The global surveillance camera market is currently worth more than $70 billion AUD. It's also on track to reach a valuation of more than $127 billion AUD by the year 2024.
Clearly, businesses and homeowners alike are starting to take their security very seriously. One way in which they're leveling up the protection they have for their homes and stores is by investing in high-quality CCTV system installation.
Are you getting ready to take this step yourself? Are you unsure of what to expect or what will happen during the CCTV installation process?
If the answer to either of these questions is "yes", keep reading. Everything you need to know is explained below.
Where to Install Your CCTV Cameras
One of the most important parts of the CCTV cameras installation process is figuring out where you're going to set up your cameras. Whether your focus is business security or home security, the placement of your cameras will make a big difference when it comes to picking up on any suspicious activity and deterring people from burglarizing or vandalizing your property.
During the installation process, you and your installation technician will go over the best places to set up cameras. The ideal locations will vary from place to place, but some general rules still apply. Here are some placement suggestions your technician will likely make:
Front Door
You might be surprised at how many burglars who use the front door. That's why the front entry is one of the most important places to have a security camera set up. This is often one of the first places an installation technician will head to when they start evaluating your property and deciding where the cameras should go.
Back and Side Doors
Back and side doors are also good places to have cameras set up. Folks looking to victimise your home or business might choose to try and enter through one of these doors, assuming that, since they're out of sight, they might not be protected. Installation technicians will often recommend covering them as an extra precaution.
Garage and Driveway
If you're setting up CCTV cameras around your home, your technician will likely suggest placing one so that it captures movement in and around your garage and driveway. After all, lots of homeowners store valuable items in their garages, from their cars and bikes to expensive tools and sporting equipment. It only makes sense to provide this area of your house with some extra protection.
Yard
Setting up a camera in your yard can help you pick up on anyone who might be scoping out your house or spending too much time hanging around outside. It can help you keep track of behaviour from kids and animals, too. If these are concerns for you, your technician will often encourage you to set up a camera in this area.
Common Areas
Common areas in your home or business ought to have a camera (or multiple cameras) set up in them as well. Since so many people are coming and going through this area, it could be easy for things to go missing or for bad things to happen without anyone noticing right away. Security professionals suggest keeping a camera here to make it easier for you to go back and see what happened and find out when something went wrong.
Hallways or Stairways
Hallways and stairways in your home or business building are also good areas for cameras. As your technician will likely tell you, this helps you see who's coming and going and if they have anything on them that they shouldn't.
Building Corners
Your technicians will often recommend installing cameras on the exterior corners of your business building, too. Corner cameras will help you pick up on cars entering and exiting the parking lot and keep your aware of any suspicious activities that could be going on at your business, both during and after working hours.
How Much Does CCTV Installation Cost?
The total cost of your CCTV camera installation will vary depending on a number of factors. These include the number of cameras you're installing, the type of cameras you've purchased, and their placement around your property.
Before you agree to have a technician help you install your cameras, ask if they can give you a quote for the installation costs. This will help you make sure you have room in your budget and get clearer idea of what you can afford.
Common Security Camera Installation Mistakes
You likely know how valuable security camera installation is, especially for businesses. If you want to reap all these great benefits, though, you need to take care to avoid common installation mistakes, including the following:
Not Avoiding Windows
Sometimes, it's impossible to avoid a window when setting up a security camera. Whenever possible, though, it's best to steer clear of pointing your camera out of a window. This can lead to reflection issues that distort the images the camera picks up.
Not Placing It High Enough
In general, cameras need to be between 2.5-3 metres off the ground. This helps them capture more footage but also keeps them out of the reach of vandals and burglars.
Not Avoiding Direct Light
Security cameras should be kept out of direct light as much as possible. Direct light, whether it comes from the sun or somewhere else, will wash out your footage and make it harder for you to see what's happening in or around your home or business. It's important to keep the direction of the sun in mind when angling the cameras to keep direct light away from them.
Not Testing Before Installing
You should always test security equipment with care before installing it. This saves you from setting up a camera (or having it set up by someone else) and finding out later that it isn't working in the correct way.
Not Using the Right Equipment
Security cameras are delicate instruments that must be installed with the proper equipment. Failure to use the right tools could end up damaging the cameras and rendering them ineffective.
Forgetting to Weatherproof
If you're setting up cameras outside of your home or business, you'll need to ensure they're weatherproof. If they're not, you could find yourself in serious trouble during a big storm or another natural disaster.
Failing to weatherproof your cameras could leave your footage unusable and cause expensive damage. Sometimes, the damage could even be irreparable, and you'd have to spend a lot of extra money to set up all-new cameras.
Benefits of Professional CCTV Installation Companies
Some homeowners think that they can install their CCTV cameras without the help of a professional. They assume that going the DIY route is fairly simple and will help them save money.
It's true that you might be able to install your cameras yourself. Can you angle them in the most precise way, though? Can you determine the best places for them to be located throughout your property?
You could try and install your cameras yourself, but, in most cases, it's best to let a professional handle it. Working with a professional will help you to avoid the common installation mistakes listed above. They have the tools, knowledge, and experience needed to get the job done correctly.
If that list made you nervous, having a professional on your team will make the process much easier and save you a lot of stress later on. You'll also be more likely to actually see the value in your security cameras if you hire an expert.
Professionals provide a lot of other benefits during the installation process, including the following perks:
- Help you determine the proper location and angle for each camera
- Help you save time and money by installing the cameras correctly the first time
- Help you avoid accidentally damaging your cameras or your home or business during the installation process
- Help you ensure everything is working correctly once the cameras are in place
- Help you ensure you know how to use your cameras and security equipment in the proper way
As you can see, professional installation experts have a lot to bring to the table. If any of the benefits appeal to you, it's probably in your best interest to make room in the budget to have a professional set up your cameras.
Install Your Security Cameras Today
Now that you know more about what to expect during the CCTV installation process, are you ready to move forward with setting up cameras in and around your home or business?
If so, keep the information outlined above in mind as you begin getting quotes from different security companies. It'll help you ensure you're getting treated fairly and are getting access to high-quality equipment (as well as a high-quality installation).
If you need assistance choosing security equipment or setting up a security camera installation in Brisbane, be sure to contact us today at Four Walls Security. We're always delighted to hear from new and current customers and will get back to you right away to address your concerns.
