Installing CCTV camera systems for your office, arena, or school adds a valuable component to your multi-layered security system. With the growth of the security industry and the emergence of smart technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), CCTV has become, like so many other things in our world, awash in options for the consumer.

In this guide, we’ll try to simplify things so you can learn all you need to learn to understand the basics of shopping for and planning a CCTV surveillance system.

What is CCTV?

Closed-circuit television, or CCTV, is a security and surveillance system in which cameras capture video for monitoring and recording, as you probably know. Whereas broadcast TV sends its signal out to anyone with an antenna to receive it, CCTV cameras transmit video to specific receivers, usually within the same building or complex in which the cameras are installed.

CCTV cameras have become ubiquitous in the modern world. Enter any store, office, sports facility, or even school and you’ll be able to find a camera keeping an eye on things. Many city police departments use them to monitor high-crime areas and to aid in gathering evidence.

Components of a CCTV Security System

As you can imagine, CCTV systems can vary in complexity depending on the number of cameras, the size of the property, and the sophistication of the technology. But all systems will have five basic components:

  1. Camera This is obvious, but as we’ll see, there are many cameras to choose from.
  2. Monitoring Typically, you will have a dedicated screen or even a whole room where security personnel can view and review video feeds. With cloud technology, now, your phone can become a monitoring station.
  3. Connections Wires, cables, and wireless routers to supply power and carry the signal
  4. Recording equipment You’ll want to keep video files on hand for some length of time, which means recording and storage. Your administrative assistant’s PC isn’t going to cut it for this task, so you’ll need dedicated, durable equipment.
  5. Video Management Software (VMS) Like any digital system, you need a program that allows you to set it up and control it.

Do CCTV Security Cameras Help Prevent Crime?

CCTV systems can be pricey, so it’s understandable that you would want to know how effective they are. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a thorny issue. Besides the difficulty of quantifying the real impacts of CCTV cameras, there are also political questions about privacy and personal data that affect how people interpret the information we have.

Anderson Lock is a security company that sells CCTV cameras, so if we tried to parse the data and make a case for you, we would understand if you found it self-serving. Instead, we’ll summarize what does seem clear and tell you some reasons our customers choose to use them.

It seems fair to say that CCTV security cameras:

Why Businesses, Schools, Arenas & Offices Use CCTV Cameras

Our customers tell us they choose CCTV surveillance cameras for two key reasons:

  1. They believe the cameras will have a deterrent effect.
  2. They want the peace of mind of knowing they can monitor their property and review footage should anything unfortunate happen.

Some people make the calculation that the cost of a break-in would far outweigh the cost of the security system, so any deterrent effect will be worth it. After all, the minor effect some studies find is a trend. For those facilities victimized by a crime, the use of cameras can feel like a much larger effect.

Moreover, the one time something does happen, they don’t want to regret not having invested in cameras. School administrators often find that parents feel safer when they see cameras in use.

Keep in mind that CCTV cameras aren’t just for monitoring the premises when no one is there. Many businesses, like hospitals, hotels, sports arenas, construction companies, and so on, as well as public buildings like community centers and schools use cameras during normal operating hours for visual confirmation of visitors or to help investigate incidents when they happen.

Types of CCTV Surveillance Camera

Let’s look at your basic form factors (designs) of cameras, and then we’ll dig further into how to choose the right ones for your property.

Bullet Camera

Bullet cameras have a box-like or cylindrical shape and point in a specific direction. These are some of the oldest types of security cameras, though the technology has improved dramatically. While these tend to be the most visible type of CCTV camera, some of them have gotten incredibly small and discreet.

Dome Camera

Dome cameras are mounted inside protective domes that can also make them less noticeable. Their wide-angle lenses capture a wider field of vision.

Turret Camera

A turret camera can be adjusted along three axes to give you a lot of control over the field of vision wherever you install it. They look similar to dome cameras but have pivoting parts.

Fisheye Camera

A fisheye camera uses an ultra-wide angle lens to give you maximum visual coverage. These are useful when space or budget restrictions make it more convenient to use one camera, though you also need special software to de-warp the image enough to make it usable.

PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) Camera

PTZ cameras often look like cylindrical or spherical cameras that pivot inside a bracket. The cameras we have described up to this point can only be installed to face in a specific direction and typically require someone to manually adjust them when needed. As the name suggests, though, PTZ cameras give you the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom remotely. To get the most out of these, you need to have someone to operate them.

Choosing Features for Your CCTV Camera Systems

There is no way to cover every variation of CCTV camera out there; it’s much easier to tell you what features you will have to choose from, which can be simplified to very understandable categories. If you know what you need, a CCTV expert can guide you to the right camera.

Indoor/Outdoor  Where will you place the cameras, and how durable or protected will they need to be? What are the lighting conditions?

Power Source  Will you be able to connect the camera to your electrical system, or would you prefer a battery-powered camera?

