CCTV maintenance checklist – Ensuring you get the best from your security camera system

Once you have installed the latest, most advanced surveillance camera system, it is important that you maintain it correctly ensuring that it captures everything clearly. Below is a useful CCTV maintenance checklist for you to make sure that you can completely rely on your system. Follow these steps, each week as part of your regular routine maintenance for your surveillance camera system. For more information about the CCTV installations provided by Silver Group click here.

Vision

• • Is the camera correctly focused and pointing in the right direction with the correct maximum field of view. Possibly the camera has been knocked or moved from its original position – Of course you should also check to ensure the camera has not become loose from its secure mounting position.
• • Is there any plant foliage or other obstructions obscuring the view?
• • Make sure there is no ingress of water due to failure of any glands or seals.
• • Are the cameras pan, tilt and zoom (if fitted) features working correctly?
• • If they have motion detection sensors fitted, are these full operational and working independently from the control panel? Likewise, if there are any supplementary lighting systems to aid vision at night, are these all working correctly?
• • Is the video payback nice and clear (especially for high definition cameras)? No distortion or interference? May be you need to check the wiring to the cameras in case they have become loose, exposed or damaged.

Recording and Monitors

• Is the correct time and date stamp recorded on all footage – Don’t forget to change the clock if necessary, for British summer time if your system doesn’t adjust automatically. Likewise double check the date is correct on 1st of March in a leap year.
• • Is downloading the footage quick and easy for authorised parties for example the police or insurance assessors?
• • Are the monitors showing clear images? Brightness and contrast settings correct as well as screens nice and clear – clean with microfibre cloth and weak cleaning solution if necessary.
• • Check that all wires and power to the recorder are correct, and not likely to be pulled by accident.

Signage

• • Are all warning notices and labels in place and visible to all within range of the cameras? Today, there are clear requirements for the operator or persons responsible for the surveillance system to have the correct signage including the contact details of those responsible for storing the images captured. Are you familiar with the surveillance camera Code of Practice and ICO requirements?