What to Expect from a Professional Security Camera Installation

Before the Installation Begins

Upon putting the safety of your facility in someone else’s hands, it’s important that not only do they know what they are doing but also you know what they should be doing and what to expect from them. Your installer should display that they want to go the extra mile and provide you with a service tailored to your exact needs. The last thing an installer should do is treat you just like everyone else. Security camera installation is a process that is always unique on a case by case basis and no two projects will ever be the same. To create the best security camera system you will both need to ask one another questions and a company that cares will ask you a variety of questions so that every detail of your security needs will be satisfied.

It is critical to provide the security system integrator with an accurate floor plan so they can make notes and update designs. A quality security system integrator is going to use a digital design tool while walking through the facility to create a valuable system to prepare for the security camera installation.

Robust As-Built Electronic Drawing

This web-based editable document would include the following.

• Visual Camera locations which define field-of-view coverage and Pixels-Per-Foot (resolution)
• Audit of camera type (IP or Analog)
• Low-Voltage Cable Raceway documentation with visual diagram- This will be very helpful and reduce the cost for future wi-fi, access control, intercom, digital signage, PA System, and surveillance expansion.
• Document IP Networking and Username/password configurations- This is kept securely in the cloud under 256-bit encryption or can be downloaded into an editable file.
• Document of frames-per-second, lens/focal length, firmware, mac address, compression, storage/retention statistics, and any unique settings.

Documentation and Agreement

There should be a Non-Disclosure Agreement that is done either before or during the site-survey. This is important because it protects the end-user and allows for the facilities confidential information to be shared with the installer so that the security analysis can be thorough.

Next, a project agreement will be put in place which will cover a variety of things including:

This would also be the time when certifications and insurance requirements are outlined including things like Lift, Life Safety, etc.

Before they begin outlining the technicalities of how they will be doing the CCTV installation within your facility, they will discuss the preparation. To ensure that the installation will ultimately fit your facility’s needs, expressing a plan from the beginning is necessary so that the operation runs smoothly. Poor security installers make the mistake of not thoroughly communicating with the person deemed point of contact which ultimately causes confusion or miscommunication for both parties. Whereas a quality commercial surveillance installation company is going to explain to you what they observed during the assessment of your current property and then begin clarifying a security checklist. During this discussion, your security vulnerable access points and high-risk areas will be designated. Once this is determined you will decide on the type of security camera system that will best address your facility’s needs as well as the size and any tech that you would like integrated with it.

Security Tech to Contemplate

Security Camera Installation Analysis & Upgrades:  

• Add and recommend specific surveillance coverage (building upon the established As-Built Design Documentation).
• Identify cable-routes, approximate cable lengths along with estimated low-voltage labor-hours.
• Develop comprehensive software migration plan outlining 10-year compatibility matrix and forecasting upfront and long-term service, maintenance, software licensing and preventative maintenance cost structure.
• Delivery of competitive cost options for the district from camera type (make/model), coverage, expected image quality and system functionality.  We would work with you to both- outline a phased approach as well as configuration design options that best fit budget, performance, and scalability.

During the installation, you should expect to have consistent communication. This communication will most likely be in the form of status reports and/or daily or weekly updates depending on the size of the project. Of course, if you have questions or concerns in between updates make sure to address them as soon as you can so that any issue can be solved as soon as possible, but for the most part your installer will be consistently updating you. Throughout the project’s life cycle a consistent measure of progress should be put into place during the planning phase so that you have a sense of understanding as you receive the updates and the updates will be both clear and consistent.

Within these project updates will be:

Here is an example of a partial project update report that you can expect from a professional security system integrator: These reports are a critical component of the security camera installation process:

As the security camera installation process comes to an end your installer should make sure you know how your security will be monitored and explain this to all the people responsible for watching over the facility. Along with that, they will explain what to expect when an alarm goes off and the steps to take once this occurs. You should ask them any remaining questions at this time and they will give you a thorough response as well as provide contact information for who to reach out to if any issues with your system arise in the future.

Common Mistakes to Watch out for

It is best to recognize a problem within the security camera installation process before the project is done so that the problem can be evaded before the CCTV installation is deemed complete. Most mistakes can be avoided if you know what to look out for, but if you have the right security installation provider these mistakes hopefully won’t even occur. But even then we know that no installer is perfect and it is best to recognize these mistakes so that you are able to point them out to your installer if you come across them and then you will be able to avoid future issues with your new security system.