Installation of Camera In Harsh Environment

In this article, our aim to provide you some basic information about same standard which determine the outdoor working reliability. Outdoor Security cameras must be able to continue working properly. To achieve this, the security cameras must can effectively withstand in harsh conditions - such as rain, dust, wind, sand, salt, extreme hot and cold temperature etc. Many factors determine the camera whether they are suitable for specific outdoor critical environments.

1.       WEATHERPROOF STANDARD - INGRESS PROTECTION (IP)

To let user know whether certain products are suitable for certain conditions, some international organizations set standards that can indicate how effectively product can work in environment prone to water, dust, explosion and impact. Ingress protection is the most widely used one standard.

IP stands for ingress protection which is a standard (IEC-529) that specify how caable equipment can withstand the ingress, or entry, of dust or water. An IP is usually consisted of two numerals, the first digital indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g. electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects, the second digital indicates the protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful ingress of water. For harsh environment, the security camera should be rated IP66 to IP68 as opposed to IP32 to IP54 for indoor environment.

2.       IMPACT PROTECTION - IK RATING

IK or impact protection, is the standard that specify degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts in accordance with IEC 62262:2002 and IEC 60068-2-75:1997. IK rating system ranges from IK00, or no protection, to IK10, or protection against 20 joules impact, equivalent to impact of 5kg mass dropped from 400 mm above impacted surface. Typically, vandal-proof security cameras utilizes high impact polycarbonate plastic dome. Tamper-resistant screws make the unit resistant to vandalism.

3.       SURGE PROTECTION

The majority of all surge-induced damage is caused by surges and spikes travelling along unprotected video, data, and power lines. These surges originally come from a wide variety of sources, including lightning strikes and static charge buildup. Surge protection can provide protection for both IP video surveillance and analog video surveillance systems which include front-end cameras, data lines, power lines, back-end storage DVR, NVR, as well as PoE switches. When security cameras are installed outdoor, extra surge protection is essential, surge protection is a smart investment in preventing not only equipment loss, but the potential loss of critical information.

4.       EXTREME LOW/HIGH TEMPERATURE

Users also need to consider the temperature factor if the camera is installed in extreme hot or low temperature degrees environment, the security cameras should be able to withstand these conditions. While typical security camera ought to have a working temperature range from -10 to 60 degrees Celsius, critical environment products should be able to work in a range between -40 and 70 degrees Celsius. Some IP cameras has built-in heater and fan to maintain the camera's inner temperature therefore allows camera to work in an extreme high/low environments.

5.       OTHER CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES

Many other new technologies which has been implemented into security camera to enable them work in places that subject to danger or extreme weather conditions. Pelco by Scheider Electric released a series of products that have capability to withstand water and dust ingress, fog, high and low temperatures, winds of up to 57 meters per second, explosions, and corrosion by salt and different types of chemicals.

Many different technologies have been utilized to make those features possible. For example, some products feature the pressurized integrated optics cartridge (IOC) technology, which is able to protect the equipment from moisture and airborne contaminants and packages an auto-focus camera, lens, heater, and sensors in a small, self-contained, and sealed unit. Another cutting-edge technology is Dry nitrogen pressurized to 10 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG), which protects the environment inside the cartridge, whereby sensors strategically placed in the cartridge send an alert message if changes in pressure, humidity, or temperature are beyond factory-set threshold points.

Some security cameras also feature heater, window defroster, sun shroud, and thermal insulation blanket to enable operation in temperature conditions ranging from as low as -46 degrees Celsius to over 49. In case the power failure during an ice store, the entire camera can deice itself and become operational in just two hours after power restore at a temperature as as -25 degrees Celsius.