What Are The Best Locations for CCTV Cameras?

When it comes to security for commercial premises, CCTV is a no-brainer. These cameras have been a trusted form of security for many years, and they’re becoming increasingly popular.

However, simply installing CCTV is not enough. To be an effective deterrent, and an eagle eye on criminal activity, your cameras must be in the right place.

What are the best locations for CCTV cameras? You’re about to find out.

Entrances and exits

Entrances and exits are often the busiest parts of the building, and a security guard has only one pair of eyes.

CCTV is your all-seeing gatekeeper, and the first line of defence against opportunistic criminals. Make sure cameras at entrances and exits are clearly visible. They should be a prominent deterrent for would-be trespassers.

You may need to identify someone later so, to capture a clear view of their face, cameras should be angled downwards. Consider putting the cameras next to objects which catch people’s attention — a large sign or TV monitor, for example. This will encourage them to look straight into the camera.

Storage facilities

Storage rooms and warehouses are a magnet for thieves. They may contain sensitive documents, valuable equipment, products or assets which are essential for the smooth running of your business.

For storage rooms, position the camera at the doorway to keep an eye on who’s coming and going. Should an unauthorised person try to gain access, the attempt will be recorded on camera.

In a large warehouse, the key areas to focus on are the perimeter, entrances and exits, loading bays, high-value inventory storage areas and the warehouse aisles.

Make sure the cameras are high enough to prevent tampering, and angled downwards to capture clear facial images. Criminals love the darkness, so choose CCTV with low-light or night vision capabilities.

Parking areas

Parking areas are common locations for crimes such as theft and vandalism. Monitoring the area with highly visible CCTV cameras provides a powerful deterrent, and helps your employees to feel safer.

For comprehensive coverage of large parking areas, mobile CCTV towers are a smart option. These cameras are a criminal’s worst enemy. They pan, tilt and zoom in on suspicious activity, identify wrongdoers with bright spotlights and sound a loud siren.

Points of sale

If you’re responsible for retail premises, supermarkets, hotels or restaurants, points of sale are where the cash registers sit.

Place CCTV cameras directly above the till, facing outwards towards the customer area. Angle the camera slightly downwards. It needs to capture a clear view of a customer’s face as they approach, as well as their hands and the items on the sales counter.

Light, height, angles and the law

When you’re placing CCTV cameras in these locations, there are four elements to bear in mind — light, height, camera angles and the laws surrounding data protection.

Let’s start with light.

Lighting for CCTV

The light conditions will vary considerably from one area of your premises to another. Provided there’s adequate lighting, the images will be crisp and clear. In darker shadowy areas, the footage may be grainy.

For the best quality images, opt for CCTV cameras which allow for low light conditions — day and night cameras, or CCTV which incorporates night vision cameras.

Also, bear in mind that light changes throughout the day. Bright direct sunlight can interfere with sensors, so make sure cameras point away from light sources and windows.

Height of CCTV cameras

The correct height for your CCTV cameras will be determined by the type of building or room in which they’re placed.

It’s important to get it right. If they’re too low, the cameras are at risk of vandalism. Put them too high up and the images could be pixelated.

As a general rule, for most business premises, cameras are installed at a height of between 2.5 and 5 metres. Cameras at 2.5 metres capture clear close-up images, whereas 5 metres is better for wider surveillance.

CCTV towers are 6 metres tall. These are worth considering for large exterior areas because they offer a greater range of surveillance, and they can zoom in for close-ups.

Camera angles

Generally, CCTV cameras are angled downwards to provide a wider field of view. Cameras at eye level are less common. They’re only used when it’s necessary to focus on a single object, without including the surrounding area.

The size of the lens will affect the angle of installation. Smaller lenses increase the field of view but reduce the viewing depth. Larger lenses provide a longer line of sight but reduce the viewing angle.

Complying with the law

When it comes to installing CCTV, there are strict rules which you must follow in order to comply with data protection law.

These rules include prominent signage which lets people know that CCTV is being used and why. You must also make sure that cameras aren’t inadvertently invading the privacy of individuals, or capturing more than is strictly necessary.

We’re always happy to provide advice on this, or anything else regarding CCTV installation. For a no-obligation conversation, get in touch with the Classic Services Group team.