Every term you are likely to meet in a quote, a datasheet or an insurer's letter, in plain language. Filter with the search box and topic chips above, or jump by letter.
- Anti-passbackAccess control
- A rule that stops a credential being used to enter twice without exiting in between. It prevents one person passing their card back through a door or fence to someone else.
- ANPR / LPRCCTV
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Software that reads vehicle plates from video. It needs roughly 150 to 200 pixels across the plate to work reliably, which depends on lens and distance rather than camera brand.
- Aperture (f-number)CCTV
- How wide the lens opens to let in light. A lower number means more light: f/1.0 gathers four times as much as f/2.0. It is one of the biggest factors in night performance, and it is often buried in the datasheet.
- ARC / Central stationMonitoring
- An Alarm Receiving Centre, called a central station in the US. It receives signals from alarms and cameras around the clock and acts on them. In the US, look for UL-listed central stations. In Europe, look for EN 50518 compliance.
- AI video analyticsCCTV
- Software that classifies what a camera sees: person, vehicle or animal. It raises alerts on rules such as line crossing or entering a zone. Good analytics cut false alarms from trees, shadows and wildlife dramatically.
- Alarm verificationAlarms
- Confirming an alarm is genuine before dispatching a response. Methods include sequential detection by two sensors, video clips and audio. Many police forces give verified alarms higher priority, or respond only to verified alarms.
- BitrateCCTV
- How much data a camera produces per second, usually quoted in Mbps. It drives both how much storage you need and how much upload bandwidth cloud recording will consume.
- BLC / HLCCCTV
- Backlight Compensation brightens a subject in front of a bright background. Highlight Compensation masks bright spots such as headlights. Both are simpler fixes than WDR and can help at gates and car parks.
- CBR / VBRCCTV
- Constant and Variable Bitrate. CBR makes storage predictable but wastes space on quiet scenes. VBR saves space but can spike when there is movement. Size storage for the busy periods, not the quiet ones.
- Chain of custodyPrivacy & law
- The record of who exported footage, when, and how it was handled afterwards. Unbroken custody and a verifiable export make footage far more useful to the police and the courts.
- Corridor modeCCTV
- Rotating the sensor 90 degrees so a wide image becomes a tall one. It puts far more useful pixels on narrow spaces such as hallways, aisles and driveways, and costs nothing to enable.
- CPTEDPlanning
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It uses layout, lighting, landscaping and maintenance to discourage crime. Examples are trimming hedges below window height, lighting approaches, and making ownership of a space obvious.
- CredentialAccess control
- Whatever proves identity at a reader: a card, a fob, a PIN, a phone or a biometric. Credentials range from trivially copyable to strongly encrypted, so this is the first thing to check in an access control quote.
- Defence in depthPlanning
- Layering several independent measures so that one failure does not leave the property exposed. The classic sequence is deter, detect, delay and respond.
- DORICCTV
- Detect, Observe, Recognise, Identify. The EN 62676-4 scale that states what a camera can actually resolve at a given distance. It is the honest way to describe a camera's reach, and the reason "4K" alone tells you very little.
- DPIAPrivacy & law
- Data Protection Impact Assessment. A documented review of the privacy risks of a system. Under the GDPR, one is often required for large-scale or systematic monitoring, and it is good practice everywhere.
- Dual-technology detectorAlarms
- A motion sensor that combines PIR with microwave. Both technologies must trigger before it raises an alarm. It suits garages, warehouses and conservatories, where heat and draughts fool a PIR alone.
- Dual-path signallingAlarms
- Sending alarm signals over two routes, typically broadband and cellular, so that cutting one line does not silence the system. The monitoring centre is warned if either path fails.
- Duress codeAlarms
- A special code that appears to disarm the system but silently alerts the monitoring centre. It is for situations where someone is forced to switch the alarm off.
- DVRCCTV
- Digital Video Recorder. Records analogue cameras over coaxial cable. Still common on older sites, largely replaced by NVRs on new installations.
