Camera Mounting Guide 2014

Published Oct 30, 2014 04:00 AM

Choosing the right spot to mount a camera is about more than Field of View. While some discount this as a trivial detail for installers to worry about, it can have a huge impact on cost and long term maintenance. In this note, we examine and compare mounting on:

  • Drop ceiling tiles
  • Drywall
  • Structural Steel
  • Masonry/ Cinder block
  • EIFS
  • Metal Siding
  • Stone

Mounting **********

********** **** **** ********** ***** ********** to ***** ******* ** * ******* of ********* *** *********. ******** ***** cameras ************ ******** **** ******, *** also ******** *** ***** ***** *** materials. ***** ************* ***** ******* ** best *** * ***** ****** ** a ********* **** ********** ******* **** experience, *** ******** ***** ** ***** and ****** ******** *** ****** *******.

*** ***** ***** ***** *** **** common ***** ** ******** ********, *** compares ***** ********** *** **** ***** addressing *** ****** ** **** ****:

**** *** ***** ****: "* ***** is **** ********* *** **********", *** ******** *********** a ****** ******** ***** * **** role ** *********** *******. ** *** sections *****, ** ****** **** ***** surface ***** *** ******** *** **** way ** ***** ******* ** ****.

Indoor - ***** ******* ** ****?

********** ***** **** *** ***** **** in ****** *********. **** **** ******** plans ***** **** ******** *** ******** Fields ** **** *** *******, ***** often ** ******** ** *** ***** location ***** *** ****** ** ****. Consider *** ***** *****:

*** ****** ***** *** *** ****** above ** * *********. **** ******** the ****** **** ** ******* ****** in * ****** ** *** ****, however *** ********* *** ***** ******** to ****** ****. ********** ** *** ****** *****, *** installer ***** *** ******* *** ******** installing ******* - **** ******* ***** - ***** ********* *** **** ****** and ****** **** ********.

***** *** ******** **** *** **** for **** ************ *******. *** **** could *** ******* *********** ** *** camera ** ********, *** *** ****** of ************ ***** ******** ** ***** in **** *** **** *******. ** the ******** *****, ** ******** **** of ***** ******* *** ********* *** situations ***** ***********.

Drop ******* *****

*** ** *** **** ****** ******** surfaces****** *** **** *****. **** ******* tiles *** ******** ** ** ***** weight *** *** *****, ***** **** are ********* ** ***** **** * grid. *******, **** **** ***** ****** construction ***** **** * ********* *** hanging ******* ****. *** ******* ***** composition ** ***** ****************** ***** ******* **** *********, *** they *** *********** ** ***** ****** in * ************ *** - **** they ****, **** **** **** ****** to *** *****.

******** ******* ******** ** ***** ***** often ******** ********** ******** ** **************, however **** ********** ****** ****. *** practice ** ***** ******** ******* ******** to ******* ***** ** **** ******, but ****** ****** ** **** ** what ******* ** *** **** ******* water ******* ** ** ******** **** - ***** ********* ** * ****** camera. *** ***** ***** ***** * 'near ****' **** * **** **** nearly ****** **** * ************ ******.

Special **** ******

******* ***** *** **** *** *******, they ****** ******* *** ****** ** most *******. *** ******* **** * large **** ******, **** ***** *** domes, ******* **** ****** *** **** to ******* ************ ******* **** *** ceiling ****. *** *******,**** *** ********** ~$*** ******, *** **** ****** [link ** ****** *********] *** ********* in *** $** - $*** *****. In **** *****, ***** ***** ******* extra ********** ******* ********* ** *********. See ***** ***** *** ** ******* tile *******:

*******

*** **** ****** ******* *** ******** indoor *********** ******* (**** ****** ****** *****), and *** ******** ** **** ** sheath ***** *** ******** *****. ** any ***** ************, **** ** *** indoor ******* *** ** ******** ** install ** *******. ******* ******** * solid, ****** ******* *** *******, * few ***** ************** **** ** ***** to ****** **** ********.

******* ********* *** ****** **** **** from*******, *********** ******** ******** **** ****** bolts *** ******* **** ******* *** indispensable. *** **** ** ******* ******* secure *** ******** **** *** ****, they *********** *** ****** ****** **** a ***** ****.

******** ***** *********** ******* ********* ** ******* *******, and *********** *** ****** **** ******** if **** **********. ******* ** * delicate ******* *** ****** ******. ******** holes **** **** ***** **** ***** can ***** ****** ******. * *** is **** **** *** ********* **** forcefully ***** *** ***** **** *******, rather **** ****** *** ***** ** pull *** ******** *** **** *** surface. *** *** ***** ***** *** 'breakout ******' ****** ** **** ***** bits:

***** * ***** *** ***** *** of ****-***** ***** '*****' ***** **** will **** ******* ************ ******. ***** popular *** ***** ********* *** ******** drilling,****** ***** ******* *** *********** *** ******** **** gypsum. *** *****, ****** ******* **** dull ****** ***** **** ******* ******** to ********* **** **** *** *******, and ******* ****** *** ****** ***** with **** ****.

