Security Cameras For Apartment Buildings – Video surveillance cameras can improve security in apartment and condo communities, but they are not the complete solution, according to security consultant Michael Silva, CPP. Photo: radionyx/stock.adobe.com
+ EXPLORE the effects of intensity, uniformity, and color rendering of lighting and their effects on video cameras.
Security Cameras For Apartment Buildings
“Cameras can be part of a security program, but they are not the security solution in and of themselves. This is the first thing to understand about video surveillance systems for condominium and apartment projects, according to Michael Silva, veteran security consultant, CPP.
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You should establish your security needs and develop a comprehensive security plan at the earliest stages of design. “It’s almost impossible to correct questions that aren’t asked during design during casting,” Silva said. (See our AIA BDCuniversity 2017 course for instructions on creating a security plan.)
In most cases, you will want to hire an expert to help you design your system. “It’s a professional skill,” said Silva, a certified security professional considered the “gold standard” by ASIS International, the organization that certifies security professionals. “You wouldn’t want anyone other than a structural engineer telling you where to place your columns. Same idea for your video surveillance system.
Some architectural and electrical engineering firms have security system experts, but if not, Silva said, hire a reputable security consultant to help you choose your video system and advise you on how to use it. (Best source for finding a qualified security consultant: International Association of Professional Security Consultants.)
When planning your system, you should be aware of what Silva calls the “three dirty secrets” of video surveillance systems:
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1. Video cameras rarely prevent crime. Most petty criminals either know they’re being recorded or don’t care because they know local law enforcement doesn’t have the manpower to investigate minor crimes.
2. Most surveillance videos are useless as evidence. Image quality is rarely good enough to present in court, Silva said, and it would be expensive to have a system that, for example, covers every square foot of a parking lot just so a tenant can determine who backed into their car. .
3. Even the latest “megapixel” security cameras won’t solve all your video surveillance problems. They cannot “see” through the concrete columns and they may not be focused at the right angle. (For more on security cameras, see Silva’s report, “Three Dirty Little Secrets About Video Surveillance Systems.”)
In other words, despite what you see on “CSI” and “Law & Order,” video surveillance systems won’t stop crimes from happening on your property, and won’t solve those crimes if they do. . “Their main goal is to tell the story after the fact,” Silva said, so the property manager can tell when and where an incident may have occurred and who may have been involved. Silva said he encourages leasing offices and property managers to display live video at all times, so that suspicious activity — “Who is that person hanging out at the loading dock — can be detected before something bad happens?
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The most cost-effective way, Silva said, is to install cameras at “choke points,” that is, critical intersections where cameras have the best chance of getting a good image, such as doorways parking, elevator lobbies and stairwell entrances.
When you get to the point of specifying products, your security consultant should be able to give you a list of several reputable manufacturers to choose from. Silva recommends specifying security cameras that work well on dark nights and in light fog (no video camera works well in dense fog, he said) and that counteract headlight glare and illuminate areas hot.
Don’t forget to consult the manufacturer’s support service. “If you purchase a product outside of the United States, they may only have one national office to support you, and that may be miles away,” Silva warned.
For a well-designed system, you should budget about $2,000 per camera, including cable, channel, recording equipment and installation, and negotiate with your supplier from there, Silva said. But keep in mind that image quality can vary greatly, even for newer megapixel cameras. “Cameras with a higher megapixel rating do not necessarily produce higher quality images than cameras with a lower megapixel rating,” he cautions.
Buildings & Condos
Your video surveillance system will not work if the intensity (brightness of light), uniformity (consistency of light level from point to point throughout the illuminated area) and color rendering (how accurately the lighting reproduces the colors) of the lighting are not correct. This is particularly true for outdoor lighting and parking lot lighting.
Uniformity is the ratio between the maximum illuminance level and the minimum illuminance level in a given area. Silva recommends a maximum uniformity ratio of 3:1 for most outdoor parking lots. If the uniformity rate is too high, you will have “hot spots” (bright areas with glare) and “cold spots” (dark areas); in both cases the image quality will be poor.
In general, it is better to have more fixtures, more evenly spaced, than to rely on one or two powerful lamps. Silva further cautions against placing powerful lighting fixtures high on your building and expecting them to “cover” the entire site; in most cases the fixture will not “diffuse” the light for optimal uniformity.
For classes, make sure you have adequate lighting along the aisles. As they grow, trees and other plantings can block lighting, so make sure your landscaping is properly trimmed to prevent this.
Apartments And Security Cameras
For surface parking lots, Silva recommends an absolute minimum light level of one foot-candle over the entire area; 2 to 4 FC would be even better. Lighting in parking lots can be more difficult due to the presence of many obstructions from columns, elevator areas, etc.
Until recently, metal halide lamps were Silva’s choice for outdoor lighting; He said they are still suitable for projects with small budgets. But now Silva recommends LEDs. “They cost more than other systems, but they are worth it,” he said.
He recommends LEDs which provide a spectrum of white light, for more natural color rendering. “Architects often specify colored lighting for aesthetic reasons, but for safety reasons, pure white light is the best solution,” Silva said.
When lighting equipment is located, minimize light entering living spaces. You’ll also want to use fixtures that have shielding that protects against light pollution, especially if you’re opting for LEED certification. |M|
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