ELV & Building Technology Consultant in India
Arif Khan has 23+ years of experience across electronic security, perimeter protection, smart automation, professional audio-video and connected building systems in India. He helps project teams plan these systems together: assessing requirements, shaping the system architecture, guiding technology selection and design coordination, then working with the integration team through implementation, testing and commissioning.
BU Head, Security & Automation, Altima Global · Projects across India
23+ Years · 1,000+ Projects · 500 km+ Perimeter Security
Experience at a glance
- 23+ Years
- Security & building technology experience
- 1,000+ Projects
- Projects
- 500 km+
- Perimeter security experience
What does an ELV consultant do?
ELV stands for Extra-Low Voltage. It covers many of the technology systems that make a modern building secure, connected, automated and easier to operate, such as cameras, door access, networks, automation and audio-video. The exact scope varies by project.
An ELV or building technology consultant helps define what those systems need to do, coordinates them with the architecture and MEP services, guides the choice of technology and reduces conflicts before construction or interiors are completed.
Why building technology should be planned together
Systems that look separate on a drawing usually share the same infrastructure. When each vendor decides independently, the clashes appear later, on site.
Systems
- Surveillance
- Access control
- Intrusion detection
- Video intercom
- Networking & Wi-Fi
- Smart automation
- Audio-video
- Meeting-room technology
- Home cinema
- Command & control interfaces
Shared infrastructure
- Network
- Cabling
- Conduits
- Equipment racks
- Power
- UPS
- Ceiling space
- Wall boxes
- Control rooms
- Equipment locations
- Architecture
- MEP
- IT
- Security
- Automation
- AV
Core areas of expertise
Electronic security
CCTV, access control, intrusion detection, video intercom and command/control planned as one system, so events, video and entry records work together.
Perimeter protection
Detecting intrusion at the boundary and verifying it with cameras before anyone reaches the building.
Networking & Wi-Fi
Security, automation and AV increasingly run on the network. Planning structured cabling, network provisions and Wi-Fi coverage alongside those systems keeps them reliable.
Smart home & building automation
Lighting, curtains and blinds, climate, security interfaces, AV control, scenes and simple user interfaces, integrated around how people use the space.
Professional audio-video
Corporate AV, meeting and presentation spaces and auditoriums, with the displays, audio and control coordinated into the room design.
Luxury home cinema & residential AV
Dedicated home cinemas, multi-room audio and residential AV planned with the room's architecture and interiors.
ELV planning before construction
Many technology requirements have to be built into the design stage. Fixing them after ceilings, joinery, finishes or civil work are complete usually means rework and weaker system performance.
- Conduits
- Cable pathways
- Power points
- UPS requirements
- Equipment racks
- Network cabinets
- Ceiling coordination
- Camera locations
- Access-control door provisions
- Speakers
- Displays
- Sensors
- Wi-Fi access points
- Touch panels
- Curtain-motor provisions
- Control-room locations
When should an ELV / building technology consultant be involved?
- New luxury residence or farmhouse
- Corporate headquarters
- Office fit-out
- Industrial facility
- Institutional or government project
- Auditorium
- Major renovation
- Projects with several technology vendors
- Architect and MEP teams needing a coordinated technology brief
Ideally, building-technology planning should begin before electrical layouts, ceilings, joinery, network architecture and equipment locations are frozen.
Consulting, design & execution
The process starts with the project requirement rather than a preferred product or brand. Technology and equipment are selected after the functional, architectural and infrastructure requirements are understood.
Consulting & Design Coordination
- Requirements
- System architecture
- Technology selection
- Layout coordination where applicable
- Infrastructure requirements
- Scope definition
Integration & Execution
- Supply
- Installation
- Programming
- System integration
- Testing
- Commissioning
- Handover
Arif Khan leads the technology-planning and system-design approach and works with the Altima Global integration team through implementation, testing and commissioning. Depending on the project, his involvement may cover consulting, design, coordination and implementation oversight.
Common building technology planning mistakes
- Bringing technology vendors in after interiors are largely complete.
- Treating security, automation, AV and networking as unrelated packages.
- Inadequate conduit or cable pathways.
- Undersized equipment racks.
- Poor equipment-room ventilation.
- Inadequate network planning.
- Planning Wi-Fi on internet speed rather than coverage and capacity.
- Choosing camera positions after the architecture is finalised.
- Missing access-control needs during door-hardware selection.
- Missing automation provisions before electrical installation.
