CCTV System Design: Camera Placement, Storage and Network Planning

A camera count is not a design. Placement follows the task: identification at entrances, overview in yards, and coverage of cash or loading points. Lens and resolution should match the distance, not a marketing megapixel figure.

Storage is bitrate × cameras × days, then RAID and spare. Under-specified NVRs fill in a week; over-specified ones waste hardware. Retention should be a written project decision.

The network is part of the system. PoE budgets, switch uplinks and VLAN separation from guest Wi-Fi keep cameras from starving the office LAN. Cabling belongs on the ELV drawing with access control and BMS where they share containment.

Hikvision and Dahua are among the brands ASIF supplies for cameras and recording. Honeywell appears where access control shares the same security conversation. Quotation should list cameras, recorder, storage days and viewing stations — not a vague ‘CCTV package’.