OSEA Safety Blog

The Importance of Security Camera Positioning

Whether you are considering installation of security cameras at your home or business, an important item to consider is proper positioning of the camera(s). Security camera positioning plays a vital role in providing adequate surveillance and poor camera placement can result in failure to capture the video or image that you need.

The first thing you need to do, before you even consider security camera positioning, is to determine exactly what you intend to get out of this form of surveillance. The best way to do this is by conducting a threat and vulnerability assessment – the amount of time and resources this takes depends solely on what you are trying to protect, home or business. Things to consider are:

• Are you trying to keep people out of a building?
• Looking for early detection of a threat?
• Preventing or reducing theft and vandalism?
• Gather evidence in case it is needed?
• Monitor areas with restricted access or sensitive areas?

Once you have determined your precise needs, you can better determine the positioning based off what you need to see (you will also need to decide on type of security camera at this point as this will also affect what you can see and when you can see it). Some considerations for placement include:

• Cameras should be placed near high-traffic and unguarded areas
• Areas in which an intruder can gain access (i.e. windows and doorways)
• Be cognizant of potential “blind spots”
• Lighting where you intend to install
• Field of view (what the camera can actually see)

Perhaps one of the most important, and often overlooked, things to consider when positioning cameras is proper attention to regulatory compliance with the right to privacy. Operating a camera within certain spaces may come with a number of compliance requirements that may not be applicable in another location (i.e. locker rooms, bathrooms, or anywhere people have a reasonable expectation of privacy).

There are numerous things that need to be taken into consideration once you decide to install security cameras, the above just gives some basic concepts. The bottom line is that well placed security cameras can deter criminals, identify criminals that ignore or don’t notice cameras, increase chances of catching them, and provide evidence as needed.