. The following table identifies wall types and provides guidance for mounting.

Wall type

Details

Drywall over wood studs

  • Can be load or non-load bearing

  • Can carry weight when constructed as a load-bearing wall

  • Mounting must attach to three wood studs

  • Pilot holes should be drilled into the wood studs. These holes should be no larger than the diameter of the screw’s body to ensure the screw’s thread gains as much traction in the wood studs as possible

Drywall over steel studs

  • Commonly non-load bearing

  • Can not support the wall-mounted board without additional support (for example, a wall stand that helps support the board’s weight)

  • Mounting must attach to the steel studs

Solid concrete

  • Can be load or non-load bearing

  • Can carry weight when constructed as a load-bearing wall

  • Must have at least 3" (7.6 cm) between adjacent fasteners

Concrete masonry unit or brick

  • Can be load or non-load bearing

  • Can carry weight when constructed as a load-bearing wall

  • Use only one masonry or brick fastener per block

  • Do not anchor mounting hardware in mortar or grout

Modular panels

  • Can be load or non-load bearing

  • Can carry weight when constructed as a load-bearing wall

  • If non-load-bearing, might not support the wall-mounted board without additional support (for example, a wall stand that helps support the board’s weight)

An engineering (structural) analysis may be necessary for determining if a wall can support the board. Get an engineering analysis if:

Engineering (structural) analysis for various wall types

  • You can not find the wall’s studs using appropriate tools, such as a stud finder

  • You are unsure of the wall’s construction and the person in charge of the building can not answer your questions

  • The wall is not connected at both the floor and ceiling

  • The wall is a modular panel system

  • The wall is also bearing the weight of additional hardware or furniture (such as cabinets or bookshelves)

  • There are special zoning requirements (for example, earthquakes)

  • The wall exceeds typical construction practices (for example, taller than 8' or 2.4 m)

The mounting hardware required for installation varies according to the type of wall onto which the board is being mounted.

This table describes different types of hardware and the types of wall on which it’s appropriate for use.

Wall type

Mounting hardware

Details

Drywall over wood studs

Wood and lag screws

Threads on these screws are widely spaced. These screws have wider threads.

Drywall over steel studs

Toggle bolts and butterfly anchors

These bolts/anchors have “wings” that open inside a hollow wall, bracing against the wall to secure the fastener.

Important 

SMART does not recommend using metal screws.

Solid concrete, concrete masonry unit or brick

Concrete screws and anchors

These screws typically have alternating high and low threads and can be designed for use with a sleeved insert.

Additional hardware may be required for the installation of the board. This hardware can include:

  • Fasteners

  • Washers

  • Wall anchors

If possible, use the hardware that comes with the board. Consult the installation instructions or the manufacturer of third-party mounting hardware for guidance on the type of hardware to use with the wall type.

Tools commonly used in the installation of a board include:

  • Drill and drill bits

  • Level

  • Stud finder

  • Screw drivers

  • Tape measure

  • Hole saw

Although boards don’t include the tools used for installation, the installation instructions list the tools you’ll need.

It is always best to mount the board on a wall. If the wall can’t support the board’s weight, you can use additional hardware to transfer some of the weight to the floor.


SMART offers two wall mounts for SMART Board boards: WM-SBID-501 and WM-SBID-502. Most boards can use the WM-SBID-501 while the WM-SBID-502 is for larger and heavier boards. These mounts can be purchased separately or as part of a SMART Wall Stand Kit (WSK‑Single or WSK‑Dual).

These wall-stand kits are not free-standing mounts; they still require a wall that can support the board’s weight.

If you choose a third-party option rather than one of SMART’s mounting options, be sure the wall mount can accommodate the board’s dimensions and support the board’s weight as well as the weight of any attached accessories.

Important 

It is crucial to correctly assess the load (weight) requirements of a system. SMART is not responsible for incorrect load assessments.

Although mounts for consumer-grade, non-interactive displays are often rated based on the display’s size, the mounts might not be sufficient for interactive displays of equal dimensions. Interactive displays include additional internal components and may also have accessories (for example, audio systems and cameras) that add to the total size and weight.

Look for wall mounts that meet the following requirements:

Requirement

Details

Support the wall type

Determine the types of fasteners and mounting materials that are needed based on the wall’s structure and the total weight (the board and its accessories and additional components).

SMART makes the following recommendations to help you properly assess the wall:

  • Have a qualified technician assess the installation wall.

  • Talk to the building facilities group about the wall’s construction.

  • If you’re still not sure of the wall’s suitability, consult a construction contractor or the wall’s manufacturer.

If you still can’t get suitable answers, have an engineering analysis performed for the wall.

Approved by a regulatory body

Use only mounts that have an Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or similar approval marking. This approval indicates that an independent body has tested the mount for proper adherence to safety considerations. If the mount is not approved by a regulatory body, it may fail to support the board.

Allow for adequate ventilation

Consider air flow and ventilation when choosing mounting hardware. The board should have at least 2" (5 cm) of clearance on all sides or 4" (10 cm) if the board is installed in a recessed area.

Mount the board following the included installation instructions. In addition, consider the following:

  • Mount the board vertically (90° relative to the floor plus or minus 5° for tolerance) and in landscape orientation. SMART doesn’t support mounting the board at other angles or in portrait orientation.

    Vertical mounting tolerance

  • Use the SMART wall mount (see SMART wall mount and wall stand) or a third-party standard VESA mounting plate.

  • Use M8 bolts to fasten the wall bracket.

    Bolt length

    20 mm + x mm < M8 < 45 mm + x mm

    where x is the combined thickness of the wall bracket and washer

    Fasten force

    97.36–177.01 in-lb. (11–20 N·m)

    Caution 

    Do not over-tighten the bolts.

    Note 

    SMART recommends M8 × 30 mm mounting bolts for standard installations where the total wall mount bracket and washer thickness is less than 7 mm.

  • Because the receptacles might not be easily accessible after you mount the board, consider connecting cables for power, computers and other input sources while the board is still in its packaging (see Connecting power, cables and devices).

  • Before turning on the board for the first time, clean the camera windows and reflective tape following the instructions in Cleaning the camera windows and reflective tape.

If you mount multiple boards side by side, install them as shown in the following diagram. This ensures the boards’ cameras don’t interfere with each other.

When moutning multiple displays side by side, leave 1/4" (0.6 cm) between each display

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