What you don't see

With a security installation, as a client you probably only see 30% of the work that's been carried out, for example the cameras or the PIR's and key pads.

The remaining 70%  of the work goes into the cable installation and the main control panels which are all hidden behind walls and control panel lids.

Now you may be thinking, "well i don't need to see that" or "it doesn't matter about the cable" but you may be surprised whats lurking behind those wall or panel lid.

Below are some picture from recent take overs and you may be shocked to the see the mess these panels are in.

The problem is that badly installed cables lead to faults, which in turn lead to lots of call outs to fix the faults so when an engineer comes round to fix the system they will have to spend an long time (which you are probably been billed for by the way) just trying to find the right cable and trying not to cause any other issues.

One thing at Sensory that we are very proud about is our high level of installation as this delivers a superior and reliable system for our clients. Also, if a fault occurs we can quickly and efficiently diagnose and trace the fault back with clear and  neatly installed cables.

Below are a couple of picture of some equipment that has been installed by our installation teams.

It may be more work and take longer to install but the results are well worth it and i wouldn't have it any other way. We can walk away from any job and hold our heads up high knowing we have done it the best we can.

So next time somebody has quoted you a cheaper system just stop and think about why they are cheaper and what corners they are going to cut to offer you that price. It may be cheaper at the start but it may cost you further down the line.

How much will my security system cost?

I’m often asked how much a security system costs and I always find that a difficult question to answer in passing as there are so many options and levels of cover it’s hard to say without sitting down with someone and fully understanding their needs.

However, I do understand that you may be in the very early stage of a new build or renovation project and just looking for some £’s per sq ft figures for costing purposes.

With this in mind I have looked back over a number of projects ranging from 5,000 – 25,000 sq ft to try and come up with some rough guideline numbers for you to use for budgeting purposes.

So after crunching the number I’ve come up with the following “rule of thumb” figures for a high quality, professionally installed CCTV, Intruder and Door/Gate Entry system for large residential property.

          Highest                £3.70 per sq ft

          Lowest                 £1.80 per sq ft

          Average               £3.10 per sq ft

As you can see there is big gap between the highest figure and the lowest figure and this is mainly down to the CCTV system and whether or not it is monitored. So to break it down further I have gone in to each discipline and come up with the following figures for each system.

I have also included a short description of the major factors that affect the figures so you can get a better idea of your system costs.

Monitored Intruder System

          Highest                £1.30 per sq ft

          Lowest                 £0.40 per sq ft

          Average               £0.80 per sq ft

The main factor affecting the cost of an intruder system is if window vibration sensors are to be used and to what extent. So if you only want movement sensors and door contacts then you will be more towards the lower figure and If you want vibration sensors on all windows and doors then you’ll be more towards the higher end. Another factor would be the grade of the system but for most residential properties a Grade 2 system will be fine.

Monitored CCTV System

          Highest                £2.50 per sq ft

          Lowest                 £1.90 per sq ft

          Average               £2.20 per sq ft

The main factor affecting the cost of a monitored CCTV system is if CCTV posts are to be used and the type of detection used. For example a CCTV system with posts and analytics would be more expensive than a system with cameras and motion detectors mounted on the house.

 

Standalone CCTV System

                  Highest                £1.30 per sq ft

           Lowest                 £1.10 per sq ft

           Average               £1.20 per sq ft

The main factor affecting the cost of a standalone CCTV system (not monitored) is the features and quality of the cameras. So for example a system with adaptive infra-red cameras and wide dynamic range would be more expensive that a system without but would provide you with better night time images and would perform much better with low sun light.

 

Door/Gate Entry System
                     Highest                £0.70 per sq ft

          Lowest                 £0.20 per sq ft

          Average               £0.40 per sq ft

 

As you can see this system probably has the greatest variant between the highest and lowest price and this is purely down to two things, the length of the drive and number of gates. So if you have a single gate on a short drive you will be at the lower end, but if you have 2 gates and a drive that is 400m long then your cost is going to be higher. 

Now on top of the “security” equipment there will also be the actual gate and gate control to consider and rather than include these in the “per sq ft” figures I have done it on an individual basis

 Gate Control

·         Highest                £3,200 per gate

·         Lowest                 £1,500 per gate

·         Average               £2,350 per gate

The major factor affecting the cost of the gate control is the size, type and weight of the gate so for example a large solid double oak gate will be much more expensive than a single “farm gate” style gate.

