Commercial CCTV Systems

CCTV – Frequently asked questions

You may have a lot of questions about Commercial CCTV Systems such as what the benefits are, what technologies are better suited to different scenarios or how can CCTV be integrated with existing security solutions. If you do, read our FAQ page here or get in touch with our expert team who can answer any of your questions.

• WHAT ARE THE TOP REASONS COMPANIES ADOPT CCTV?

  Safety is a big priority for a lot of companies and CCTV is a very useful tool to have. For instance, university campuses like to deploy it to keep students safe as they cross the site, particularly at night. Universities can have upwards of 700 cameras to survey a 60+ acre site. The goal is to provide 90%+ coverage to significantly improve the ‘eyes and ears’ of the security team and the overall confidence students have in safety. We worked with Aston University to do just that, using over 550 cameras across their campus.

  Similarly, hospitals such as Kidderminster Hospital have CCTV in place to ensure staff safety or for exceptional circumstances where prisoner patients are admitted for example.

  Then there are more industrial uses. Manufacturers use cameras to maintain high levels of health and safety by ensuring machinery isn’t causing a risk, and that operators working on their own are safe.

  It’s also useful for managing people flows. We work with a number of private and public companies that use it in their foyers to help manage who is coming in and out of their buildings, including The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT). In the same way, they use it on gates to manage what vehicles are entering and leaving their site. This can also be useful if there is an incident because management teams can track back and piece together a train of events to establish what happened and prevent it from happening again.

  We’ve also worked with companies that need to keep products safe. Persimmon Homes produces material that is stored outside, so their own factory is likely to be targeted by criminals or opportunists. Using a thermal imaging curtain around the site, system alerts are sent to the management teams and remote monitoring partner when there is unusual activity and the curtain is breached. It also monitors trucks coming in and going off-site.

• ARE CCTV SYSTEMS COMPLICATED TO INSTALL / UPGRADE?

  They don’t need to be at all. Some systems due to their size or age can be a large project to upgrade but if planned properly this does not have to mean complicated. With the right project management team, you can have a seamless installation. A staged approach is always best as the site in most cases needs to continue to operate regardless of the change. Working from the most vulnerable and sensitive areas down to the common and well-covered areas is a good start.

  A good tip when looking for a CCTV provider is to check their previous works and their installation standards, but also their approach to planning and fitting. They should fully document how they will take on the transition and maintenance thereafter.

• DO YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC LEGISLATION WHEN ADOPTING A CCTV SOLUTION?

  If you are filming using a CCTV system then people need to be aware of it so make sure your business complies with all aspects of the law, and that you inform the Information Commissioner’s Office. GDPR is another important consideration, especially when it comes to the length of file storage and retrieval within 30 days if someone requests to see it. Our specialist team can advise you on legal CCTV compliance, as well as the most suitable solutions for your organisation and its unique security needs.

All CCTV Faqs