Signal  Would you like to hard-wire the camera to the monitoring system with coaxial or Ethernet cables, or do you want a Wi-Fi–enabled camera?

Aesthetics  Do you want people to be able to easily spot the camera, or would you prefer the camera be more discreet?

Area of Coverage  How large is the area you need covered by cameras? Are there likely to be blind spots?

Budget  How many cameras can you afford to cover all your needs? (Taken together with the field of vision, this can help us choose the right form factor and lens.)

Advanced Sensor Technology

  • Day/night cameras are useful when light conditions change during operational hours.
  • Infrared (IR) or night vision cameras can produce images in complete darkness.
  • Thermal imaging cameras detect heat variations and can pick up motion at long distances and behind barriers.

Advanced Lens Options

  • Varifocal cameras let you adjust the focal length to control how much you see, whereas most CCTV cameras have fixed lenses.
  • License Plate Reader (LPR)cameras are used for identifying license plates, which requires the ability to capture high-resolution images from a distance.

 

Placing Security Cameras Around Your Business

Your CCTV camera systems expert will be able to advise you about how to place cameras for maximum coverage. The name of the game is preventing blind spots, and because most cameras have at least a 90° field of view, there are a few standard practices you can expect to be part of the conversation.

Coverage Areas

Coverage areas are divided into interior and exterior.

Exterior Coverage Areas

  • Entry gates
  • Entryway
  • Loading dock
  • Parking lot
  • Rooftop

Interior Coverage Areas

  • Reception
  • Workplace
  • Warehouse
  • Anywhere financial transactions happen

The position and resolution of the camera should reflect the needs of the areas. For example, you want a high enough resolution to identify bills at registers, and you want an angle that allows you to see faces at gates and entrances.

Physical Placement of CCTV Cameras

Exterior

Cameras will usually be installed at each corner of a building in such a way that they can see the whole of one side and the back of the camera at the next corner. Imagine a series of cameras whose lines of sight follow a clockwise pattern all around the building.

If you have an inside corner like the inside angle of an L,  you would place the camera right in the corner in order to cover the whole 90° range.

Interior

There are two main setups. The back-to-back arrangement places two cameras back to back on a wall so there is no blind spot behind either of them.

The secret service arrangement places cameras some distance apart but facing toward one another so each can see behind the other.

Surveillance Cameras & Privacy Laws

Surveillance cameras have become so prevalent that most people have come to accept them as part of modern life. You more or less expect when you go to the grocery store or a concert that cameras are recording what you’re doing. However, if you own or manage a property, you still need to be aware of the privacy laws that apply to CCTV surveillance systems.

A general rule of thumb is to consider the reasonable expectation of privacy. Should someone reasonably assume they are not being recorded in a given space? Most public spaces and workplaces do not have this expectation. Bathrooms, locker rooms, and hotel rooms, on the other hand, are protected by this expectation.

General Guidelines for Most Businesses & Properties

Laws vary state to state. In our home state of Illinois, they are pretty straightforward and uncomplicated:

  • There must be a legitimate business purpose. Illinois permits video monitoring of your workplace for purposes of productivity, employee health and safety, theft prevention, and security.
  • You should inform people they’re being recorded.  People do not need to give explicit consent to be recorded in public spaces, but you should still post signage telling them it’s happening.
  • Cameras should be visible. Cameras may be discreet, but someone in your space should be able to locate and identify them.
  • Be careful installing hidden cameras. Courts require more evidence that there is a legitimate business purpose for hidden cameras, and you can actually be charged with eavesdropping. The big exception is if you have good reason to suspect some crime is about to take place. If you’re going to hide your cameras, it’s best to inform people that you’ve done so.
  • You can only use recordings for security. You can’t give away or sell your footage for any reason unless you have explicit consent from all parties involved.

CCTV Camera Systems in Schools & Publicly Owned Property

Privacy laws for schools and government buildings and spaces are pretty similar to those for most organizations. You can place CCTV cameras in your school hallways, gyms, auditoriums, and cafeterias, places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. This goes for parks and beaches, and such, too.

However, you should not place cameras in classrooms without explicit consent from parents. Because of the specific laws that apply (in this case, eavesdropping laws), you can technically record video only without consent. But if you plan to capture audio, get consent. Some legal advisors recommend only capturing video to avoid problems here.

The other thing you should know about using CCTV cameras on publicly owned property is that the video becomes a matter of public record and can be accessed by the public through the proper protocols.

 

Concluding Thoughts About CCTV Camera Systems

In today’s safety-conscious times, security cameras have become a familiar and helpful part of a multi-layered security system. With so many sizes, shapes, and features available on the market, it’s easier than ever to assemble a CCTV system that covers your space and suits your budget.

At Anderson Lock, we’re security-minded people. We have CCTV camera experts on site who can help you find the right cameras for you. Contact us today to learn more.