The placement of your CCTV cameras can play just as big of a role as choosing the right cameras in the first place. A bad placement of your cameras can result in gaps in coverage which can be a huge let down for CCTV system users.
Mount Cameras at the Right Height
For facial recognition purposes, the optimum height for camera mounting is 2 to 2.5 meters above floor level. Should the mounting height be increased above this optimum, the tops of people’s heads will become prominent features of the image captured by the CCTV camera; conversely, should the mounting height be decreased below this optimum, the risk of CCTV camera interference (e.g. by means of deliberate obstruction or damage) is increased substantially.
Cover Entry and Exit Points First
Make sure that you are recording the entry/exit points of your premises (e.g. doors, gates and windows) as the majority of incidents will involve these areas.
Avoid Backlighting
For illumination of scenes with high contrast, i.e. with bright backgrounds, cameras should be positioned so that the light source is behind the lens. Special types of cameras with a wide dynamic range are available for scenes with poor contrast.
Overlap Your Fields of View
Make sure the total area to be covered is captured by arranging for the fields of view of neighbouring cameras to overlap slightly.
Think About Indoor Versus Outdoor Needs
The need for weatherproofing and vandal-resistant housings for outdoor use compared to indoor use for example. We recommend a site visit to assess the positions for CCTV installation in Worcester. There is more on CCTV Installation Worcester at //apmfireandsecurity.com/cctv-installation/cctv-installation-worcester/.
Check Legal Placement Rules
Those angled to look over a neighbour’s garden or over a public path (such as a pavement outside a premises) are subject to certain legal restrictions and obligations (see relevant section of the CO’s guidance on CCTV and surveillance.
Good placement costs nothing extra and can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your CCTV system.
