by Ewen Tyson, Head of Product Development, VPS UK Ltd
During the current exceptional heatwave, many people with security equipment installed are asking if their CCTV or alarm systems will work.
On the whole, the short answer is yes for the current expected temperatures. Ensuring that the equipment used is of a certain quality: otherwise they can fail, or the functionality of the systems may be negatively affected.
Security technologies today are heavily dependent on a number of items. These include semiconductors, Internet Protocol (IP), video capture and management software, as well as the cameras themselves. So digital CCTV systems, which have more components than analogue, there is potential for overheating to affect their reliability.
How hot is too hot?
The current heatwave is expected to reach temperatures of over 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit). When selecting components for our security systems, we don’t just ensure they are CE or UKCA marked.
We also ensure that they have been tested for a wide range of weather extremes. The conditions range from freezing to extreme heat. The latter most commonly up to 60°Celsius (140° Fahrenheit).
Conducting initial testing in a laboratories only goes so far. It’s not until the systems are operating in the field that their true reliability can be assessed.
We have bases throughout Europe, including some ideal ‘out in the field’ testing in Germany, Spain and Italy. If a simple solder joint melts, it won’t matter that a semiconductor or a circuit board can withstand high temperatures.
Equipment specifics
Our equipment meets the necessary specifications for extreme weather conditions. Of course there are several measures taken that keep the equipment running to operational expectations.
The most basic is to ensure that the housing of the equipment meets the ingress protection standard appropriate to the installation – commonly IP65 or 67. After experiencing high temperatures, severe storms often follow. Meaning that our equipment needs to be protected from both.
A built-in environmental control box is part of a quality CCTV tower. In addition to the IP housing, they also contain a variable speed fan controlled by the temperature and an air filter to prevent dust and dirt being drawn into the cabinet.
We also take further measures to reduce the impact of extreme heat or cold. Such as hanging the main component box on shock absorbers inside the towers, so that they are isolated from touching the external cabinet.
The chargers for wireless systems must also be able to operate under extreme conditions. These chargers can also be a source of heat themselves. The latest designs separate the charging devices from the main security components.
Our best security equipment today has a ‘health status’ dashboard facility. Allowing us to relay temperature sensor data from inside the units back to the monitoring centre.
Additional heatwave related issues
There are other factors that a heatwave can influence, other than the impact upon equipment. How and where the systems are installed, for example, if PIR detectors are facing into sunlight, that can affect their dependability.
Patrolling outside all day will affect guards and canine units. In occupied premises, people may leave windows and doors open for extra ventilation, and forget to close them when they leave the premises.
Our inspectors know that during heatwaves there is the potential that the heat can cause damage to roofs. While roofs are designed to handle expansion of joints and rafters, a heat wave can cause significant expansion. Any damage to the flashing on the roof can allow water ingress, which inspectors will spot.