CAF

In this section we will try to help you find out what you really need. For prices and models check out our e-shop section.

We have 2 mainly sections: The CCTV section & the Home Security Here are some tips to find out what suits you most:

Do you really need CCTV?

Closed Circuit Television is not the panacea to all security and safety problems that many people believe it to be. CCTV should only be part of an integrated approach that considers all aspects of the security problems being experienced.

Set out your problem

There must be a starting point for preparing a specification so that it will reflect the reason for producing it. Make a statement of the problems that are to be resolved, such as:

The list is obviously endless in general terms, but for a particular site, there must be finite reasons for considering CCTV. If they cannot be listed, you probably don’t need it.

Set out possible solutions

Having set out the problem to be resolved, the next consideration is how a solution can be achieved. Some of the possibilities are:

Again, the list will depend on the circumstances and requirements on any particular site, but it is important to at least make a list and consider all the possibilities.

List pros and cons for each possible solution

Many of the items in the list will be impracticable and so you should finish up with a short list of possibilities. The next thing is to comment against each one the pros and cons. Quite often, the solution will point to a need for integrating two or more types of system. This Magazine and article are directed at CCTV solutions, therefore it will be assumed that after all considerations, it has been decided to pursue this avenue.

So, OK, you have decided you need a CCTV system

Now you can get down to specifying the system.

This raises several more considerations to be resolved. Two of the most important are where and how will the system be monitored. Quite often, how the system will be monitored, will dictate where it is to be monitored. So, another list of possibilities to be considered.

Set down what you expect the system to achieve. This can be a simple statement describing the aims of the system and will help in designing the layout.

Set down a list of objectives for the system

The overall objective could be the statement describing the aim of the system. Then there are other objectives, for instance, for a Town Centre system they could be:

Another example for a commercial premises could be:

This would form the basis of the system design and in measuring performance when the installation is complete.

Who will design the basic system layout?

There are two possibilities, the first is that the end user knows exactly where all the camera are to be fitted and the location and operation of the control room. This is quite common in Town Centre systems where the Local Authority, Police, and other parties have determined the areas for surveillance and operation of the system. In these cases, the next step is to prepare the specification.

The second possibility is that the end user knows the problems to be tackled but does not have a clue how a solution can be achieved. The common approach to this is to describe the problems to several installation companies and obtain quotations. The problem with this is that the customer will not have the knowledge to make an objective assessment of the several different solutions and costs submitted. The answer here would to employ the services of a competent consultant.

For the purposes of this article, it is assumed that the customer is intending to prepare the specification and knows the camera and control locations.

The types of specification

The form of the specification will depend on the technical knowledge of the person producing it. This is an area where a little knowledge can be very dangerous and costly. The concept of the specification should be that is easy for tendering companies to understand exactly what they are expected to price for without wading through reams of documents. The more difficult it is to comprehend a specification, the greater will be the variation in tender prices.

The first thing is to produce a general description of the system. It needs to be succinct and could be along the following lines:

"The system will consist of three fully functional monochrome cameras at specified locations. The cameras will be fitted in discrete domes and be capable of being directed to eight pre-set positions of pan, tilt, and zoom. These will be connected back to a control room at the Police Station. The controls will consist of a multiplexer, time lapse VCR and telemetry controller. The system will be monitored on one 17" and three 12" monochrome monitors. There will be a real time VCR for recording events from the 17" monitor."

This can be followed by a description of how the system will be operated. The next item would be a list of camera locations and how they are to be mounted.

Part of the specification will be to produce a list of equipment specifications, which allows for two options. The first is to specify every item by manufacturer and model number. The advantage of this is that a totally objective comparison of all tenders can be made. The disadvantage is that there are many makes of camera, for instance, that have identical performance characteristics. By specifying one model you would giving advantage to the tendering company that has the best buying terms with that manufacturer. There could be far better terms available for alternative makes with a consequent reduction in tender prices. Another disadvantage is that there could be better products on the market of which you are unaware and thus eliminating from consideration.

The answer to this is to produce a performance-related specification where the generic description of a product is given. It does mean that when assessing tenders, the specification of the variations must be checked. Generally, a performance specification will ensure the most competitive prices may be obtained.

The elements of the specification

A typical specification may be broken down into the following headings. Suggestions are given for some specific items where these may be overlooked as being part of the CCTV specification. Most companies and Local Authorities produce impressive and sometimes massive tomes of contract conditions. Even though it may mean some repetition, there certain conditions specific to CCTV specifications that should form part of the CCTV document. The objective is not have some well hidden clause that forms legal protection for the customer, rather, to prevent that clause being needed at all.

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