cctv-security

15 articles

• Access Control Systems: Standalone vs Networked, Proximity Cards, Fob and Biometric Readers — Installation Basics
  Standalone vs networked access control; 125 kHz proximity (easily cloned) vs 13.56 MHz DESFire EV3 (AES-128); OSDP v2 vs Wiegand; fail-safe locking on fire exits mandatory; biometric = Special Category GDPR data (explicit consent required)
• Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) Connection: Signalling Formats, IP vs PSTN, BS 5979 and URN Application
  ARC must be BS EN 50518/NSI listed for police URN; PSTN being withdrawn — use IP+4G dual-path; ATS categories 0–6 by grade; Grade 3 requires ATS4 minimum; URN applied by ARC not installer
• BS 8418 Registered CCTV: What the Standard Requires for Police URN Eligibility and False-Alarm Filtering
  BS 8418:2015 registered CCTV: image quality (pixels/metre), video analytics for false-alarm filtering, ARC requirements, commissioning certificate content
• Cable Installation for Security Systems: Screened vs Unscreened, Segregation from Power and Cable Mapping
  50 mm segregation from mains (100 mm at crossings); screened cable for PIR, RS-485, runs >50 m; earth screen at one end only (controller end); voltage drop formula for DC runs; cable schedule mandatory for NSI/SSAIB compliance
• CCTV Camera Types: Fixed vs PTZ vs Fisheye, IP Ratings, Lux Ratings and Lens Selection for UK Conditions
  CCTV camera selection: fixed vs PTZ vs fisheye, IP67/IK08 ratings, IR and white-light illumination, WDR, pixels/metre for identification, lens focal length
• CCTV in Rented Properties: Landlord Rights, Tenant Privacy, GDPR and What Installers Should Advise
  Communal areas permissible (legitimate interests basis); inside private dwelling requires explicit tenant consent; household exemption does not apply to landlords; 30-day retention recommended; SAR must be answered within 1 month
• Door Entry Systems: Audio vs Video, IP-Based Intercoms, Electric Strikes vs Mag Locks and Fire Release
  Audio vs video vs IP intercom; fail-safe vs fail-secure locking; maglocks fail-safe (open on power loss); electric bolts fail-secure (never on fire exits); fire release via panel dry contact mandatory; break glass unit on fire exit secure side
• GDPR and CCTV: ICO Registration, Signage Requirements, Retention Periods and Subject Access Requests
  GDPR for CCTV: ICO registration tiers, signage requirements, retention periods (7–31 days), Subject Access Request procedure, domestic exemption limits
• Intruder Alarm Grades: BS EN 50131 Grades 1–4, What Each Grade Means and Matching to Risk Assessment
  BS EN 50131 Grades 1–4: Grade 1 opportunist/low-risk; Grade 2 standard domestic/commercial; Grade 3 medium-high risk with ARC dual-path (30 hr standby); Grade 4 high-risk dual-path mandatory (60 hr standby); PD 6662:2017 risk assessment mandatory
• NSI and SSAIB Approval Guide: Gold vs Silver Grades, Audit Process and Why Approval Matters for Insurance Work
  NSI and SSAIB approval: Gold vs Silver grades, police URN eligibility, annual audit process, why insurers require approved installers
• NVR vs DVR and Storage Sizing: Calculating Required HDD Capacity for Frame Rate, Resolution and Retention Period
  NVR vs DVR and storage sizing: HDD capacity formula (Mbps × 0.45 × hours × cameras × days), surveillance HDD selection, RAID, H.265 vs H.264, retention period configuration
• PIR Detector Siting: Coverage Angles, Pet Immunity, Anti-Masking and Avoiding False Alarms
  Mount at 2.0–2.4 m; cross-axis detection superior to end-on; pet-immune masks below 50–60 cm (climbing defeats it); anti-masking mandatory Grade 2+ (BS EN 50131-2-2); dual-tech for high false-alarm environments
• Security System Commissioning: Walk Test, Tamper Checks, End-User Training and BS 7671 Compliance
  Walk test every detector individually; test all tamper circuits; ARC commissioning signal test; exit/entry timing verification; end-user training mandatory; commissioning certificate signed by engineer and customer; factory default codes always changed
• Security System Maintenance Contracts: NSI/SSAIB Requirements for Inspection Frequency and What Must Be Tested
  Grade 1–2: 1 inspection/year; Grade 3–4: 2 inspections/year; every detector tested at each visit; ARC notified before testing; battery replaced on visit if low; service report signed engineer + customer; lapsed contract risks URN withdrawal and insurance void
• Wireless Alarm Systems: Frequency Hopping, Battery Life Considerations, Jam Detection and Grade Limitations
  868 MHz FHSS; Grade 2 and Grade 3 achievable (Ajax, Pyronix, Hikvision Ax Pro); battery life 2–5 years; jamming detection via missed heartbeats; Grade 4 not achievable wirelessly; short supervision intervals improve jamming detection