- Edge storageCCTV
- A memory card inside the camera that keeps recording if the network or recorder fails. Some systems backfill the recorder automatically once the connection returns.
- Electric strikeAccess control
- An electrically released keeper in the door frame. The door stays mechanically latched and simply lets go when access is granted. It is often preferred over maglocks on escape routes.
- Fail-safe / fail-secureAccess control
- How a lock behaves when the power fails. Fail-safe unlocks, which is needed on most escape routes. Fail-secure stays locked, which suits stock rooms and perimeter gates. Choose deliberately, per door.
- Field of view (FOV)CCTV
- The angle a camera sees, usually given as horizontal degrees. A wider view covers more but puts fewer pixels on each person. It is set by the focal length and the sensor size.
- FirmwareCyber
- The software inside cameras, recorders and controllers. Updates fix security holes, so ask how updates are delivered, who applies them, and for how many years the model will be supported.
- Fisheye / panoramicCCTV
- Cameras that cover 180 or 360 degrees from one position, either with a fisheye lens or several sensors. They are excellent for overview. Detail at the edges is limited, so pair them with narrower cameras at entrances.
- Focal lengthCCTV
- Measured in millimetres. A short focal length (2.8 mm) gives a wide view, and a long one (12 mm or more) gives a narrow, zoomed view. Doubling the focal length roughly doubles the distance at which you can identify someone.
- Frame rate (fps)CCTV
- How many images are recorded per second. 12 to 15 fps is plenty for general security. Use 25 to 30 fps for LPR, cash handling and fast action. Higher frame rates raise storage roughly in proportion.
- Glass-break detectorAlarms
- A sensor that listens for the specific sound of breaking glass. It protects windows while the building is occupied, when motion sensors would have to be off.
- Guard tour systemGuarding
- Checkpoints, usually NFC tags, that a guard scans on each patrol. The system records when each point was visited and proves the patrol happened as contracted.
- H.264 / H.265CCTV
- Video compression standards. H.265 (also called HEVC) produces roughly half the file size of H.264 at similar quality, at the cost of more processing. Older software sometimes cannot play H.265.
- IK ratingCCTV
- Impact resistance. IK08 withstands a 5 joule strike, and IK10 withstands 20 joules. Worth specifying for any camera within reach of the ground.
- Interlock / mantrapAccess control
- Two doors arranged so that only one can open at a time. It controls entry to server rooms, cash offices and other high-security areas, and it stops tailgating.
- IP ratingCCTV
- Ingress protection against dust and water, written as two digits. IP66 is dust-tight and resists powerful water jets, and IP67 adds temporary immersion. Not to be confused with IP as in network camera.
- IR cut filterCCTV
- A filter that sits in front of the sensor by day and moves aside at night so the camera can use infrared light. It is why the image switches from colour to black and white after dark.
- KeyholdingGuarding
- A service in which a security company holds your keys and attends alarm activations in your place. It saves you a trip at 3 a.m. and keeps an untrained person out of a possible break-in.
- LuxCCTV
- A measure of light level. A camera's minimum lux rating claims how little light it needs. Manufacturers do not measure it consistently, so ratings from different brands are not directly comparable.
- MaglockAccess control
- An electromagnetic lock that holds a door shut with a rated force, commonly 280 to 600 kg. It is fail-safe by nature, and on escape routes it needs a correctly specified release arrangement.
- MIFARE DESFireAccess control
- A family of encrypted 13.56 MHz smart cards. The EV2 and EV3 generations are widely regarded as secure for access control, unlike the older MIFARE Classic, which can be cracked.
- Mobile patrolGuarding
- Officers in a vehicle who visit several sites on a schedule or at random, checking doors, lighting and perimeters. It is a lower-cost alternative to a static guard for low-risk sites.
- MODCCTV
- Minimum Object Distance. The closest point a lens can focus on, which sets the size of the blind spot directly beneath a mounted camera. Frequently overlooked on high mounts.
