If you thought that simply installing video
surveillance systems would be sufficient to ensure safety, then you were wrong.
These systems need periodic maintenance to check for proper functioning of the
devices and to detect signs of possible damage that may prevent the system from
working as intended. It is also possible that some devices may have been
tampered with. In such a case, timely intervention is of the utmost importance
because even a single flaw could give thieves and infiltrators a much needed
opportunity to make a breach.
If you want to ensure prolonged
effectiveness of the installed video surveillance systems, then make sure that
you follow these simple yet effective tips.
1. Track all the maintenance work
with a carefully documented process so that all relevant details may be made
available as and when required. Ideally, you should maintain two records for noting
the details of the repairs and maintenance so that the loss of one book doesn’t
result in all the information getting lost.
2. Get help from a security expert
or from the security system manufacturer for setting the focus of the cameras
correctly. It is obvious that you would want to use the camera to get a good
view of the entire room, but it is not possible to maintain focus on all areas
of the room at the same time. So the best thing that you can do is to find that
one sweet spot which you find most vulnerable to security breaches and focus
the camera on that position. This will save you a lot of hassles in the case of
a breach and you will be able to assist the authorities in a better manner with
clear evidence.
3. Clean the camera lenses every
month with an approved cleaning fluid. The best way to find out about
compatible cleaning solutions for your security camera is to consult with the
manufacturer. Make sure that you don’t apply the cleaning fluid directly to the
lens. Add a few drops of the fluid on a piece of paper and wipe it while
following a circular motion. This helps to get it clean faster and more
effectively. Do not attempt to clean it without proper consultation or without
proper understanding or else the camera’s lens might get affected.
4. Consider “back lighting” when
fixing the camera’s angle. Backlighting often occurs in locations with sunlight
streaming through windows directly into to the camera lens. Due to this, the
subject will only appear as a silhouette or a dark outline with no significant
details being visible to the camera. You can either install window shades to
minimize external lights or you can adjust the camera’s angle to get a clearer
picture.
5. Check the time and date
settings on the recorder for accuracy. Brief power outages can cause the time
to be reset. If the video is captured with incorrect time, then it would not
count as valid evidence. Even a few minutes of delay or the wrong date can make
it really difficult to track events and understand the sequence.
6. If any crime occurs that is
recorded by the video surveillance camera, check the proper settings to prevent
the data from being erased. For digital recording systems, you need to keep a
backup of the file in a safely guarded place. Do not give the sole copy of the
evidence to the authorities. It is important to keep a backup file with you in
case the original file gets tampered, lost or erased.
These are basic maintenance requirements
that need to be followed. For specific requirements, consult with your video surveillance system provider so that you may get a better understanding of the
ways to maintain the system for prolonged performance.
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