By the SightShield team · · 6 min read
Why apartment CCTV is different
An apartment complex is shared by hundreds of residents, run by a committee that changes every year or two, and watched by guards who sit in one cabin. A good system has to work for all of them: the guards need a clear live view, the committee needs to review incidents, and the whole thing has to keep working long after the people who approved it have moved on.
Where cameras should go
A typical community needs anywhere from 32 cameras for a single tower to 200+ for a large gated community with several blocks and basements.
- Main gate and service gate — every visitor, delivery and vehicle.
- Ground-floor lobbies of every block, and lift lobbies.
- Inside each lift.
- Basement ramps and parking levels.
- Compound wall, especially corners and the garbage or service area.
- Clubhouse, gym, pool and play area.
- The security cabin itself.
Lift cameras
Lift cameras are the part that most often goes wrong. The camera moves with the car, so the video must travel through the lift’s travelling cable or a lift-rated wireless bridge. This needs to be planned with your lift maintenance company — not added as an afterthought.
How long should footage be kept?
Most associations keep 15 to 30 days. That covers the time it usually takes for a resident to notice a problem — a scratched car, a missing cycle, a parcel dispute — and ask for footage. Storage is sized for the number of cameras and days you choose.
The security cabin and committee access
Guards should have a multi-screen monitor showing the gates, lobbies and basements live. Committee members and the facility manager can have phone access with rights you control, so footage can be checked without going to the cabin.
Getting it approved by the committee
Ask for a written, itemised proposal with a camera layout, brand and model list, and storage days. This makes it easy to compare quotes and get approval at a committee meeting. Make sure the invoice will be a GST invoice in the association’s name.
Apartment CCTV solutions →Plan for maintenance from day one
Cameras in basements and outdoors collect dust and moisture, and hard disks wear out. An annual maintenance contract with scheduled visits and visit reports keeps the system recording across committee changes, and gives the association one number to call.
CCTV AMC for apartments →Quick answers
How many CCTV cameras does an apartment complex need?+
From around 32 for a single tower to 200+ for a large gated community, depending on blocks, lifts, gates and basement levels.
Can CCTV cameras be installed inside lifts?+
Yes. The video runs through the lift’s travelling cable or a lift-rated wireless bridge, planned with your lift maintenance company.
How long do apartments keep CCTV footage?+
Most associations keep 15 to 30 days, which covers the time residents usually take to report an incident.