- NVRCCTV
- Network Video Recorder. Records IP cameras over a network and usually supplies their power over the same cable. It is the box that holds your footage, and the thing a burglar takes if it is not secured.
- ONVIFCCTV
- An open standard that lets cameras and recorders from different manufacturers work together. Worth insisting on, because it means a future camera or recorder does not have to come from the same brand.
- OSDPAccess control
- Open Supervised Device Protocol. A modern two-way, encryptable link between reader and controller. It detects tampering and replaces the older, insecure Wiegand wiring.
- PartitionAlarms
- An area of an alarm system that can be armed separately, such as the office and the warehouse, or the house and the garage. Part-setting arms only some zones, for example the downstairs at night.
- PIRAlarms
- Passive Infrared detector. It senses the movement of body heat across its zones. It is cheap and reliable indoors, and pet-tolerant versions ignore small animals.
- Pixel densityCCTV
- How many image pixels land on each metre of the scene (px/m), or on each foot (ppf). It is the most honest single measure of what a camera can show you at a given spot.
- PoECCTV
- Power over Ethernet. Power and data travel on one cable, so a camera needs no separate power supply at its position. It is the main reason wired installations are tidier than they used to be.
- Port forwardingCyber
- Opening a path through your router so a device can be reached from the internet. For cameras it exposes the device to constant automated attack. Use a VPN or an outbound cloud connection instead.
- Privacy maskingPrivacy & law
- Blocking out part of the image permanently, such as a neighbour's window or garden or a public footpath. It keeps the camera useful while respecting other people's privacy.
- Proximity (125 kHz)Access control
- The older, unencrypted card and fob technology. It can be copied with inexpensive tools, often from a short distance. Plan to migrate to encrypted credentials.
- PTZCCTV
- Pan, Tilt, Zoom. A camera that can be moved and zoomed remotely. It only ever sees where it is pointed, so a PTZ supplements fixed cameras rather than replacing several of them.
- RAIDCCTV
- Combining several hard drives so that one can fail without losing footage (RAID 5, 6 or 10). It is worth having on larger or evidentially important systems. It is not a substitute for an off-site copy.
- Remote guardingMonitoring
- Operators who watch cameras live or on alert, issue audio warnings through site speakers, and dispatch a response. It is often called virtual guarding or a video patrol.
- RetentionCCTV
- How many days of footage are kept before the oldest is overwritten. Fourteen to thirty days suits most properties. Check whether an insurer or regulator requires longer before sizing the recorder.
- REX (Request to Exit)Access control
- The button or motion sensor that releases a controlled door from the inside. It also tells the system that the door opened legitimately, so it does not report a forced door.
- Risk assessmentPlanning
- A structured look at what could happen, how likely it is and how bad it would be. It is the foundation of any proportionate security design, and it is often required by insurers and privacy regulators.
- Shutter speedCCTV
- How long each frame is exposed. A slow shutter lets in more light but blurs movement. Vehicles typically need 1/250 s or faster, and at night that means you need more light.
- SignagePrivacy & law
- Signs telling people that recording is taking place. They are required in many jurisdictions, and under the GDPR they must say who operates the system and how to contact them. They also deter.
- Smart codecCCTV
- Manufacturer enhancements to H.264 and H.265 that cut the bitrate further on static scenes. They are sold under various brand names. They can halve storage again, but check that playback and export still work in your VMS.
- StarlightCCTV
- A marketing term for sensors that hold usable colour at very low light levels. There is no single standard behind the name, so compare the lux figures and, better still, ask to see night footage from a real site.
- Subject access requestPrivacy & law
- A person's legal right, under the GDPR and similar laws, to request footage of themselves. You will typically need to find it, redact other people and supply it within a set time.
- SubstreamCCTV
- A lower-resolution second stream from each camera, used for multi-camera views and mobile apps. It keeps remote viewing smooth on limited bandwidth while the full stream records.
