Camera Labor Estimate: Low Tile / Grid Ceiling

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Nov 13, 2014

IPVM is launching the first surveillance labor estimate standard.

This is the first entry in that series.

Here, we report on a common scenario "Mounting a Camera in a Low Tile/Grid Ceiling." The actual survey question asked is:

"The location has 1/2" thick fiber acoustic tile suspended from grid, with no existing backing material or needed plenum rating, located 8' - 10' above the floor.  Cabling has previously been run and terminated to the mounting spot. How many manhours would you estimate for mounting a camera in the following area?  Why?"

We purposely reduced the question scope to only mounting the camera, and disclaimed tasks like running cable, configuring cameras, and adjusting VMS as separate tasks addressed by followup questions.

Below, we share estimates, key issues and drivers for installing in this scenario.

**** ** ********* *** ***** ************ ***** ******** ********.

**** ** *** ***** ***** ** **** ******.

****, ** ****** ** * ****** ******** "******** * ****** in * *** ****/**** *******." *** ****** ****** ******** ***** **:

"*** ******** *** */*" ***** ***** ******** **** ********* **** ****, **** ** ******** ******* ******** ** ****** ****** ******, located *' - **' ***** *** *****.  ******* *** ********** been *** *** ********** ** *** ******** ****. *** ************ ***** *** ******** *** ******** * ****** ** *** ********* area?  ***?"

** ********* ******* *** ******** ***** ** **** ******** *** camera, *** ********** ***** **** ******* *****, *********** *******, *** adjusting *** ** ******** ***** ********* ** ******** *********.

*****, ** ***** *********, *** ****** *** ******* *** ********** ** this ********.

[***************]

*******

**** **% ** *** ********* **** ******* *.* ** *.*********. *** **** ****** ** ***** *****:

*** ******* ** *** ******* ** *.** ******** *** **** ********.

Color **********

*** ******** ** ********* **** ****** *.** ** **** *****, and ******* ******* **** **** ********** ******** *** **** ** one********* ****:

  • "* ** *.* *** *****, **** ******* **** ****** ****"
  • "* **** *** ****** ********. ****** **** **** * **** ladder."
  • "* **** ***. ** *********** ********* ****** ** *.* ** 0.75. **** ******** ** *.**/** ******."
  • "*** *** **** ** **********. **** ** * ****** ***** install ******* * ****** * ** ****** ** * ********** environment **** ** **** *** **** *******.."
  • "* ***** *** **** ** * *** ****. ******** *** ****** would *** ** *** **** **** ********* ****, *** ***** need ** ***** **** ** ******* ***** *** ***** **** how *** ** ** ***** *** ***** ********."

**** **** ********* ********* **** ***** *****, ** *** ********* due ** ********* ********** ***** **** ***** *********** ** ****** focusing **** **** ******* *** ******** *****.  ***** ******* **** not ******** ** *** ************ *****.

**** *************: ******* **** ********

*** ****** ** *** ******* *** ********* ** *** ******** was ******* ** *** *** **** ****** ** ** ********** first. ** ************ *** *** ******* **** ******, ** ** avoid ******* *** ******* ** * ******** ******** ******** (**: Not ********** *** ** **** ******, ** *********). ** **** cases, ** ********** ********* **** *************, ***** ********* **** ******. 

  • "***** ** ***.  * **** ** ******* * ******* ****** the ******, *** *** ****, ******* *** ****** *** ****** and **** ***** **."
  • "* ***** ******** *** ****** ******* ** **** *.* *****. This ** *** ** ******* * ******** ******* ** ** installed ****** *-***** *** ******** ********."
  • "*** **** ***** * **** *** ** *** ** ***** the ****** ***** *** **** ** ***** *** ***** *** cables *** ** **** ** ******* *** **** ** *** camera ** ** **** ** *** *******."
  • "*.* **** ** *****. **** ** ******** *** ******** ** a **** **** *** **** ***-********** **** *** ******* ** address. ********** **** ****** ****, **** ***** ****, ***** ****** using * ****** ****-*****."
  • "* **** *******, ********* ** *** ****** *****. ** **** typically ******* * "***** ***" ******* **** ***** *** ****, and **** ******** *** ****** ** *** ******, ***** ** mounted ******* *** ****."