Gate

·         Highest                £10,000+

·         Lowest                 £2,000

·         Average               £6,000

With the gate this major factor is the material and size of gate. Again if you wanted a large double solid oak gate you would be around the high end, but if you wanted an “off the shelf” iron gate you maybe at the lower end. It would all come down to your preferred style.

 

To sum up, it is hard to know exactly how much your system is going to cost without sitting down with someone and putting everything together but I hope this article will at least help you get somewhere pretty close to a ball park figure.

 

Thanks for reading

 

Ric Martin

Security Systems – What level of system do I need?

When it comes to designing a security system there are many different factors you should take into consideration such as level of cover, functionality, type of equipment and budget.

The first and most important element is deciding on the level of cover required as factors such as lifestyle and past experiences need to be looked at closely.

 

For example take three identical four bedrooms detached houses on the same road in the same town. All three are owned by a family of four with two small children but they all have different life styles and experiences.

House No.1:

·         The husband and wife both work full time and the children are at nursery during the day. In the past they have had no problems with theft.

 

House No.2:

·         The husband often works away whilst the wife looks after the house and children alone. They have a friend who had a break in where a car was stolen last year.

House No.3:

·         The husband also often works away whilst the wife looks after the house and the children. Unfortunately they had an aggravated break in whilst they were in the house 2 years ago.

Although they are all the same house, with the same size of family the level of system would need to be completely different due to their lifestyles and past experiences.

For example, below is a proposed system for each family based on the information above.

House No.1:

·         Monitored Alarm System 

·         Security Lighting

House No.2:

       ·         Monitored Alarm System

·         Standalone CCTV System

·         Security Lighting

·         Security Locks

House No.3:

·         Monitored Alarm System

·         Monitored CCTV System

·         Entrance Gate with Video Entry

·         Security Lighting

·         Security Locks

Although the above appears to be a basic rule of thumb there are also other factors which should be considered, such as insurance requirements, vehicles, valuables and sensitive information such as company records and data.

These factors will all have an effect on the system design, so for example House No.1 may own a desirable high value car such as a BMW M5 so a CCTV system and gate entry may be required to provide a more suitable system.

Once the level of cover has been decided the rest of the process is fairly straight forward and should flow from one stage to the next.

 

With this in mind the next factor to decide on would be the functionality of the system. This means deciding how the system will be used, for example which door would be used to enter a property how will the CCTV images be viewed and what happens when the call button at the gate is pressed.

Once the system functionality has been decided it will then determine the amount and type of equipment required to meet expectations. It would be no good if you wanted to use a side door to enter your house and the key pad was in the main hall way.

At this stage the budget also comes into the equation as this will have effect on the types of equipment to be used. For example an 8 camera CCTV system may be required but the budget may only allow for an entry level system rather than a top of the range system.

(For more information on this please see one our previous articles “CCTV Equipment – Cheap V’s Expensive”)

Now it may seem like there is a lot to think about but a good security designer will be able to guide you through all the options to create the right system that meets all your expectations as well as creating an environment you feel safe and comfortable in.

 

72m Yacht CCTV Refit

The Clients Brief

We were contacted by the chief engineer of a 72m motor yacht to look at upgrading the CCTV system on board. The existing system was an aging proprietary system and the camera units were beginning to fail one by one. Due to high equipment costs the system was becoming uneconomic to repair and needed replacing.

The brief included the need to utilise the existing cabling and maintain the current functionality which includes a keyboard in the crew mess, full control from the ships monitoring systems and video feeds to the televisions via the AV system.

The Proposal

Following a site visit in Italy a proposal was drawn up for a high specification analogue system. An analogue system was chosen due to the cabling restrictions and the existing levels of integration which relied on composite video feeds.

A Pelco CM9700 matrix system was proposed to replace the proprietary control system. The CM9700 would provide reliability and allow integration with the ships systems using the tried and tested ASCII Protocols.

The internal fixed cameras would be replaced with Samsung bullet cameras and the external PTZ units would be replaced with Pelco Spectra 4 cameras. The two mast cameras would also be replaced with stainless steel Bosch MiC-400’s

Preparation

Before the installation started we set up and tested the equipment at our Macclesfield office. This allowed us to check that all the key components were functioning correctly and provided an opportunity to pre configuring the equipment. This helped to identify any potential installation issues which were addressed before the installation starts

Once all the equipment was tested and configured it was securely packed up and shipped out direct on a dedicated shipment.

