CCTV Installation and Cameras in the Workplace

CCTV installation and cameras in the workplace are vital and commonplace to protect people, increase employee safety and prevent, detect and report crime. Security camera CCTV systems are available in a variety of image resolutions, integration capabilities and applications. Indoor, outdoor and car number plate cameras (ANPR) are all different in performance and features. For example, do your cameras need to pan, tilt, zoom, work in day and night conditions?

Smart security camera systems will provide video evidence of crime and malice and highlight where your security system is vulnerable. They will also provide the physical evidence to record incidents, satisfy insurers and enable you to prosecute accordingly.

CCTV systems are complex. A functioning CCTV system offering full property coverage 24/7 will require a network of different and compatible cameras, data storage, cabling and power. A Network Video Recorder (NVR) will record and store data to hard drive and transmit data to your computer, mobile or monitoring centre for live and recorded viewing. NVRs are capable of handling modern IP camera output but require upgraded CAT 5 or CAT 6 cables to transfer large amounts of data within acceptable Power-Over-Ethernet. Finally the hard drive storage needs to be able to cope with the bitrate, resolution and footage you need to record, store and retrieve.

Ace CCTV solutions are designed to conform to NCP 104.

Security and surveillance cameras come in a large variety of formats from multiple manufacturers. All cameras and brands have strengths and weaknesses. Remember, you are encouraged to utilise a variety of camera types when installing a day/night security system for indoor and outdoor surveillance.

Bullet cameras get their name from their tubular shape and are usually tri-axis mounted on walls or ceilings. They’re instantly recognised which adds a deterrent. Some have night vision and infrared features and they tend to have a better zoom capability than flatter dome security cameras. Entry level and fairly durable, these types of cameras do not always come with a full IP certificate.

These small, black orb dome cameras offer a better field of view than a bullet surveillance camera and are often less obvious when mounted. They perform much the same function and applications.

A bolt and socket joint lets you precisely redirect the field of view without remounting the security camera. The lens and IR LEDs are in front of the glass on the housing which makes these camera types particularly useful in low light conditions (eg some warehouses). These cameras are useful for their panoptic capabilities.

Incredibly versatile, PTZ cameras are the ultimate IP security camera and can be re-aimed remotely. They can be used to track a person or a car across a range, or programmed to cycle through different fields of view giving you a high degree of surveillance from a single camera point. PTZ cameras can zoom and focus on car number plates in real time. They are well suited as NVR cameras because they respond to remote operator instructions in real time.

Perfect for panoramic instances (car parks, large warehouses) where operators want continuous surveillance of large spaces and an overall picture. These camera types are immensely reliable and less prone to failures compared with multi-lens cameras. Be prepared for lower resolution images and some level of distortion.

Ideal if you require a panoramic big picture view without the distortion. These cameras use multiple sensors and picture channels to capture up to 360-degree fields of view and incorporate image processing software to stitch channels together into a continuous video feed. Effective in low light conditions, multiple cameras can focus in on one area and capture overlapping images using different frequencies. These cameras are better suited to high resolution than fisheye camera lenses. Multiple sensor cameras also have a reliability advantage because in single lens cameras (eg Bullet, Dome, Turret, Fisheye cameras), if a single sensor fails, the whole camera fails whereas a multiple sensor camera will keep recording.

These 7m tall masts are designed to provide complete security for construction sites and are used by outdoor event organisers as temporary surveillance solutions. Fitted with a variety of camera types, they offer an all-in-one surveillance solution including integrated 4G transmission of video, movement detection and alarms, HD infrared, 360 PTZ camera and audio speakers to enable both emergency voice and remote operator interaction to warn off an intruder. All this is linked to monitoring, recording and data storage for evidential footage.

A simple security camera integrated with a doorbell that will interface with a mobile through an app. Wired or wireless, the best security doorbells connect with lights and locks allowing integrated access control and security.

Wireless surveillance cameras leverage your site Wi-Fi connection to create a surveillance network. These are suited to small sites and domestic dwellings because they are suspeciple to image distortion when zooming in on far away objects. Advantages over wired cameras include ease of retrofit and less wiring. A potential DIY solution. Landlord and commercial property owners and managers are required to comply with specific CCTV legislation and regulations.

CCTV legislation was introduced in the UK in 2012 followed by a Code of Conduct in 2013. There are three main pieces of legislation owner/operators need to comply with.

• The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• The Surveillance Camera Code of Practice 2013 (“SCCOP”)
• The Data Protection Act (“DPA”)

The Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) is responsible for enforcing this legislation. SCCOP is designed to balance the need for CCTV cameras with the public’s right to privacy. Some of SCCOP only applies to CCTV for commercial use but some also applies to domestic dwellings.