- Surge protectionPlanning
- Devices that divert voltage spikes from lightning or the mains away from equipment. They are essential on long outdoor cable runs and in areas where storms are frequent.
- TailgatingAccess control
- An unauthorised person following an authorised one through a controlled door. Turnstiles, interlocks, analytics and a strong culture of not holding doors are the counter-measures.
- TamperAlarms
- Circuits that raise an alarm if a device is opened, removed from the wall or has its wiring cut, even while the system is disarmed.
- Thermal cameraCCTV
- A camera that images heat rather than light, and sees people in total darkness, smoke and light fog. It is outstanding for perimeter detection, but it cannot identify faces or read plates.
- Two-factor authenticationCyber
- A second proof of identity, such as a code or an app prompt, on top of a password. Enable it on every cloud and remote-access account linked to the system.
- UPnPCyber
- A router feature that lets devices open ports on their own. It is convenient, but it can silently expose cameras to the internet. Turn it off.
- UPSPlanning
- An uninterruptible power supply. It keeps the recorder, PoE switch and router running through a power cut and shields them from brown-outs. Size it for at least 30 to 60 minutes.
- Varifocal lensCCTV
- A lens whose focal length can be adjusted during installation, so one camera can be tuned to its position instead of being swapped for a different model. Slightly dearer, far more forgiving.
- VLANCyber
- A virtual network segment that keeps cameras separate from your computers and guest Wi-Fi. If a camera is compromised, the attacker cannot move on to the rest of the network.
- VMSCCTV
- Video Management Software. The application used to view, search and export footage, particularly across several sites. On larger systems the VMS matters more day to day than the cameras.
- VPNCyber
- Virtual Private Network. An encrypted tunnel into your site network, and the safest way to view a recorder remotely without exposing it to the internet.
- WatermarkingPrivacy & law
- A digital signature embedded in exported footage that proves it has not been altered. It is valuable for insurance claims and prosecutions.
- WDRCCTV
- Wide Dynamic Range. Handles scenes containing both bright and dark areas, such as a doorway shot against daylight. Without it, anyone standing in a lit doorway becomes a silhouette. True WDR is quoted in decibels (120 dB or more is good).
- WiegandAccess control
- The legacy wiring standard between card readers and controllers. It is one-way and unencrypted, so it can be intercepted at the reader. New installations should use OSDP.
- ZoneAlarms
- A single detection input on an alarm panel, such as one door contact or one PIR. Zones can be set as instant, entry/exit, 24-hour or fire.
- Door contactAlarms
- A two-part magnetic switch that signals when a door or window opens. It is the simplest and most reliable intrusion sensor there is.
- EN 50131 gradeAlarms
- The European intruder alarm standard. It grades systems from 1 (low risk) to 4 (high risk) according to the skill and tools of the expected intruder. Insurers frequently name a required grade.
- Biometric readerAccess control
- A reader that identifies someone by fingerprint, face or another physical trait. It cannot be lent or lost like a card, but it is sensitive personal data under privacy law and often needs explicit consent.
- P2P cloudCyber
- A manufacturer relay service that lets an app reach a recorder by scanning a QR code, with no router setup. It is convenient, but the security depends entirely on the vendor. Disable it if you use a VPN instead.
- DeterrencePlanning
- Measures meant to make an offender choose somewhere else, such as visible cameras, lighting, signage and audio warnings. It is cheap and effective against opportunists, but it has little effect on a determined attacker.
- Access controllerAccess control
- The panel that decides whether a credential opens a door. It keeps working if the network drops and logs every event. It should sit on the secure side of the door it controls.
- Bullet cameraCCTV
- A cylindrical camera, usually wall-mounted outdoors. It is highly visible, which deters, and it often has longer lenses and IR range than a dome.
- Dome cameraCCTV
- A camera inside a tinted dome. It is discreet, harder to tamper with and hides where it is pointing. It suits ceilings and reachable positions.
- Turret cameraCCTV
- A ball-shaped camera in an open mount. It avoids the IR reflection that dome bubbles can cause, and it is easy to aim.