The Installation

The upgrade was scheduled to take place in Marseille whist the yacht was carrying out a maintenance visit.  Two Sensory engineers were assigned to the project and flew out to Marseille following a full installation brief.

The first stage was to remove the existing control system, taking great care to document the cables.  Once removed, the new equipment was then installed and in to the two racks and connected to the termination panels at the rear.

 

The next stage was to replace the cameras. Most units were a straight forward replacement but some units required modification.

Through experience, Sensory have found installing cameras onto a yacht is never straight forward, especially on a refit. The following shows some examples of the modifications that Sensory undertook to install the cameras on this project.

Stair Cameras:

To replace the stair cameras we had to modify the Samsung housing to mount onto the existing bracket. A junction box was installed to house the connections and was mounted on to the bracket.

Anchor Cameras:

To replace the anchor cameras we again had to modify the housing and existing brackets to install the cameras. In this area we could not mount a junction box so we modified the camera to allow for the transmission device to be installed within the camera housing.

 

 

Bulbous Bow Camera:

A camera had been installed in the bulbous bow so the guests could view the dolphins swimming along with the yacht.

 

 

When it came to replacing this unit we combined the two previous methods and installed the transmission device inside the camera and then modified the housing to fit the bracket.

 

 

PTZ Cameras:

With the aid of the ship yard and crew, custom brackets and bezels were created to house the external PTZ and mast cameras. This allowed the new units to blend into the yachts structure like previous cameras.

 

 

Remaining Cameras:

The remaining cameras only required fitting and cables tidying up as they had previously just been looped into place.

Where possible we used the technique of installing the transmission deice inside the camera to remove the need for a junction box to improve the aesthetics of the installation.

Crew Mess:

The previous system had a control station in the crew mess which was the main control point of the system. We replace the keyboard and connected the screen to the matrix and full operation was achieved.

Integration:

As well as the crew mess and the ships system having full control of the CCTV system, Sensory were able to fully integrate the matrix into the AV system. This allowed full control so a user could select a CCTV image and control the PTZ cameras from the TV remote controls.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we feel the installation went very well. The Captain, Chief Engineer and crew were very happy with the installation and functionality of the system.  The integration with the ships monitoring system and AV was a highlight of the project and showed the skills of all involved, including Vinit Sethi from Vinitmar who was responsible for the ships monitoring integration.

The project was great to work on and this was made easier by the help, support and hospitality of the crew.

 

Testimonal

 

When it came time to upgrade our 10 year old CCTV security system we invited Sensory Secure to visit the boat and supply a quote. After a further follow up meeting at their offices in Macclesfield we were confident we had found the right company and went ahead with the project.

The installation went very well – the Engineers on site were excellent, understanding the extra care needed working to yacht standards, even when working to a very tight time schedule.

We had an unfortunate hardware failure soon after the install – this was resolved quickly and to our satisfaction.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Sensory Secure to anyone looking to install or retrofit a security system.

Chief Engineer

CCTV Equipment - Cheap Vs Expensive

There are currently hundreds of different CCTV manufactures on the market offering many different types of cameras ranging from the very cheap to the very expensive.

Now from an end users point of view it may be difficult to understand the difference between two cameras which seem to be identical based on the specifications. They are both 600TVL resolution, they’re both varied focal with 25m IR but one costs £100 and the other is £180.

Based on this information logic says go for the cheaper option because you’re getting the same for less right? Unfortunately, no, you’re not. The reason one is nearly twice the price of the other is down to build quality and support.

You’ve probably heard the saying “well, they’re all made in the same factory” and there is an element of truth to that. The same camera chips will be used in a number of different cameras but again, there are hundreds of different types of chips ranging from good to bad. Also, the chip is only part of the camera. There is also the housing, connections and cables to construct.

In my eyes, the extra cost is spent on the build quality of all the components. When you actually compare a cheap camera next to an expensive camera there is a distinct difference in the look, feel and robustness of the cameras.

An analogy of this would be a rain coat from Primark compared to a rain coat from Marks & Spencers.