******* ** ****** ** ****** ***** in ******* *** ** ****** ** made **** ******* *****, * ***** knife, *********** *****. ****** ****, *****, *****, or ******* ******** **** ******* ******* repair ***** ** *********, ****** ******** in ******* ** * ****** ********* and *********** *******.

******* ******* ****** ******* ******** ***** is * ****** ********. *** ** the **** ******* ** ******** ***** and *********** ************ ** ******, ******* cables ** **** *** *** ******* is *** *******.

Structural *****

** **** *****, ******* ******* **** building ********** ***** **'*** ****'** ********. **** ***** ** * facility *** *** **** '********' *****, like ********* ** ********** *****, ** even ** '**** ****' ****** ***** may ******* ******* ******* ******* *******. Unlike ***** *********, ******** ***** ** these ******** *** ** ******** ********** due ** ******** ** *********, ** at *** **** ***** ** **** difficult *** ** ***** ***** ************.

********** ***** ** ***** *-**** *******, joists, *******, ** *******. **** ********* are ******* **** ****** *** ********* insulated, ******* ********* **** ****:

** ****** *** ******** ***** ** function ** *** *******, ******* ******* generally **** *** **** ******:******* ******* ** ******. ******* ******* **** ********** ***** is ******* **** ******* ******** *** electrical ******* ** ******* ** ******* for ******** *******. **** ******* *** clamps *** *********, **** ****** ******* from $*.** ** $** ****. **** offer ******* ******** *********, ** ***** below:

*******, *** ********* ** ******* ************* to ***** ******** *****, ** **** generally *** **** *** *** ***** and ********* ******** ** *********, ********, or ***** *******.************ ******** ****** *** **** **** of ******** ********.

****, **** * ******** ********** ********** (clipped ** ******* **** ***** ****), natural ********** ** ********* *** ***** loosing **** ****. ****** **** *** bolted ***** *** ******* ********** ******** * ******* ****, *** ********** these ********* ** ********* ****** ***** couple ** ***** *** ** ******.

Masonry *****/*****

**** *******, ******** ***-******** ***** **** block/brick ***** ****** **** ***** *** proper ***.******* *********** * ******* ******* ***** *** have ******* ****** ******** ** ******* carry **** **** *** ****. ****** normal ***** **** **** *** ******* overheat *** **** **** ******** **** masonry, ***** ******* **** *** ******** to ***** **** ***** **** ******* dulling. *** ***** ***** **** *** are ****** ******** ** **** ******* wood ******* ******, ** ********** *********** fasteners *** ***** ********. *** ***** below ***** *** ****** ** *** spade *** *** **** ****** ** a********* ******** ** ***** *****:

******* ******** ******* ** ******** **** masonry ** ***** ******* ************ ** * ******** **** ***** drill. ***** ***** ** ***** ******* a ******** ****** **** ***** ********* tough ********* **** **** *** **** the *** ******* **** *** ********. Using * ****** ***** ***** ******* this ****** ******* ******* ******** *** bit, ***** *** ***** **** ****** drills:

******* ** ******* ***** *** ** costly *** **** *********. *********, ****** blocks/bricks **** ** ********** ******* *** replaced *** ********* **** *****. ***** this ******** ******* ***** ******, ****** or *********** **** ******** ******* **. However, ******* ****** ***** *** ***** gouges *** ** **** **** ************ putty ** ***** ********. *** ***** below ******** ** ******* ** ***** damage, *** ***** *** ******* ******* watertight, *** ************ ** *********:

******* *** ******* ******** ** ******** cameras ** *******, *** ******* ** one ** *** **** ******, *****, and ****** ******* *** ******** ************ cameras. *** ********** ********** ** ******* and ******* ***** *** *** ****** by ***** *****, *** **** ***** provide ***** ******* ******** ********. *******, running ******** *** ***** ******* ******* a ******* **** ** *********, *** if ****** **** ******** *******, ***** *** **** ****** ** to *** ***** ********** ****** ** conduit.

EIFS, ** ********* ******

**** ******* ** ************ *********** *** to *** ******** ******** ** * rigid ******* ********, *** ** * very ****** ********** ****** *** ** widely ****. ******* ** *** ******** challenges *** ************** ** ******** ** this *******, ** ******* *** *********** in * ******** ****, ****** "************ ******** **** ********* ******".

Metal ****** ** ********** ********

***** ***** ********* ** ****** ** industrial *** ********** ************,*** ** ************* ** **** **** material **** **** ***** ******* ************. Like ****, ******** ******* ** **** surface ***** ******** ***** ******* *********, although *** ************ ** ***** ***** supports ** ******* **** **** **** of ************. ***** ********* ***** ** especially ***** ** *********, ***** **** must ** ***** ** ********** **** any************** ***** ** *** *******.