- AV equipment locations conflicting with interiors or lighting.
- No shared documentation or coordination between vendors.
Arif Khan's building technology approach
- 01
Understand
The building, its users, operational needs, architecture and technology expectations.
- 02
Plan
The required systems, architecture, infrastructure and integration requirements.
- 03
Coordinate
With architects, interior designers, electrical/MEP consultants, IT teams, contractors and other stakeholders.
- 04
Implement & verify
Working with the integration team through installation, programming, testing, commissioning and handover as required.
Project types
Luxury homes & farmhouses
Security, automation, Wi-Fi, AV and home cinema coordinated with architecture and interiors.
Sector pageCorporate offices & headquarters
Security, networking and collaborative AV that work across floors and meeting spaces.
Sector pageIndustrial facilities
Security, perimeter, access and networking shaped around operations.
Sector pageGovernment & infrastructure
Integrated security and technology coordination across large or distributed sites.
Sector pageAuditoriums & presentation spaces
Professional AV, control and coordination with acoustics and room design.
Sector pageInstitutions & campuses
Security, networking, access and AV across multiple buildings and users.
Sector pageSelected project experience
Residences & farmhouses for HNI clients
Multi-year engagements covering estate security and automation, planned before interiors are frozen.
For architects, interior designers & MEP consultants
Arif Khan helps project teams settle technology requirements while they are still lines on a drawing, before they turn into site problems. Typical coordination points:
- Drawing coordination
- Ceiling locations
- Wall provisions
- Equipment racks
- Conduits
- Network requirements
- Power
- Lighting interfaces
- Door hardware
- Camera positions
- AV equipment
- Automation interfaces
- Control locations
ELV vs building technology consulting
ELV consulting traditionally focuses on extra-low-voltage systems such as security, communications and related technology infrastructure. Building technology is a broader way of looking at how security, connectivity, automation and AV work together within the building.
Neither term is more correct; they describe overlapping views. Arif Khan's work spans both: the infrastructure detail of ELV and the whole-building view of how those systems serve the people using it.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ELV consultant?
An ELV consultant helps plan a building's extra-low-voltage technology systems, such as security, networking, automation and audio-video. The role covers defining requirements, planning how systems connect and coordinating their infrastructure with the architecture and other services.
What systems are included under ELV?
ELV usually covers systems such as CCTV, access control, intrusion detection, video intercom, structured cabling, networking and Wi-Fi, automation and audio-video. The exact scope varies from project to project.
When should an ELV consultant be appointed on a project?
Ideally at concept or early design stage, before electrical layouts, ceilings, joinery, network architecture and equipment locations are frozen.
What is the difference between an ELV consultant and an MEP consultant?
An MEP consultant designs mechanical, electrical and plumbing services such as power, HVAC and water. An ELV consultant focuses on the low-voltage technology systems that sit alongside those services, and works with the MEP team so power, pathways and space are provided for them.
What is the difference between ELV consulting and building technology consulting?
ELV consulting traditionally focuses on extra-low-voltage systems and their infrastructure. Building technology consulting looks more broadly at how security, connectivity, automation and AV work together for the people using the building. The terms overlap, and many projects need both views.
Should security, automation, networking and AV be designed together?
Yes, in most projects. These systems often share the network, cabling, racks, power and ceiling space. Planning them together reduces conflicts between vendors and makes integration simpler.
Can an ELV consultant also coordinate implementation?
It depends on the engagement. Arif Khan works with the Altima Global integration team through implementation, testing and commissioning, and his involvement may cover consulting, design, coordination and implementation oversight.
Why should architects plan ELV systems before interiors and electrical work are finalised?
Because conduits, power points, rack spaces, camera and speaker positions, access-controlled doors and control locations must be built into drawings. Adding them after ceilings, joinery and finishes are complete usually means rework and compromised performance.
Related expertise
- Security Consultant in India
- Perimeter Security Expert in India
- Security Infrastructure
- Perimeter Protection
- Smart Automation
- Auditorium AV
- Enterprise AV
- Luxury Home Cinema
- Projects
- For Architects
- Contact
- Smart automation vs smart gadgets
- CCTV planning guide for architects
- Auditorium AV planning guide
- How much does home automation cost?
Planning the technology before the building is finished?
Early coordination between architecture, MEP, interiors and technology teams prevents infrastructure conflicts and makes systems easier to integrate. Email arif@arifkhanglobal.com or call +91 98189 28760.