Both coats are waterproof, have a hood and 2 pockets, but one costs £60 and the other costs £100. Because a rain coat is more common to us it’s easy to understand that although they will both perform and keep the rain off, the more expensive coat will keep performing for a lot longer that the cheaper coat.

For example, a cheap rain coat may lose its waterproofing after 12 months just like a cheap camera’s infra-red LEDs may start to fail. So what seems to be cheaper to start with actually ends up costing more as you need to replace them.

Another way I feel the extra money is spent is in after sales support.

As with everything in life, things do go wrong and people make mistakes. With this in mind I never judge a person or company on something going wrong, but on how they deal with things. For example I had an issue with some control equipment from Pelco where the video card went faulty after 2 months. To determine the fault I was able to call their very professional and knowledgeable technical support who identified the fault and by the next I had an advanced replacement video card installed and the system was back up and running.

With some of the cheaper equipment I have found through experience that you don’t get this kind of support. In some cases the technical support is only contactable by email, or the number is always engaged meaning the fault takes a lot long to rectify than usual.

Now I’m not saying don’t install cheaper camera equipment because if installed correctly it will perform and do its job. What I am saying is if you do choose the cheaper option please don’t be angry at an installer if the cameras fails after 2 years, get water inside the lens or has a delay trying to repair or identify a fault.

 Just try and remember the old saying “You get what you pay for” as unlike clothing where you can pay over the odds for just a label, you only pay for quality with security equipment.

R.Martin

CCTV Analytics - What is it?

CCTV Analytic's are a type of detection method for remotely monitored CCTV systems. Still Confused? Let me start from the beginning then.

If you have a stand alone CCTV system you can change this into a remotely monitored CCTV system by adding some hardware, obtaining a broadband connection followed by a little configuration.

One of the additional items of hardware would be external motion detectors. Now these are a bit like the ones you have inside for you house alarm but these are specifically designed for outside use but work in a similar way.

Like a house alarm, if the system is set and a motion detector is triggered then an alarm is sent to a monitoring station but the difference being the monitoring station are now able to view the live images from the cameras. The other additional feature is if an intruder has been seen, an audible warning can be sent. Now in most cases this will deter an intruder but if not, then the monitoring station can call the police.

Where analytics come in is they replace the motion detectors and have a number of advantages over them including lower false alarm rate and no need for additional detectors to be fitted on the house.

So what is it then?
  
CCTV analytic are software or hardware that use advance algorithms to analyse the incoming CCTV images to determine an objects size, direction and speed meaning you can configure it to differentiate between people, animals and vehicles. Still confused?

Ok, imagine you've sat someone down in front of your cameras and said "only call me if you see a person, so if you see a cat or the trees blowing just ignore it and carry on watching" You can take it one step further by saying " only call me if you see someone going into that door, not if someone goes out of it"

Now as you can imagine this is quite complicated and there are many factors that come into play when designing and configuring a system like the type and height of camera, viewing angle and night time infra-red coverage and that's all before the actual configuration so it’s very easy to get it wrong.

So which system to use then?

Now, as with most things there are good and bad systems on the market so finding a good system can be hard. Now, to simply the process the Home Office brought in the i-Lids Approval Scheme which sets the government’s benchmark for CCTV analytic systems.

https://www.gov.uk/imagery-library-for-intelligent-detection-systems

Currently only a small percentage of the systems on the market have been given this approval. Systems such as Xtralis, Honeywell and Agent Vi have been awarded the Primary Detection Award so they have been fully tested and evaluated against the scenarios set out by the Home Office so they can be used at banks, prisons and airports.

So do I need an i-Lids approved system?

In my opinion, yes.

Take your home alarm system for instance, would you use a non approved alarm company to install the system? Probably not, you'd more than likely want one that has an SSAIB or NSi certification so you know they have been checked to make sure they are doing everything correctly.

With a monitored CCTV system i think it should be the same so with an i-Lids approved system you know it has been tested and meets the governments requirements so you know its going to work correctly in all environments

Now, although an i-Lids approved system may be slightly more expensive i think its money well spent primarily because the system relies on the analytics to detect an intruder. If the system is non approved and not been fully tested in all environments the configuration could be difficult, or not work at all to the point of either to many false alarms where the monitoring station will omit the channel, or the parameters are that tight an intruder is not detected.

Unfortunately being an end user the only time you will know you have a problem is when something goes wrong, which in my eye is far to late!

R.Martin