******** *****

******* *********** ***** **** ***** *** ******** ***** * ******* limit, **** ** *** **** ********** **** **** ****:

  • " ** **** ****** ** ********** ** **** *****. **'* ******** 0.5/hr.  ** *** ******* ** ***** ***** ** *** **** this ****** ** ** ******* *** **** *** ** ****** a **** **** ** **** ** ***** ** ******* ***** the **** ******** *** ****."
  • "** ** **** ** ** ******** ** **** **** * hour. **'* ******** **** *** **** (******* ******)."
  • "* ***** ******* **'* *** ******* ******."
  • "** ***** ******** ******** ***** * *******, **** *** ***** probably ** *."

*** ******** **** ** ********** ******* *** ******** ***** *** a *****/******* ****, ** ** **** ** * ****** *******. However, **** ********* ***** ****** *** **** **** ** ********* purely ** *** ********* ** ****** *****, ******* **, ** otherwise '****** * *** **********'.

******* ******

******* ********* **** ******* ********* **** **** ** ******* *** job ** ******* * ****** ******, ** ** ** ** one ** *******. ** ***** ****, *** '****** ******' ******** was ****** **** ** ** **** **** *** ** * group:

  • "******** * **** - ******* ** *** ****** ** ******* being ****** **** **** *******."
  • "*** (*) ****** ****, * *****. (******** ** ****, ******* "oriented", ***.) ** ***, (*) ******* ** **** ******* ** hallways ***** **, * ***** *** * **** *********** *** then * **** **** ******."
  • "** **** *** * ****** ****** ************, ***'** ******* ****** for * *****. *******, ** **** *** * ******** ****** install, ***'* *** ** ***** ******* *** **** ***. "
  • "* **** ** ** **** * ****** ****** ************, ** more **** * ****** *** ***** ** ** ********* ** 0.45 *****/ ******."

*** ****** ****, *** ******** *** ****** *** **** ********* to ********* ** *****.

********?

** *** ********** * ****** ** ******* **** **** *** our ******. ** *** **** ********* ** ******** ** ***** as ** ******* *******? ** ***** ********** **** ********.  ****** comment *****.

Comments (3)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

11/14/14 07:15pm

I don't think you were asking about billable times, travel times, setup time, cleanup time, or anything else except mounting the camera. Is that correct? If I were standing in that room you picture with a ladder, 4 lightweight dome cameras, and the mounting hardware ready to go I could install them in 1 hour no problem. I'm not counting walking to truck, clean up, or anything else just install. If you take into account setup, clean up, trips to the truck, lunch etc., then you want to bill for an hour/camera to make a profit even though realistically any half way competent installer worth his weight should be able to 15+ in a single day.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 11/14/14 07:26pm

I think this is something that is challenging for them to compile simply because of the way each person/company may handle estimation standards. Also, there is varying level of qualities from different technicians/company which impacts time frames.

For example: I worked at a company where our estimate was replicated at 2000 sites. Missing something that costs $10 would cause damages of $20k. The inverse was also true and could price us out of a project. We accounted for items as small as nuts and bolts in our estimates. Conversely, many conventional integrators I have worked within figure x hours per unit, throw some miscellaneous cost at it, and hope it all balances out in the end or beg for change orders.

Basically, each person will find loopholes in the methodology used to acquire and present the data. I think this is valiant effort and much like the NECA Estimation Guide it's to be used as a baseline, not a hard rule. NECA has had difficulty compiling their estimation book in a usable fashion for years, and it's still marginally useful. Unlike the NECA guides these IPVM time frames are actually applicable to our industry and not something like installing a distribution panel.

Roger Paine

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 12/04/14 07:40pm

It does seem that some are answering in billable time estimates and yet others using stopwatch time estimates.

This is indicated in general by this statement

Several integrators noted they would not estimate under a certain limit, even if the task ultimately took less time.

and in particular by things like

2 hours because it's our minimum charge.

If this was a single camera installation, you're getting billed for 4 hours. However, if this was a multiple camera install, you'd get 30 total minutes for this one.

We never estimate mounting under 1 manhour, this one would probably be 2.

