Self Storage- Security Systems

[Henry Clark]

Response to a persons question.  Versus a little info at a time, the following is all I know about security camera systems. Go over this with your security person. Tell them you don't want a "Camera" system, you want a "Security" system.

1. Protect your NVR. Put a Call system on your doors, windows or office motion sensor. If your alarm code is not entered when someone comes in, you get a phone call.
2. Put in an over the top siren system in your office. Again, if your alarm code is not entered, it will physically blast anyone out of the office. You have to have two hands over your ears.
3. Each Camera can be set to so many camera shots per second. Your most important areas you want at 8 to 10 shots per second. Your normal areas you want at 3 to 4. 3 to 4 per second sounds like a lot, but I can walk through a door without you capturing me.
4. If your camera system is only capturing motion sensor and for a little while, your either totally underutilizing your NVR memory or you have to small of an NVR memory system. Look at your back up period. If you have 6 months, since your only capturing motion, you are not capturing enough film. You should be around 2 weeks of back up. This gives most issues time to arise or be caught, even if your on vacation.
5. Your NVR memory capacity is set by: a. number of cameras, b. Number of picture frames, c. camera definition, d. the actual NVR memory size. Dial your system in, to achieve the amount of memory you want stored. Again, we use around 2 weeks.
6. Camera quality- 1 gig, 4 gig, 4K. in reference to the number of Pixels. More pixels, the better the picture and the more you can blow it up. 4K, I believe is really around 8 gig, different terminology. If your cameras are more than 4 years old, its time to start replacing them. 1 gig you could have a car license in great sunshine and still not see the license.
7. Camera- infrared
8. Camera- at your front gate or access, you want a "License" plate camera. It is specially designed to see through headlights and taillights. Lets say you had the best camera in the world. It won't see through Head lights and tail lights. This is a special camera. If you capture the person breaking in the unit, it doesn't matter, if the police can't find them (license plate).
9. Camera- Sensor, your system should be able to dial up and down on size. You might dial it up so cats, raccoons and dogs don't trigger it. You will have some problems during heavy rain and snow storms. A large snow flake and inch away from the camera, looks like a truck. You just have to recognize bad weather.
10. Camera- each camera you should be able to "Paint" or draw lines over the portion of the picture you want your sensor to record. One of our cameras at the front gate was picking up road traffic 200 yards away on the main road. We just unpainted that section, so the alarm didn't go off.
11. Camera- Verifocal, at key areas you might use a Verifocal camera. This allows you to move the saved camera shot at different angles to see the item better.
12. Camera- number of cameras. We use 1 camera to cover every 6 units. Cameras have gotten cheaper, so we have added more. Issue is did that person break into that unit. Lets say you have 1 camera covering 15 units. The camera shot shows the person entering a unit, but you can't tell which one. Our City attorney won't prosecute.
13. Camera- positioning, try to criss cross your shots. Cameras on this side, cover the other side, versus looking straight down a row at a flat angle.
14. NVR system- get a system that flags motion on your timeline. You don't want to look through 24 hours of tape. On your timeline, there should be a red flag or bump, whenever there is motion.
15. Camera- online viewing. Have your system with a small person icon show up when there is motion in the camera. This is a big help when you are there and want to look back real quickly to see where a person or vehicle went through, versus looking through all of your cameras.
16. Camera- If you have an access system, make sure you have a face camera with 8 to 10 shots per second.

What are you trying to do?
1. Identify there has been motion or a break in.
2. Show the person actually entering the unit.
3. Capture a picture of the person.
4. Capture a picture of the persons license plate, so they can be found.

You need these things to work with the City/County attorney and Law Enforcement.

Each location to its own needs. No fence, no cameras, to guard service.