- GOP / I-frameCCTV
- Group of Pictures. Video stores a full "I-frame" periodically and only changes in between. A longer GOP saves space but makes seeking and exports less precise.
- RTSPCCTV
- Real-Time Streaming Protocol. The common way to pull a live stream from an IP camera into a recorder, VMS or third-party software.
- MulticastCCTV
- Sending one video stream to many viewers at once without multiplying the network load. It is useful in control rooms with many monitors.
- Sensor sizeCCTV
- Quoted in odd fractions such as 1/2.8" or 1/1.8". A bigger sensor with the same pixel count has larger pixels, which usually means better low-light performance.
- Optical vs digital zoomCCTV
- Optical zoom moves lens elements and gains real detail. Digital zoom only enlarges pixels that already exist, so it adds nothing a recording did not already capture.
- 3D DNRCCTV
- Three-dimensional digital noise reduction. It cleans up grainy night images and cuts the bitrate. Too much of it smears moving objects.
- DefogCCTV
- Image processing that raises contrast in haze, fog or smoke. It helps with visibility but is no substitute for thermal imaging in dense conditions.
- EISCCTV
- Electronic Image Stabilisation. It reduces shake from wind or vibration on poles and bridges, at the cost of a slight crop.
- HD-over-coaxCCTV
- Formats such as HD-TVI, AHD and HD-CVI that send HD video over existing coaxial cable. They are a cost-effective upgrade path for older analogue sites.
- Managed switchCCTV
- A network switch that can be configured, monitored and segmented with VLANs, QoS and port security. It is recommended for anything beyond a small system.
- SFPCCTV
- A small plug-in module that adds a fibre or copper uplink port to a switch. It is how camera networks are linked across long distances.
- Radar detectionAlarms
- Short-range security radar that tracks people and vehicles across open ground in any light or weather. It is often paired with PTZ cameras that slew to each target.
- Photoelectric beamAlarms
- A pair of units that raises an alarm when an invisible infrared beam is broken. It suits walls, driveways and warehouse aisles.
- PIDSAlarms
- Perimeter Intrusion Detection System. Sensors on or along a fence, such as vibration cable, fibre, microwave or buried sensors, that detect climbing, cutting or crossing.
- Vibration / seismic sensorAlarms
- A sensor that detects drilling, cutting or hammering on walls, safes, ATMs and vault doors before entry is made.
- Panic buttonAlarms
- A fixed or wireless button that sends an immediate silent or audible alarm. It is common at receptions, tills and in homes.
- Entry / exit delayAlarms
- The countdown that lets authorised users reach the keypad after entering, or leave after arming. Keep it as short as practical.
- Sequential confirmationAlarms
- An alarm treated as confirmed only when two separate detectors trigger within a set time. It greatly reduces false dispatches.
- Security fog generatorAlarms
- A device that fills a room with dense, harmless fog within seconds of an alarm, so intruders cannot see what to take.
- Siren / bell boxAlarms
- The external sounder and strobe. It is a visible deterrent. Many areas limit how long it may sound, often to 15 or 20 minutes.
- Door position switchAccess control
- A contact that tells the access system whether a door is actually closed. Without it the system cannot detect a forced or propped door.
- Forced / held-open alarmAccess control
- An alert when a door opens without a valid credential (forced), or stays open too long after one (held-open). It is essential for catching propped doors.
- Exit device (panic bar)Access control
- A push bar that opens a door in one motion from inside. It is required on many escape routes, and it can be fitted with alarmed or delayed egress where the code allows.
- Mortise lockAccess control
- A lock body set into a pocket cut in the edge of the door. It is stronger and more durable than a surface or cylindrical lock and is standard on commercial doors.
- Master key systemAccess control
- A mechanical key hierarchy in which a master key opens many locks and sub-keys open some. Patented key profiles stop unauthorised copies.
- Key cabinetAccess control
- An electronic cabinet that releases physical keys only to authorised users and logs every removal and return.
