Where is the best place to put CCTV cameras on a house?

The four most important locations are the front door (positioned to capture clear eye-level faces of visitors), the driveway (facing outward to capture vehicle registration plates), the rear patio or garden bifold doors (the most common forced entry point), and secluded side passages or alleyways.

What is the best height to mount outdoor CCTV cameras?

The ideal mounting height for domestic CCTV is 2.8 to 3.2 metres (around 9 to 10 feet). This keeps the camera out of reach of casual vandalism while maintaining a shallow viewing angle (under 30 degrees) necessary to identify facial features under UK police DORI standards.

Why shouldn't cameras be mounted too high under second-floor roof apexes?

Mounting higher than 3.5 metres produces 'head-top syndrome', where the camera looks almost straight down, capturing only hoods, caps, and the tops of heads rather than recognisable facial features. High cameras also suffer from increased spiderweb build-up and poor infrared illumination at ground level.

How much hard drive storage do 4 4K CCTV cameras need for 30 days?

Four 4K (8MP) cameras recording continuously at 15 frames per second using efficient H.265 compression at 6 Mbps generate approximately 64.8 GB per camera per day (259 GB total daily). For 30 days of retention, you need 7.78 TB of raw capacity, requiring an 8TB or 10TB surveillance hard drive.

Can outdoor cameras be mounted directly to UPVC fascia or soffits?

Yes, provided they are securely anchored into solid timber battens behind the plastic hollow soffit, or mounted using deep IP66 conduit junction bases. Hollow plastic alone flexes in high winds, causing motion-sensor false alarms and image vibration.

Are Wi-Fi security cameras as reliable as wired PoE systems?

No. Wi-Fi cameras rely on the congested 2.4GHz wireless spectrum, which is susceptible to dropouts through thick UK cavity walls and vulnerable to inexpensive handheld RF deauthentication jammers. Commercial-grade systems use hardwired Cat6 PoE (Power over Ethernet) for 100% uninterrupted 24/7 recording.

Do I need planning permission for home CCTV in the UK?

In almost all UK residential properties, home CCTV is permitted development and does not require planning permission. Exceptions apply if the building is Grade I or Grade II listed, or in certain conservation areas with strict alterations limits.

What are the UK privacy rules for domestic CCTV pointing near a neighbour?

Under UK data protection law and ICO guidance, domestic CCTV that captures images beyond your property boundary (such as neighbouring gardens or public pavements) is subject to GDPR rules. Professional installers configure digital privacy masking to blackout neighbouring windows while keeping perimeter boundaries fully protected.

Standalone Engineering Tool

CCTV Camera Placement & Storage Planner

Interactive 4-step wizard to plan property camera angles, calculate 30-day NVR hard drive storage, and avoid blind spots.

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ADI Communications • Engineering Calculation Sheet

Lead Field Engineer: Gary Pearce • Direct: 07860 244 274 • 25+ Years Experience

Standard: BS EN 62676-4 Perimeter Sizing • Web: adicommunications.co.uk

Official Trade Calculation

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BS EN 62676-4 Perimeter Sizing

Select your property architecture (Detached House, Semi-Detached, Terraced, Commercial Unit, Farm / Rural Estate).

Specify perimeter elevations and entry choke points (Front Door, Driveway, Side Passage, Rear French Doors).

Configure target night illumination technology (4K ColorVu warm white LED vs Smart Dual-Illumination infrared).

Review calculated camera quantities, viewing angles, blind spot mitigations, and storage requirements.

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Gary's Physical Trade Advice

Mount cameras between 2.4m and 3.0m (8–10ft) high. Mounting too high captures the tops of intruders' heads and baseball caps; mounting too low leaves hardware vulnerable to physical tampering.

Want the full engineering math, formulas and testing methodology? Read Field Guide: Perimeter CCTV Camera Placement & Storage Coverage Field Manual →

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CCTV Camera Placement & Storage Planner