How to Design a Security Camera System for a Commercial or Office Space
As a business, you have more to lose than just what a thief can steal. This floor plan layout shows you the best areas to place security cameras, so you can protect your space and revenue.
Explanation
Goals: An important goal when installing security cameras in an office is to reduce theft and burglary. Replacing stolen goods or materials can be an expensive process. Another main part of your business is your employees. You want to make them productive, but also feel safe in the office. As the owner you can check on them at any time and any place, using our free SCW smartphone app.
The Pink cones represent the Sheriff 4.0 camera. It gives a wide angle (101 degrees) to cover an entire room, but has a discrete casing making it appealing for an office or commercial space. The Sheriff will also recognize someone up to 50ft away.
The Green cones shown in the floor plan is the Warrior 2.0, recognizing someone up to 50ft away. A camera with 2MP resolution and 85 degrees of coverage is good for protecting both front and back entrances in this floor plan. It also does well in long, narrow hallways.
The Blue cone shows you how far away you can recognize someone with the Informant 4.0. This camera will recognize someone up to 50ft away doing 101 degrees of coverage. A bonus feature in this camera is the built-in mic. The audio capability is useful to observe employee productivity and customer service.
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The Sheriff 4.0 - 26DF4-IK10 - 4MP (2x1080P) Vandal Proof Fixed Wide Angle Lens IK10 Dome Camera
Resolution
4MP @ 25 FPS: 2560 x 1440
Detect: 115 ft
Recognize: 50 ft
Identify: 35 ft
Processing Power and Compression: Not All 4MP Cameras are Created Equal
Weather
IP67
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.
You can even submerge it for a few minutes.
Temp
Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F
Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.
Day/Night
Infrared night vision up to 100 FT
Color video possible until 0.02 lux
Special
IK10 (highest possible rating) Physical Damage Protection
True Wide Dynamic Range (120dB)
The Sheriff is very similar to our Deputy model - except that it has a 1K10 vandal proof glass dome surrounding the lens. Glass domes are iconic and what people usually think of with a security camera, but the glass has benefits and drawbacks. Despite our logo being a glass dome camera shape, most of our models don't have them anymore because they aren't that DIY friendly. To install most glass dome cameras, you have to remove the outer dome to reveal the mounting screws and then screw the dome back on after mounting the camera. In more humid areas, this can trap moisture inside the camera; for this reason, most glass dome cameras are installed indoors. The Deputy comes with some silicon moisture absorbing beads to help combat this issue (please don't remove them). Glass domes are sometimes used outdoors especially in situations like college campuses or apartment complexes where "non-destructive vandalism," such as turning the camera away from its intended target, is common. Glass domes do not hide which way the camera is pointed. IK10 is the highest measurement rating for protection from physical damage for security camera products, so it should protect against some destructive vandalism as well.
Sample Photos taken by the Sheriff 4.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.
10 FT | 20 FT | 50 FT | 75 FT | 100 FT |
Detect someone up to 115 feet
"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.
Recognize someone up to 50 feet
"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.
Identify someone up to 35 feet
"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.
The Warrior 2.0 - 26BF2 - 1080P 2MP Fixed Lens Mini Bullet Camera
Resolution
1080P @ 30 FPS; 1920 × 1080
Detect: 100 ft
Recognize: 50 ft
Identify: 25 ft
Processing Power and Compression: Not All 1080P Cameras are Created Equal
Weather
IP67
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.
You can even submerge it for a few minutes.
Temp
Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F
Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.
Day/Night
Infrared night vision up to 100 FT
Larger image sensor for low light
Color video possible until 0.02 lux
The Warrior is our most popular camera model. It is tied with the Deputy in terms of how easy it is to install and position, since neither camera requires you to remove any part of the camera to screw it into the wall/ceiling/soffit. This makes it ideal for outdoor use as you don't have a tendency to trap moisture in the lens, as is common with dome cameras, where you have to remove the outer glass dome to mount them. The 81 degree lens is great balance between covering a large area and identifying faces and license plates. Although you can use this camera inside or out, the most common use of the Warrior models (the camera comes in 2MP, 4MP, or 8MP) is to cover the side of buildings or large sections of yards.
Sample Photos taken by the Warrior 2.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.
10 FT | 20 FT | 50 FT | 75 FT | 100 FT |
Detect someone up to 100 feet
"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.
Recognize someone up to 50 feet
"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.
Identify someone up to 25 feet
"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.
The Informant 4.0 - 26DF4-A - 4MP (2x1080P) Fixed Wide Angle Lens Mini Dome Camera with Audio Microphone
Weather
IP66
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.
You can even wash them off with a hose.
Temp
Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F
Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.
Day/Night
Infrared night vision up to 50 FT
Color video possible until 0.02 lux
The Informant is a smaller version of our Sheriff model that also has an integrated microphone for audio surveillance It should be able to pick up a normal speaking voice at 15 feet. It has an 1K10 vandal proof glass dome surrounding the lens. Glass domes are iconic and what people usually think of with a security camera, but the glass has benefits and drawbacks. Despite our logo being a glass dome camera shape, most of our models don't have them anymore because they aren't that DIY friendly. To install most glass dome cameras, you have to remove the outer dome to reveal the mounting screws and then screw the dome back on after mounting the camera. In more humid areas, this can trap moisture inside the camera; for this reason, most glass dome cameras are installed indoors. The Informant comes with some silicon moisture absorbing beads to help combat this issue (please don't remove them). Glass domes are sometimes used outdoors especially in situations like college campuses or apartment complexes where "non-destructive vandalism," such as turning the camera away from its intended target, is common. Glass domes do not hide which way the camera is pointed. IK10 is the highest measurement rating for protection from physical damage for security camera products, so it should protect against some destructive vandalism as well. Unlike recording video, recording audio is heavily regulated. It is very important when recording audio to follow the rules and regulations set out in the Federal Wiretap Act; because of this law, the microphone's default setting is "off." If you want to turn the microphone on, we will gladly help you, but you should make sure you are complying with the law before doing so.
Sample Photos taken by the Informant 4.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.
10 FT | 20 FT | 50 FT | 75 FT | 100 FT |
Detect someone up to 115 feet
"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.
Recognize someone up to 50 feet
"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.
Identify someone up to 35 feet
"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.
If this is not your exact scenario, you would need to modify our pre-made systems slightly. This is very easy to do.
We've listed a 8 channel pre-made system below. You could add that to the cart, which will break it up into its individual parts, and then modify the numbers of each camera. Any of these camera models can be upgraded from a 2MP to a 4MP. If all of this seems like to much trouble, we can also send you a custom quote as well.
*If you would like a camera with audio (built-in mic), that is also on the smaller side, you may want to consider the Informant 4.0 model.
Lean on the experts
We'd be happy to work up a custom quote or take your floorplan and create a security coverage map.
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