Architectural ***** ** ****

*** ** *** **** ***** ********* and ************ ********* ******** ******** ** stone ** ****. ***** ******** ** commercial ************, **** ** **** *********** in ********** *** ************* *********. ***** the **** ** ** ********** **** and ***** ******* **** ******* ** marble - *** ******* ***** *** required ** ***** ************ *******.

**** ******** ******* ***** *********, ***** ******* ******** ******** ** **** **** for***** ********. ***** **** ******* ***** *** specialized ******* *** *********, *** ***** method ** *** **** ** ***** drywall ******* ** ****** *****, *** instead **** **** ******* ***** *** stainless ***** ********. *** ***** ***** shows *** ***** ** *** ******* for ******** **** *****, ******** **** cored *****, ********* ** * ***** bushing, *** *** ***** ************ ** a ******** *****:

******* ** ***** *** ****** *** very ***********. ***** ** ***** *** difficulties ** ******** ** *****, *********** locations (**** ****) *** ********** *** camera ******. ******* ******* ****** ***** is ***** **********, ** *********** ** irregular **** *** ********.

Comments (15)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Oct 30, 2014

Not to be picky, but in the drop ceiling example, why not mount to the metal frame instead of the ceiling tile?

And the outdoor metal siding camera has no drip loop so water is going to stream down that flexible conduit right into the PVC box and corrode the connections inside in like 6 months. :)

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Brian Rhodes
Oct 30, 2014
IPVMU Certified

I agree with you on both counts. I suspect we're alike in that my attention always seems to wander around in new places; looking at cameras and even access control installs, silently judging the shoddiness or stupidity of the way things were put up.

My wife just rolls her eyes at me. A lot. :)

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Ethan Ace
Oct 30, 2014

I think a lot of people simply don't realize there are drop ceiling grid mounts available. I'd say the vast majority of folks I mention them to just look at me like "huh?".

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KL
Keefe Lovgren
Nov 07, 2014
IPVMU Certified

Many manufacturers have metal backer plates for mounting cameras in this type of application... or depending upon the mounting options of your camera (mount to single gang, double gang or 4 square) you can buy T Bar Fasteners which typicall are more cost effective... these typically provide a spot to tie off a support cable to the structure as well which as some have mentioned is required in some areas... these are the same boxes electricians will use to hang exit signs, smokes, nacs etc...

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Jon Dillabaugh
Nov 03, 2014
Pro Focus LLC

You shouldn't be mounting to the ceiling grid. It can weaken an already weak product. You should be using a backer board behind the tiles that span across the grid to distribute the weight of the camera.

Also, if in an earthquake zone, you need a support wire to suspend the camera.

(2)
DJ
David Johansen
Nov 06, 2014

Not just earthquake areas...new fire codes can require that all ceiling cameras are to be considered complete only if a tether to the structure is included and attached to the camera. You may not tie to the grid supports, HVAC, pipes or conduit. Many schools and municipal buildings are becoming more and more strict with these rules.

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Jon Dillabaugh
Nov 07, 2014
Pro Focus LLC

Good to know. Hasn't been a issue yet here in Ohio. We don't have CCTV codes yet. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

KL
Keefe Lovgren
Nov 07, 2014
IPVMU Certified

i would suspect that there are no connectors in the weather tight box, it is just being used as a means to get the cable outdoor and into the housing...

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Jon Dillabaugh
Nov 07, 2014
Pro Focus LLC

Well, then at the least, they should expect water to enter the building via the new "drainage system". There is absolutely no reason to exit an outdoor box on the top instead of the side or bottom. The only reason is I didn't bring enough material to do so and am too cheap/lazy to do it right.

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Sarunas Pavilionis
Oct 30, 2014

First of all, inside should be mounted dome type cameras.

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Sarunas Pavilionis
Oct 30, 2014

In this case, no any damages to mounting to mounting places can be appeard.

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Joel Kriener
Nov 07, 2014
IPVMU Certified

Hey John,

You may want to include various type of pole mounts & configurations in your reference list. It would be useful for large outdoor remote areas. For example, 50 ft. Class 1 wooden poles. etc..

thanks

TG
Tedor Gligorich
Nov 13, 2014

Drilling holes in drywall with dull drill bits alone can cause costly damage.

Fixing mistakes in drywall is a rather unskilled and inexpensive process.

Is right?

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Jon Dillabaugh
Nov 13, 2014
Pro Focus LLC

Drywall is one of the easiest and cheapest surfaces to repair.

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Brian Rhodes
Nov 13, 2014
IPVMU Certified

Moreover, any unexpected repair takes time. During installs, time is money, especially unpredicted time to fix avoidable mistakes.