This may be the cause of the valley in the sample, the .5s being more realtime estimates and the 1.0s being more minimum charges.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Alexa Guard Expands Amazon's Security Offerings, Boosts ADT's Stock on Sep 21, 2018
Amazon is expanding their security offerings yet again, this time with Alexa Guard that delivers security audio analytics and a virtual "Fake...
Favorite Request-to-Exit (RTE) Manufacturers 2018 on Sep 19, 2018
Request To Exit devices like motion sensors and lock releasing push-buttons are a part of almost every access install, but who makes the equipment...
Amazon Ring Spotlight Cam Tested on Sep 17, 2018
Amazon's Ring has released their latest camera entry, the Spotlight Cam, which we bought and tested in our Consumer IP Camera Analytics...
IP Camera Cable Labeling Guide on Sep 14, 2018
Labeling cables can save a lot of money and headaches. While it is easy to overlook, taking time to label runs during installation significantly...
Favorite Intercom Manufacturers 2018 on Sep 14, 2018
Intercoms are certainly increasing in popularity, driven by the integration of video and IP networking. But who is the favorite? On the one side,...
VMS Export Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone on Sep 13, 2018
When crimes, accidents or problems occur, exporting video from one's video surveillance system is critical to proving incidents. But who does it...
Door Fundamentals For Access Control Guide on Sep 12, 2018
Assuming every door can be secured with either a maglock or an electric strike can be a painful assumption in the field. While those items can be...
Stanley Security Acquires 3xLogic, Kushner Becomes Product President on Sep 10, 2018
Stanley Security acquired 3xLogic a few months ago. However, the company has still not officially publicly announced it, leading many to wonder...
IP Camera Cable Termination Guide on Sep 06, 2018
Terminating cables properly is critical to network performance, but it can be a tricky task with multiple steps. Fortunately, this task is easy to...
Dell Launches IoT for Surveillance on Sep 05, 2018
Historically, Dell has been a PC and server provider (e.g., "Dude, you're getting a Dell") and widely used for surveillance storage. However, in...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Genetec Takes Aim At 'Untrustworthy' 'Foreign Government-Owned Vendors' on Sep 24, 2018
Genetec is taking aim at 'untrustworthy' 'foreign government-owned vendors'. This is not a new theme for Genetec as nearly 2 years ago, Genetec...
4MP Camera Shootout - Axis, Dahua, DW, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Sep 24, 2018
4MP usage continues to climb, especially for low cost fixed lens models. To see who was best, we bought and tested seven 4MP models from Axis,...
Alexa Guard Expands Amazon's Security Offerings, Boosts ADT's Stock on Sep 21, 2018
Amazon is expanding their security offerings yet again, this time with Alexa Guard that delivers security audio analytics and a virtual "Fake...
UTC, Owner of Lenel, Acquires S2 on Sep 20, 2018
UTC now owns two of the biggest access control providers, one of integrator's most hated access control platforms, Lenel, and one of their...
BluePoint Aims To Bring Life-Safety Mind-Set To Police Pull Stations on Sep 20, 2018
Fire alarm pull stations are commonplace but police ones are not. A self-funded startup, BluePoint Alert Solutions is aiming to make police pull...
SIA Plays Dumb On OEMs And Hikua Ban on Sep 20, 2018
OEMs widely pretend to be 'manufacturers', deceiving their customers and putting them at risk for cybersecurity attacks and, soon, violation of US...
Axis Vs. Hikvision IR PTZ Shootout on Sep 20, 2018
Hikvision has their high-end dual-sensor DarkfighterX. Axis has their high-end concealed IR Q6125-LE. Which is better? We bought both and tested...
Avigilon Announces AI-Powered H5 Camera Development on Sep 19, 2018
Avigilon will be showcasing "next-generation AI" at next week's ASIS GSX. In an atypical move, the company is not actually releasing these...
Favorite Request-to-Exit (RTE) Manufacturers 2018 on Sep 19, 2018
Request To Exit devices like motion sensors and lock releasing push-buttons are a part of almost every access install, but who makes the equipment...
25% China Tariffs Finalized For 2019, 10% Start Now, Includes Select Video Surveillance on Sep 18, 2018
A surprise move: In July, when the most recent tariff round was first announced, the tariffs were only scheduled for 10%. However, now, the US...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact