From growth corridors in the west to the north and south-east, the demand for logistics and e-commerce dropshipping is driving the construction of large warehouses. Broad floor space and high roofing allows for high racks over 8 meters, to store a lot of products. With all these new warehouses packed with valuable goods, you will need proper CCTV cameras for any warehouses operating in Melbourne.
It isn’t a simple case of putting up CCTV cameras in the corners and hoping for the best. Security alarm installation is much more complex and nuanced. You need to make sure there are no blind spots, you can see both inside and outside, and more. You need people who understand security systems in Melbourne.
In this article, we’ll explain why you need a good CCTV system, what cameras work best, and how to design the system to get maximum coverage and use from your security system.
Why Do I Need a CCTV System For a Large Warehouse?
Part of managing a vast warehouse is making sure all the inventory is safe and accounted for, any heavy machinery is monitored and all employee activity is monitored for safety reasons. Obviously, a manager can’t do all of that on their own, so they need help.
What can having a good quality CCTV security system do for you and your warehouse?
Security and Loss Prevention
A visible camera system is an initial deterrence to potential thieves. If a potential thief knows they’re on camera, they might think again. This applies for internal theft as well. If employees know that the stock is covered by cameras, it will discourage them from stealing as well.
A high-definition camera can cover large areas and help keep an eye on inventory. Have the cameras on the parking lot and you can offer protection and monitoring of employee cars.
In the case that a crime is committed, your video footage can be used for evidence. High quality, high-definition camera footage is extremely helpful in identifying people and vehicles when there is a crime. The more help you can give the police, the more helpful they will be.
Operational Efficiency
Modern systems can allow you to remotely monitor your system, including live feeds on your smartphone. You can monitor your warehouse anywhere, anytime.
By watching the processes in your warehouse you can identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in storage and transport, and work to smooth them out. This saves time and of course, money.
With cameras focused on the loading dock you can see how the dock is used, if there are any people flouting safety protocols and check arrival and loading times of trucks and contractors. This can help with efficiencies and any handling disputes that may arise.
With modern day software, you can have A.I. analytical support to track stock movement, people movement and monitor traffic in certain areas.
Occupational Health and Safety
Large storage warehouses are high risk environments with moving forklifts, shelves with a lot of heavy stock stored on them and people walking through them. With a thorough CCTV system you can monitor all the moving parts and check on any unsafe practices.
If there are any incidents, the camera footage can be used for evidence. It helps with investigations to view actual events.
If you have records of what happened, it can reduce your liability. With factual, unbiased accounts of events, it helps in legal cases or in cases of workers compensation.
Technical Advantage
Large warehouses need extensive CCTV security systems. You need to cover blind spots that high shelving and packing can cause.
New technology includes night vision and infrared technology so you don’t have to have the lights on all night.
The modern CCTV security systems which we install can be expanded upon as your business grows, without needing a whole new system.
What CCTV Security System Works Best?
When looking for a CCTV system for your warehouse there are some factors you need to consider.
> Resolution: You would be looking for 6 Megapixels (MP) at least. This is a good starting point, it is high definition and can cover wide areas with zoom-ability.For higher security and more valuable stock to watch, such as large warehouses. 8MP (4k Ultra HD) cameras are becoming standard. Greater detail, wider coverage per camera and better digital zoom.
> Low-light vision: You want a camera system that has good low-light or night-sight vision. This saves you from having the lights on all night, especially outdoors.
> Wide Dynamic Range (WDR): This is important for viewing environments with high-contrast lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight when doors open into a dark warehouse.
> Lens: Your system will need varifocal lenses for flexibility in covering different fields of view.
> Panoramic/Wide angle: You want a system with a good 180 degrees of movement so it can cover large areas and track movement if needed.
VIP Security have five leading brands of CCTV security Systems
How to Design a CCTV Security System to Cover Your Warehouse.
There are many steps to installing a comprehensive CCTV security system for your large warehouses with high shelves. You don’t start by purchasing a system. You start by surveying the scene.
> Conduct a site survey: Map the warehouse, showing the layout of the aisles. Include the height of the shelves and what will be packed so you can find potential blind spots. This will help with the total camera count required.
> Plan for growth: Always figure in scaling up. You don’t want to put yourself in a corner. Find a CCTV system that can add cameras to the network easily.
> Integration: Have your CTV security system with access control for multiple people. Have it integrated with the full warehouse security in one central location for ease of use.
Where to place the cameras is your next step. The map you created comes in handy now.
> For High Rack Aisles: This article deals specifically for warehouses with high racks. So your cameras need to be mounted higher than the racks to avoid coverage gaps and blind spots. Cameras placed at the ends of aisles can see right down between stacks.
> Loading docks and entrance points: High definition cameras that are clearly visible to help monitor vehicles and deliveries, and those coming into and out of the warehouse.
> Active packing areas/ Customer service points: Monitor high value stock with high definition cameras, and have monitoring wherever people will be congregating.
> Perimeter and car parks: Infrared cameras with weatherproofing are good for watching the carpark and perimeter fences.
> Blind Spots: When you have the system in place, check for blind spots and work out a way to cover them.
How high should you mount your cameras?
> Warehouse: They should be mounted at least two metres higher than the stacks to be able to see over them if needed. This gives a wider view.
> Customer Service indoors: Behind the counter where the public can’t tamper with them.
> Carpark and perimeter: Mounted at least three meters off the ground. This prevents tampering. Sometimes you may want to mount them higher for a wider area of surveillance. Also, using tamper-resistant housing is good to protect your cameras.
The Tech side of things now.
> Cables: Use IP-based cameras for high quality and scalable systems. Consider a Cat6 cable system, rather than WiFi for security reasons.
> Power: You will want an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) so your cameras work if there is a power outage at your warehouse.
> Saving the data: You will need a Network Video Recorder to ensure continuous vision and safe storage of your footage.
Not only is the warehouse itself an investment in time and money which needs to be secured, often the goods stored inside are worth more. Smart operators need state-of-the-art CCTV security systems, and VIP Security is here to ensure the protection of your staff and stock. Don’t wait until after a break in or an act of vandalism, get in front of the bad guys and have your warehouses watched and monitored 24 hours a day.
Contact us today, and let’s plan how we can make your warehouse safe and secure.
