CCTV installation for a business: what it involves and how to choose an installer

Installers differ, but a sound job usually runs through the same stages.

• A site visit. The installer walks the premises with you and agrees what each camera is for: seeing who comes in, reading detail at a till or a gate, or watching a wide yard. The camera maker Axis says in its installation guide that the purpose of each camera should be clearly specified, because a wide view and a close view for identifying someone are different jobs.
• A design and a quote. Camera positions on a plan, the cameras and recorder by model, how many days of video you will keep, and what is and is not included.
• Cabling and fitting. Cable is run to each camera and the camera is fixed in place. Outdoors, Axis says to use shielded network cable, and recommends running outdoor cable in conduit.
• Recorder and storage. The recorder is set up with the hard disks that decide how many days of video you keep.
• Setup and testing. Each camera is aimed and checked, the clock is set, and viewing on your phone or computer is set up.
• Handover. You get the logins, a plan showing where each camera is, and a walk-through. Axis recommends handing over the network layout, the IP addresses, an as-built plan and a list of camera settings, with training for the people who will use the system.
• Servicing. Lenses get dirty, disks wear out and software needs updating. Ask who looks after the system after the installation, and what that costs.

Prices vary with the site, so we do not quote figures. These are the things that move the number.

Compare lines, not totals. Give every installer the same written list of what you want, ask each one for an itemised quote, and check what each leaves out.

• How many cameras, and how good they are. Sharper pictures, good night performance and weatherproof housings cost more, and sharper pictures need more storage.
• Cable runs. Distance to the recorder, floors in between, and whether the cable goes through finished ceilings, brick or concrete. A run of network cable is limited to 100 metres in total, according to both Axis and the switch maker NETGEAR, so a far corner of a large site may need extra equipment.
• Recorder and hard disk. Recorders are sold by number of cameras, and the disk decides how many days of video you keep. Our hard disk guide shows how to work out the days.
• Access. High ceilings, outdoor spots and anything needing a ladder of the right height or a lift take more time.
• Time on site, including any work outside your opening hours.
• Servicing. NSI suggests asking whether you want installation only or installation with ongoing maintenance, and what routine maintenance and emergency call-outs cost.
• Buying or leasing. NSI lists this among the questions to ask. Ask what you pay over the whole term and what happens to the equipment and your recordings at the end.
• VAT. Check whether each price includes VAT, and ask for it to be shown on its own line.

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• Ask for two or three recent jobs of a similar size and, if you can, a customer you can call.
• Ask to see their insurance, and who will do the work: their own staff or subcontractors.
• Ask for a site visit before the quote. A quote without one is a guess.
• Ask which brands they fit and whether they can service them later. A system only the installer can open ties you to that installer.
• Ask who you call when a camera fails and how fast someone arrives.
• Ask whether the system stays open to other software. ONVIF and RTSP are standards that let cameras and recorders work with software from other makers. Our business security cameras guide explains how to check.
• Ask that the administrator accounts are yours.
• If you want an alarm to bring a police response, say so at the start. NSI lists it among the questions to raise when you get quotes. It adds requirements, and a good installer can explain them.
• Ask what approvals they hold, and read the next section before you rely on them.

You will see two names more than any other. NSI is the National Security Inspectorate. SSAIB is the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board. Both are certification bodies. They audit security and fire companies against industry standards and keep a list of the companies they certify. Both describe themselves as accredited by UKAS, which is the UK's national accreditation body, the organisation that assesses certification bodies.

NSI says its approved companies are assessed against its Code of Practice NCP 104 for the design, installation and maintenance of video surveillance systems, are audited every year, and are expected to respond to a fault within 24 hours. It has two levels. Gold companies also have a quality management system certified to ISO 9001. Silver companies meet the technical standards listed on their certificate. NSI issues a Certificate of Compliance when an installation is finished. You may also see the name NACOSS Gold. That is NSI's Gold scheme for electronic security systems, and it covers CCTV.

SSAIB runs an Electronic Security Systems scheme that covers video surveillance. It says certification gives independent assurance that a company has competent personnel, effective management and appropriate technical procedures.

A badge shows that an independent body has audited the company against a standard. It does not guarantee the job will be good, and it does not mean the design suits your site. Some installers hold other approvals or none, so ask what they hold and why.

It may matter for your insurance. NSI says its certificate may be required by your insurer as a condition of cover, or to earn a discount. SSAIB says many insurers require a third party certificated provider. Ask your insurer what it needs before you choose.

To check a company, do not rely on a logo on a van or a quote. Search for it on the body's own site, using NSI's company finder or SSAIB's supplier search, or ask to see its certificate.

Before you sign, make sure the quote or contract says these things.

• Every camera, recorder, disk and switch, listed by model.
• Where each camera goes, marked on a plan, and what it should see.
• Days of video storage, at the resolution and camera count quoted.
• What is included: cable, conduit, fixings, access equipment, setup and training.
• Warranty length for equipment and for labour, and who deals with a fault.
• That you receive the administrator logins for the recorder and every camera, and that default passwords are changed. The US cybersecurity agency CISA, passing on advice from the UK National Cyber Security Centre, tells owners of internet-connected cameras to change default passwords, keep software up to date and turn off remote access they do not use.
• The handover items listed above: network layout, IP addresses, an as-built plan and a list of camera settings.
• A walk-through where you view, search and export a clip yourself.
• Any monthly fees, the contract length, and what happens if you cancel.

Signs, how long you keep recordings, who may watch them, whether a camera can see public space or a neighbour's land, and what you tell your staff all depend on your premises and on what your cameras see. We cannot tell you what applies to you. Ask your installer what they advise for your site, and ask a lawyer if you are unsure.

Many businesses already have cameras and a recorder that work, and what is missing is being told while something is happening. Our software can add that. It runs on a Windows computer at your premises, works with the cameras and recorders you already have, including Hikvision, Dahua, CP Plus, TVT, Uniview, Axis, Hanwha and any camera or recorder that supports RTSP or ONVIF, and installs in about 60 seconds.

Four things are standard on every site: smoke and fire, people after hours in zones you mark, a covered camera, and a warning when a camera goes offline. A second, larger model checks every event before it reaches you, and you get a photo on WhatsApp, Telegram or the Foreman app while it is still happening. Your recordings stay on site, and we never train on your footage.

It does not fix a bad picture. If a camera is dark, blocked or out of focus, it needs to be moved or replaced first.