High-quality video surveillance at the entrance is a guarantee of security for all residents of the house and helps to prevent the maximum number of unforeseen situations. In apartment buildings, you can install cameras of various types depending on specific requirements. Before installation, it is necessary to study the features of such devices, as well as the nuances of organizational and legal issues.
The need for video surveillance at the entrance
Installation of control systems in residential buildings is an ordinary procedure, which is increasingly being resorted to by residents who want to secure their entrance from apartment thefts, visits by unwanted people and vandals. After installation, all negative aspects are minimized, as apartment owners, visitors and tenants know that cameras are watching them.
Devices can be mounted at the entrance to the porch, on platforms near the elevator, as well as in corridors or halls. They are set so that they capture all the necessary viewing areas to record all the events that occur.
Used implementation methods
The installed camera in the entrance can be one of three types. Most often, on the territory of apartment buildings, individual devices, general surveillance systems and street devices are mounted.
Individual Tracking Devices
For installation inside buildings, in most cases, use individual monitoring devices in an anti-vandal housing. According to the technology of signal transmission, they can be analog or digital.
The cameras of the first type are characterized by low cost, no problems during setup and a high level of reliability.
IP models make it easy to realize the ability to track access via the Internet and open access to data for a certain number of users.
Since there are no special access devices on sale, when choosing the appropriate option, their main characteristics are taken into account.
General Access Surveillance Systems
If you need to create and install a system that allows for general surveillance, you will need at least three cameras. The first captures the entrance and exit of people from apartments to the elevator, the second of all who enter the entrance, the third displays the space in front of the front door. Data from the cameras is displayed on the concierge’s monitor or on the computer screen of the person responsible for home security.
Such a system can cover all the entrances, up to 16 separate devices can be connected to one registrar.
External cameras controlling the local area
For the street, cameras with a wide viewing angle are chosen, which need to be hung in places with the highest passability. The most popular are housing devices with a standard or moving design. Classic models make it possible to track activity in a separate area, rotary can be controlled using special software, from the keyboard or remote control.
Devices must be equipped with a sealed enclosure that is completely protected from moisture and dust. It is also better to choose options with a temperature range suitable for a particular region, on average, it ranges from -50 to +65 degrees.
In order to conduct covert surveillance around the clock, including in the dark, outdoor cameras are supplemented with IR modules with a backlight range of 10 to 100 meters.
A modern video camera in the entrance or for the street should meet the safety requirements and be quite convenient in terms of setup and operation. It is best to choose standard dome or housing devices made of durable metals with lenses protected by special glass.
What you need to know before installing video surveillance
To organize video surveillance at each staircase, you will need to study the basic functions of the cameras, understand how they work and why they are needed.
Resolution and location
Camera resolution is the total number of horizontal and vertical points on the basis of which the image is formed. The ideal format is Full HD with parameters of 1920 × 1080 or more - the smaller these numbers, the worse the video quality will be. The main disadvantage is the high cost of such a system and its components, which in addition to video cameras include DVRs with motion sensors, hard drives, monitors and TVs with 4K support, as well as other details.
Select sites for the placement of devices must be subject to security requirements.
Viewing angle and focal length
A high-quality camera for video surveillance in the entrance should have a good viewing angle and focal length. In order to get a general picture of the territory, they put devices with wide-angle short-focus lenses. If objects need to be viewed at a certain distance and clearly see the faces of people, devices with a telephoto element will solve the problem. The smaller the viewing angle, the more details can be identified.
There are also cameras with a varifocal lens, the range of which is 2.8-12 mm, which allows you to adjust the view manually depending on the needs.
External installation
For the effective organization of external video surveillance choose camera models in sealed enclosures, supplemented with the option of automatic heating. Installation of such devices is carried out at a distance of at least three meters from the ground, which allows you to protect equipment from various influences. Before installation on the street, the exact location of the devices is determined by choosing points based on the light source.
To prevent the image from being illuminated, direct sunlight should not fall on the devices. For extra light in the dark, cameras can be placed close to lights or spotlights.
Submitting Applications
Most modern cameras allow you to save and send recordings as needed. Most often, these are IP devices that can be used to store data on SD cards, hard drives, or remote servers. The easiest way is to drop information on a separate USB flash drive with the required amount of memory, which is inserted into a special connector on the device. After all the files are transferred to a personal computer for viewing, further processing and storage. Video is also transferred to cloud storage via the Internet, this method makes it possible to simultaneously connect to all servers from one device.
Features of installing cameras yourself
Installation of a video camera in any entrance is possible with your own hands according to the standard step-by-step instructions. First of all, you will need to purchase the right number of cameras and additional accessories, then install devices, following the individual steps.
- Laying cable routes. The wires must be combined into a single system in the right way. First, distant lines are laid, then they go to the neighbors. Regardless of the location, the cable length is selected with a margin.They can be installed open or closed, in the first case, the wire is laid along the fenced area, in the second it is laid in a wall or underground.
- Mounting cameras. The devices must be mounted using special fasteners, which are purchased separately. This must be done so that the devices display the entire protected area, but at the same time remain invisible. They also take into account the possibility of breakage and install cameras so that they are easy to replace.
- Installing the DVR and connecting the system. Registrars are the main elements, their connection does not cause problems if they are connected correctly. It’s better to purchase options that provide power to all cameras. If this option is not available, you will need to lay additional cables.
At the final stage, you need to configure the equipment and take care of the main parameters. Their list includes the date and time, the formation of storage for recordings, image and broadcast settings, as well as remote access connection.
Organizational and legal issues
The ability to put a camera in each entrance is regulated by applicable law. Video recordings help to resolve many controversial situations in court, but the involvement of such materials in the case does not have a regulated order.
Law on the possibility of installing a camera in a residential building
Currently, there is no separate normative act responsible for video surveillance. For this reason, one should focus on individual laws on personal data and operational-search activity, as well as on the provisions of the Criminal Code. On the basis of Federal Law 152, information on the basis of which a person can be identified is equated with personal information, therefore it is permitted to hang tracking devices in the entrance after obtaining the consent of the residents.
Taking into account the law, the use of cameras in guarded facilities does not fall under this action, since in this case we will talk about monitoring the situation with cameras. Illegal actions recorded by devices are considered under the articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Vandal proof camera
The anti-vandal camera works in the same way as a standard video surveillance device. Its feature is a special durable case made of transparent material, most often polycarbonate is used for this purpose. It is capable of withstanding impacts of up to 650 kg per second. Due to their high strength and robust design, these cameras have a maximum service life. Devices of this type are placed above the doors of nightclubs, cafes and similar establishments, in places with crowded people.
Anti-vandal devices are not affected by even the most difficult weather conditions, so they are placed in areas where hurricanes, tornadoes can pass, strong gusts of wind and temperature changes are observed.