- Mobile credentialAccess control
- A digital key on a phone or watch that works over Bluetooth or NFC. It cannot be lent without the phone and can be issued or revoked remotely.
- TurnstileAccess control
- A barrier that admits one person per credential. Waist-high, full-height and optical speed-gate versions control tailgating at lobbies.
- Video intercomAccess control
- A door station with a camera, speaker and remote release. Visitors are seen and spoken to before they are let in, from a desk or a phone.
- Visitor managementAccess control
- A system that pre-registers, badges and logs visitors and contractors. It creates a record of who was on site and when.
- Lift (elevator) controlAccess control
- Access control that restricts which floors a credential can select. It is common in multi-tenant and residential buildings.
- LockdownAccess control
- A single command that secures all or selected doors immediately. It is used in schools and workplaces during a threat.
- Schedule / time zoneAccess control
- Rules for when a credential works or when a door unlocks automatically. For example, a cleaner's card might work only from 6 to 9 p.m. on weekdays.
- SOC / GSOCMonitoring
- Security Operations Centre, or Global SOC. A central room where operators monitor alarms, video and access across many sites.
- PSIMMonitoring
- Physical Security Information Management. Software that unifies video, access, alarms and procedures on one screen and guides operators step by step.
- SLAMonitoring
- Service Level Agreement. The contract terms for response times, uptime and repair times. Measurable SLAs are the only way to hold a provider to account.
- Talk-down speakerMonitoring
- A speaker at the site that lets an operator, or a recorded message, warn intruders live. It stops many incidents before any entry is made.
- Alarm permitMonitoring
- Registration that many US cities and counties require for monitored alarms. It often comes with fines for repeated false alarms.
- Post ordersGuarding
- The written instructions for a guard post: duties, patrol routes, contacts and procedures. They should be site-specific and reviewed regularly.
- Daily activity reportGuarding
- A guard's record of patrols, events and observations for each shift. It is evidence that the service was delivered and a source of useful patterns.
- Body-worn cameraGuarding
- A camera worn by an officer. It de-escalates encounters, records evidence and protects both staff and the public. Privacy rules still apply.
- Loss preventionGuarding
- The retail discipline of reducing theft, fraud and error, through staff, processes, analytics and technology.
- EASGuarding
- Electronic Article Surveillance. Tags on goods that sound an alarm at exit gates unless they are removed or deactivated at the till.
- Security licenceGuarding
- The legal authorisation that guards and security companies must hold. It is issued by state agencies in the US, by the police in Lithuania, and by the PNP SOSIA in the Philippines.
- Default credentialsCyber
- Factory-set usernames and passwords. They are published online and scanned for constantly, and they are the most common way cameras get compromised.
- CVECyber
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. The public catalogue of known security flaws. Check a model's CVE history and how quickly its maker issues patches.
- 802.1XCyber
- Port-level network authentication. A switch port only connects a device that proves its identity, so an attacker cannot simply unplug a camera and plug in a laptop.
- TLS / HTTPSCyber
- Encryption for web interfaces and video streams. Replace self-signed certificates with trusted ones where possible so users are not trained to click through warnings.
- Least privilegeCyber
- Giving each user only the access they need. A receptionist might view live video without exporting it, while only managers can delete footage.
- SyslogCyber
- A standard way to send device logs to a central server, so logins, changes and failures can be reviewed and alerted on.
- NTPCyber
- Network Time Protocol. It keeps every device on the same accurate clock, which is vital when footage and access logs are used as evidence.
- NDAA complianceCyber
- US federal procurement rules (Section 889) that bar certain manufacturers from government-funded projects. It is often requested by regulated clients.
- Zero trustCyber
- An approach in which no device or user is trusted just for being on the network. Every connection is authenticated and limited to what it needs.
- Data controllerPrivacy & law
- The organisation that decides why and how footage is recorded, and is legally responsible for it. An installer or monitoring company is usually a processor acting on its behalf.
