Why a maintenance plan is mandatory for CCTV Systems?
Certified Professional installers are good at installing and commissioning CCTV systems. Once the system is up and running, it is essential that an operations and maintenance manual and checklist be created.
Some of the potential issues that can happen over time:
1. Obstructed view: The CCTV has an obstruction in front of the lens that partly reduces or completely eliminates the field of view. An example is when tree branches and leaves grow out and obstruct the view.
2. HDD Failure: Hard disk drive failure and the operator having no knowledge of this failure.
3. Number of days of recording: Due to a manual inadvertent change in the frame rate and camera recording resolution, the storage capacity can be seriously affected. If the storage capacity is planned for 1 FPS at 720p for 30 days, then changing it to 25 FPS at 1080p will only record for a few days. Would the operator be aware of this?
4. Camera power supply failure: This should be obvious, as the camera would not show up in the display. But what happens when you are managing over 1000+ cameras and there is power supply failure in just one of them?
5. Lens focus: CCTVs with varifocal lens increase our flexibility at the time of installation, allowing installers to focus / zoom on the right area. Sometimes, due to external factors including human error, the focus of the lens gets distorted. So technically, the operator does not get an alarm for this but the image is out of focus and is useless.
6. Relays not working: Relays are connected to trigger external devices or to trigger camera actions. For example, to switch on a floodlight or auto PA announcement in case of motion detection in a zone. This alarm activity would need external relays. Relays could be damaged or their connections disturbed over a period of time.
A maintenance checklist requires that each of the above issues be checked manually. Basic features such viewing; recording and playback should be checked first. I know of a customer that insists a DVD copy of the video footage of his entry, exit and movement in the facility on a random date (within his recording schedule). This is a great example for operators to check if the systems are installed properly at the right location to enable identification.
Some of the potential issues that can happen over time:
1. Obstructed view: The CCTV has an obstruction in front of the lens that partly reduces or completely eliminates the field of view. An example is when tree branches and leaves grow out and obstruct the view.
2. HDD Failure: Hard disk drive failure and the operator having no knowledge of this failure.
3. Number of days of recording: Due to a manual inadvertent change in the frame rate and camera recording resolution, the storage capacity can be seriously affected. If the storage capacity is planned for 1 FPS at 720p for 30 days, then changing it to 25 FPS at 1080p will only record for a few days. Would the operator be aware of this?
4. Camera power supply failure: This should be obvious, as the camera would not show up in the display. But what happens when you are managing over 1000+ cameras and there is power supply failure in just one of them?
5. Lens focus: CCTVs with varifocal lens increase our flexibility at the time of installation, allowing installers to focus / zoom on the right area. Sometimes, due to external factors including human error, the focus of the lens gets distorted. So technically, the operator does not get an alarm for this but the image is out of focus and is useless.
6. Relays not working: Relays are connected to trigger external devices or to trigger camera actions. For example, to switch on a floodlight or auto PA announcement in case of motion detection in a zone. This alarm activity would need external relays. Relays could be damaged or their connections disturbed over a period of time.
A maintenance checklist requires that each of the above issues be checked manually. Basic features such viewing; recording and playback should be checked first. I know of a customer that insists a DVD copy of the video footage of his entry, exit and movement in the facility on a random date (within his recording schedule). This is a great example for operators to check if the systems are installed properly at the right location to enable identification.
