Installing CCTV systems for some of the UK's best known companies in a wide range of locations and environments has given us a very good understanding of how they are used.
We understand that CCTV is just one part of a company's strategy to managing risk within their business. That risk might be the loss of stock or cash, damage to property and goods or the safety of customers and employees.
We realise that CCTV is a tool to help a business's employees do their jobs as well as possible. An effective CCTV system is more than the quality, clarity and content of the images. It must be simple to manage, intuitive to use and adaptable to changing requirements.
We also recognise that a CCTV system is a substantial investment for a company so our future-proof planning and industry-leading service and maintenance programmes extend the in-use lives of our systems.
- System Planning
- Equipment Design
- System Integration
- Data Storage & Retrieval
- Using IP for CCTV
System Planning
The optimum CCTV system must satisfy the client's technical, operational and budgetary requirements, whether it is a design-and-build or system upgrade. That is why, at the start of every project we invest time discussing and understanding the brief.
We carry out detailed site surveys to understand the layout, environmental factors such as lighting, traffic and fixtures and double-check for blind spots and duplication.
As well as meeting the client decision-makers, we like to meet the people who will use the system to ensure its operational viability.
We assess the existing system for its suitability and for integration with the new plan. Wherever possible we re-use equipment as long as it is not detrimental to the effectiveness of the system. Occasionally this makes the install more challenging for us but more cost-effective for the client.
We then present an initial proposal, clearly structured with budget breakdowns, to make it easy for the client to understand exactly what we are recommending and why. It speeds up decision-making and makes further refinement of the proposal a more transparent, collaborative and speedy process.
- System Planning
- Equipment Design
- System Integration
- Data Storage & Retrieval
- Using IP for CCTV
Equipment Design
An important part of planning a CCTV system is selecting the best equipment to meet the technical, operational and budgetary requirements.
Because CCTV systems can be a considerable investment we think carefully about how to future-proof this investment, keeping ourselves and our customers up to date with developments in technology.
Different manufacturers may provide their preferred hardware or software for each element of the system so we will recommend the most appropriate for each project. We will incorporate any manufacturer preferences the client might have, unless we believe system effectiveness could be improved using alternative equipment.
That is why Stillframe has commercial relationships with all the major CCTV manufacturers and distributors. We can therefore negotiate preferential pricing to ensure our competiveness. However, we are not tied exclusively to any individual providers, which ensures the integrity of our recommendations.
We often arrange equipment demonstrations and staff training, particularly for new or specialist equipment.
- System Planning
- Equipment Design
- System Integration
- Data Storage & Retrieval
- Using IP for CCTV
System Integration
A CCTV system is typically part of a company's overall approach to risk management so the ability to integrate with other security systems, including EAS, Fire, Access and EPOS, is often an important requirement.
So we design our systems for building services integration, future expansion and to be backwards compatible.
We can build systems on any infrastructure, including structured cabling, fibre optic, networked WAN/LAN systems or traditional copper cable. We also use IP technology to allow remote or satellite viewing of individual or multiple CCTV systems.
- System Planning
- Equipment Design
- System Integration
- Data Storage & Retrieval
- Using IP for CCTV
Data Storage & Retrieval
We take data storage and retrieval very seriously for two principal reasons that impact on our clients.
Firstly, companies using CCTV systems have a number of responsibilities around data protection laid out by legislation and industry standards. We can help you comply by training your staff on the key requirements. We can also design the system with password-protected access systems, with access rights to stored data only for authorised personnel.
Secondly, data retrieval is usually required to review and assess an incident reactively. Storing the data without risk of loss or degradation is crucial. Authorised personnel must have simple and speedy access to data. The data must be downloadable by authorised staff such that the quality and integrity are protected for evidential purposes.
We know from experience that the police deal with so many cases involving CCTV that they have to prioritise which to pursue. The easier the data retrieval and the better the image quality and composition, then the greater likelihood of their cooperation with crime detection. Our clients can be confident that our systems provide evidential-standard images.
- System Planning
- Equipment Design
- System Integration
- Data Storage & Retrieval
- Using IP for CCTV
Using IP for CCTV
Modern computer and data networks can be a powerful and flexible platform for CCTV to create network video systems.
By using internet protocol (IP) technology CCTV cameras and monitoring systems can be connected to the same cabling used for LAN, WAN and internet networks common to most modern buildings.
There are three advantages to using IP to create network video:
- cameras can be attached to their nearest network point rather than having to run new cable back to a central point. Wireless connections are also possible.
- cameras take their power from the network so there is no need for electrical installation work for each camera, saving money and disruption
- live video streams can be accessed remotely via the internet by a computer anywhere in the world, giving greater flexibility and control
Stillframe has developed a number of IP based CCTV systems. To demonstrate its flexibility our partner Cieffe has given us access to their IP camera in Milan, Italy. To view please use the link below.(Please note that the first visit will require a free download of Active X software)
CCTV in Milan
Login: demo
Password: demo