- Lawful basisPrivacy & law
- Under the GDPR, the legal ground for processing personal data. For security CCTV it is usually "legitimate interests", balanced against people's privacy and documented.
- RedactionPrivacy & law
- Blurring or masking people who are not the subject when footage is released, for example in response to a subject access request.
- Retention policyPrivacy & law
- A written statement of how long footage is kept and why. It is required under the GDPR and good practice everywhere.
- Covert surveillancePrivacy & law
- Hidden recording without notice. It is lawful only in narrow circumstances, typically a specific suspected crime, time-limited and documented. Take advice first.
- Biometric dataPrivacy & law
- Face templates, fingerprints and similar. Many laws treat it as specially protected, requiring explicit consent or a specific legal basis, for example the GDPR and Illinois' BIPA.
- VDAI (Lithuania)Privacy & law
- Valstybė duomenų apsaugos inspekcija, the State Data Protection Inspectorate. It is Lithuania's regulator for the GDPR, including CCTV complaints.
- NPC (Philippines)Privacy & law
- The National Privacy Commission. It enforces the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and publishes guidance on CCTV use.
- Anti-climb fencePhysical
- Fencing with small mesh apertures, no horizontal rails on the outside, and toppings that deny handholds and footholds. 358 mesh is a common specification.
- BollardPhysical
- A short post that stops vehicles. Decorative bollards stop nothing. Crash-rated bollards are tested to stop a specific vehicle at a specific speed.
- ASTM F2656Physical
- The US crash test standard for vehicle barriers. A rating such as M50-P1 means a 6,800 kg truck at 50 mph penetrated no more than 1 m.
- Hostile vehicle mitigationPhysical
- Designing out vehicle attacks on crowded places, using rated barriers, stand-off distance and approach angles that limit speed.
- EN 1627 resistance classPhysical
- The European burglar-resistance rating for doors, windows and shutters, from RC1 to RC6. It is based on the tools and time needed to break in.
- Anti-snap cylinderPhysical
- A euro-profile cylinder designed to resist snapping, bumping, picking and drilling. It is a cheap and important upgrade on many doors.
- Strike platePhysical
- The metal plate in the frame that the bolt or latch enters. A strike fixed with long screws into the framing resists kick-ins far better.
- Hinge boltsPhysical
- Steel studs on the hinge side of a door that engage the frame. They stop a door being levered out even if the hinge pins are cut.
- Security filmPhysical
- Adhesive film on glass that holds the pane together when struck. It delays smash-and-grab. It is rated by standards such as EN 356 when fitted as a system.
- Laminated glassPhysical
- Glass with a plastic interlayer that keeps the pane in place when broken. Thicker laminates are rated for attack resistance (EN 356 P1A to P8B).
- Safe ratingPhysical
- A tested resistance to attack. In the US, UL 687 grades such as TL-15 and TL-30 apply. In Europe, EN 1143-1 grades 0 to XIII apply. Fire ratings are separate.
- Clear zonePhysical
- A strip on both sides of a perimeter kept free of vegetation, vehicles and climbing aids, so intruders can be seen and detected.
- Site surveyPlanning
- A walk of the property to map risks, cable routes, power, mounting points and lighting before a design is drawn. Quotes made without one are guesswork.
- As-built drawingPlanning
- The drawing of what was actually installed: camera positions and views, cable routes, IP addresses and panel locations. Insist on getting it.
- CommissioningPlanning
- Testing and tuning every device after installation, including focus, views, recording, alarms and signalling, and signing off against the design.
- TCOPlanning
- Total cost of ownership. Purchase price plus installation, licences, monitoring, maintenance, power and replacement over the life of the system.
- CRIPlanning
- Colour Rendering Index. How faithfully a light shows colours, on a scale up to 100. Aim for 80 or more where colour footage matters.
- Lighting uniformityPlanning
- The ratio between the dimmest and average light levels in an area. Even lighting avoids the deep shadows and glare that defeat cameras.