CCTV Services - Introduction

"Conception to Completion"

It is very easy to assume, providing you have a system comprising similar equipment, the installation is straightforward. We have in the many years of involvement in the CCTV Industry returned to sites where the customer had taken our advice on the system design, placed the order with a lower priced quotation, experienced ongoing problems and eventually returned to our Company a few years later. In every instance we resolved the problems as part of an ongoing maintenance contract. This is mentioned at the start of this section to emphasise what you may expect in this Industry is seldom fully realised!

The Survey:

This is critical to ensuring the system provides what is expected. Equally important is for the customer to clearly identify what areas of concern they feel CCTV will resolve. Quite often we have to inform the customer that despite the multitude of CCTV programmes on TV there are practical limitations, and as always the cost factor! Our survey will endeavour to provide a system with the minimum quantity of cameras to cover your site.

This is achieved by careful location and listening to your requirements. Only by responding with a system design addressing your requirements will the completed system satisfy or exceed your expectations.

The Proposal:

This will contain a full explanation of the system design and its operation. The component parts of your system will be itemised in a Schedule of Equipment. For the equipment individual sections will describe its facilities and performance, the majority of which are explained by our Company rather than simply manufacturers leaflets. Contract Responsibilities / Maintenance Specification / Terms & Conditions of Sale are all included in a Plain English format. For your proposal presentation by email, fax, post, or carrier, several copies - no problem. Simply ask - you are the customer...

The Pre-Build:

Even for the smallest system every item of equipment is fully tested before leaving our Workshop. Your control equipment will have been programmed, names of cameras inserted, schedules, passwords etc. Cameras tested - if colour/monochrome then the switching process checked, high speed dome functions tested, all pre-wired in the Workshop to simplify installation for the Engineers on site. If in our survey we considered the normal light beige finish of the domes inappropriate for your building, then they will also be spray painted in a different colour.

Next time you visit a Supermarket look at the camera columns. In nearly every location the column is galvanised silver and the dome on top white or beige. On a site installed by our Company the camera will have been sprayed silver as well. It may appear insignificant, but attention to every detail is important to our Company. Short cuts are not an option!

The Installation:

Commencement of installation will be confirmed only when all the equipment has been tested. The Installation Team will have full details of the system in an "On Site File" explaining equipment location, camera schedule, cabling etc. If special conditions apply, ie Work Permit, Induction to the Site, Medical etc, these will be covered in the file and a pre-install "talk through" the system. On most sites the person responsible for the original survey would also visit the site at the commencement to ensure the original design concept is maintained.

The Engineers will be conversant with your system equipment. They will have received training either at the Manufacturers or in house training at our Company. Each will have been vetted to BS7858 (10 year past history), PNC at local Police Station and CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) for a Europe wide check. They will be equipped with the appropriate PPE and have available a selection of Cherry Pickers owned by our Company for safe working. For operation of the Cherry Pickers the Engineers will hold an IPAF Licence. The Cherry Pickers are Lola Tested every six months!

System Completion:

On completion the Engineers will "walk through" the system with yourself. They will explain the camera, detector etc locations. If you require adjustments these will be completed at that time. Any debris caused by drilling will be cleaned and vacuumed. Signs will be erected in your preferred positions. When you are satisfied with the install, the Engineer will provide training of the operation. The "On Site File" will contain full details of the system including appropriate manuals. This will become the history of your system to contain future servicing/maintenance records.

If after receiving the training you require further guidance this is available from our Office. Within reason further training on site is available at no charge. This maybe combined with a maintenance visit or as a separate visit.

The System Maintenance:

The completed system will be maintained during the first 12 months at no additional cost. Your original proposal will have detailed the number of maintenance visits included. Unlike most CCTV Companies we do actually undertake the visits promised and don't simply clean cameras and a quick wipe of the monitor. For many years we have adopted a comprehensive maintenance schedule. Manufacturers have welcomed the feedback from our Company and on several occasions instigated changes to their products based on information provided.

The Engineers are supported by many years of product knowledge, ongoing training, a large service stock of replacement parts, direct contact with the Manufacturers for additional input and as would be expected, full Health & Safety Training!

As a final comment, manufacturers of Digital Video Recorders invest vast sums to offer a multiplicity of facilities to enhance their performance. In almost 90% of installations, when the manufacturer visits a site or has the DVR returned for repair they find the Installation Company has not changed the default settings - including passwords to suit the site! No doubt from the above you can rest assured that a system provided by our Company will not fall into that category.