Industrial sites most focussed on CCTV security
6 Oct 2010
London – Industrial site operators are increasingly turning to CCTV technology, certified to British Standard BS8418, to protect their facilities, according to a recent survey conducted by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
The research found that industrial sites ranked first amongst the sectors which members of the BSIA CCTV section most frequently supplied BS4418 solutions to, ahead of motor dealerships, construction and transport.
First introduced in 2003, BS8418 for remotely monitored, detector-activated CCTV systems. Following a revision, the BSIA survey aimed to assess installer and manufacturer attitudes towards the popularity and value of BS8418 systems and their uptake in different sectors.
BS8418 compliant systems consist of cameras and detectors placed strategically around a site, linked together by specialised transmission equipment to a Remote Video Response Centre (RVRC). Operators can visually confirm what is happening, call up on-screen plans of the site and even issue verbal warnings to intruders via on-site speakers.
RVRC operators can also alert the police who, as the incident is confirmed visually and is associated with a URN (Unique Reference Number), should provide a rapid response.
Across the board, usage of BS8418 solutions has risen by 22% over the past year, which is a positive trend given their proven ability to secure large and vulnerable sites out of hours, said Pauline Norstrom, chairman of the BSIA’s CCTV section.
“The crime stopping capability of BS8418 solutions is clearly what makes them more and more popular across a wide range of sectors. BS8418 solutions enable users to take a more proactive approach to reducing crime and ensuring the security of their premises,” said Norstrom.
Over 50% of survey respondents’ client base said they used the audio challenge capability often referred to as “talking CCTV” 9 to warn off intruders at the earliest possible stage.
Meanwhile, the biggest perceived benefit, according to 64% of those surveyed, was the reduction in false alarms through visual confirmation.
