Best Practices for Installing Your New Surveillance Cameras 

Today’s surveillance cameras can do incredible things. Using AI-enhanced analytics, they can differentiate between people, animals, and objects. Modern cameras can read license plates and trigger alerts to your smartphone while effectively reducing false alarms. 

However… CCTV cameras can only do these things if the incident occurs within view. If a camera’s recording angle misses the action, there’s nothing it can do! 

That’s why thoughtful planning around camera placement and technology is vital for getting the best coverage. Here’s how to create a CCTV layout that maximizes visibility for various commercial settings.

Understanding Your Space: The Key to Effective Surveillance

When kicking off the process of setting up a CCTV system, understanding your unique space is crucial. Each environment—whether it’s a restaurant, retail store, gym, or office—has distinct needs that need to be considered.

Restaurants

In a bustling restaurant, monitoring both customer interactions and kitchen operations is essential. Cameras should be placed at entry points, dining areas, and service counters to keep an eye on foot traffic and help prevent theft. Plus, having cameras in the kitchen can discourage any employee misconduct and uphold safety standards.

Retail Stores

For retail environments, you should focus on reducing theft while improving customer experience. Installing cameras at entrances, exit points, and throughout the sales floor helps keep an eye on things. Install cameras in the parking lot to capture license plates of anyone who may have stolen from your store. 

Gyms

In fitness facilities, member safety and securing personal lockers are top priorities. The catch? Cameras should be placed thoughtfully to avoid invading anyone's privacy. Place cameras outside the locker room to capture anyone exiting, so you can quickly follow up on any reported misconduct. 

Offices

In corporate settings, cameras should be positioned in reception areas, hallways, and near important spots like server rooms. Protecting these sensitive areas is vital to maintaining a company’s integrity.

Camera Placement: The Right Way to Capture Every Angle

Getting the right camera placement can significantly boost a surveillance system’s efficiency. Here are some smart tips for various commercial spaces.

Finding the Right Placement

For the best results, cameras should be mounted at a height that offers a clear view of people without any obstructions. Cameras should ideally be too high for anyone to reach and tamper with, angled slightly downward to capture clear facial images. 

Wide-angle lenses can be a game changer, covering larger areas and reducing the total number of cameras needed while still keeping things visible.

Common Mistakes

You’d be surprised at how easy it is to make mistakes with camera placement. Hanging cameras too high can miss vital details, like a clear view of someone’s face. Also, pointing cameras at reflective surfaces can lead to glare that washes out your footage. And don’t forget blind spots; it’s crucial to make sure every inch of your space is covered.

Selecting the Right Cameras for Different Areas

Picking the right camera types for specific commercial environments can make a world of difference in your surveillance system's effectiveness.

• Dome Cameras: These are perfect for indoor settings like retail stores and gyms. Their low-profile design is less intimidating for customers while still providing fantastic coverage.
• Bullet Cameras: These are a solid choice for outdoor areas, especially with Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) capabilities.
• IP Cameras: Need high resolution? IP cameras fit the bill. IP cameras transmit data over your network, either via Power over Ethernet (recommended) or Wi-Fi. IP cameras offer remote access and higher resolution than analog cameras, and are available in the styles you want, from dome to bullet cameras and anything in between. 

Let the Pros Design Your Camera System 

Thinking about enhancing the security of your commercial property? Get in touch with Westco today! Let’s chat about how our custom CCTV solutions can help meet your unique needs and foster a safer environment for everyone involved.