How to Design a CCTV System — Before You Buy a Single Camera
Camera placement isn't guesswork bolted on after the hardware arrives. Walk the site, define what the system needs to achieve, and choose camera types and positions on paper first — then buy.
The design method, in four steps
Define the goal
Decide why the system exists before anything else — deter intruders, record evidence for a claim, monitor deliveries and access, or watch a perimeter. Each goal points to different camera types, positions and recording choices.
Walk the site and mark risk zones
Physically walk the property and mark entrances, gates, driveways, perimeter fences, known blind spots and high-value areas. For every zone, note what a camera there actually needs to see — not just 'somewhere near the door'.
Match a camera type to each position
Bullet, dome, turret or PTZ — each suits a different scene. Pick the type for what that specific position needs to cover, not the type that looked best in a catalogue.
Reason about coverage as a concept, not a number
Field of view, mounting height and effective range depend on the lens, sensor and scene — they're never a fixed metre figure. Sketch the intended coverage per camera, then confirm it against the actual datasheet before ordering.
Camera types, and where each one earns its place
the only real number
Every field-of-view, IR-range or resolution figure on this page is a concept, not a spec. The actual number always comes from the camera's datasheet and the real installation scene.
Bullet
A long, directional housing that's clearly visible — a strong deterrent when aimed down a driveway or along a fence line. The visible housing itself does part of the job.
Dome
Low-profile and hard to tell which way it's aimed. Suits indoor spaces, entrances and retail-style areas where discretion matters more than visible deterrence.
Turret
Compact and independently adjustable, with no internal IR reflection dome to fight glare. A common general-purpose choice for outdoor coverage.
PTZ
Motorised pan-tilt-zoom for a wide open area that needs active monitoring or operator control, not a single fixed frame.
Coverage is scene-specific
The right lens, mounting height and field of view depend on that exact location's layout, lighting and obstructions — never assume a figure from one project applies to the next.
What a finished placement plan should include
A design is ready to hand to an installer once it covers these five points.
- {'t': 'A stated goal', 'd': 'Deter, evidence, access monitoring or perimeter watch — written down, not assumed, so every later decision can be checked against it.'}
- {'t': 'A risk-zone map', 'd': 'Entrances, gates, driveways, perimeter and blind spots marked on a site plan, each with a note on what needs to be visible there.'}
- {'t': 'A camera type per position', 'd': 'Bullet, dome, turret or PTZ assigned to each marked position, with the reasoning for that choice.'}
- {'t': 'Mounting-height notes', 'd': "A note on the wide-overview-vs-identifiable-detail tradeoff for each camera, ready to be checked against the chosen lens's datasheet."}
- {'t': 'Flags for the next planning layer', 'd': 'Pointers to what still needs deciding — recording architecture, network and PoE planning, and privacy/GDPR signage — before the system goes live.'}
Frequently asked questions
How many cameras do I actually need?
There's no universal number — it comes directly from your risk-zone map. Count the entrances, gates and blind spots that genuinely need coverage, and size the camera count to that list, not to a round number.
Which camera type is best for outdoor coverage?
It depends on the scene. A bullet camera works well as a visible deterrent along a driveway or fence; a turret is a solid general-purpose outdoor pick; a PTZ suits a wide open area needing active monitoring. There's no single 'best' type for every outdoor position.
How far can a camera see at night, and what resolution do I need?
Both depend entirely on the specific lens, sensor and IR emitter of that camera model — figures vary widely between models and aren't comparable as a blanket rule. Always check the manufacturer's datasheet, and ideally test the camera in the real installation location.
Is there anything legal I need to worry about before installing cameras?
Likely yes, but this page is general orientation only, not legal advice. Recording identifiable people generally means processing personal data, which brings duties around lawful basis, signage and limited retention. For your specific situation, consult the applicable data-protection authority — in Latvia, the Datu valsts inspekcija — or a lawyer.
I've already chosen a camera brand — what's the next step?
This page covers the vendor-neutral design method. Once you've settled on a brand, our system-architecture guides for Hikvision, Dahua and Safire walk through how to build out the recording and network side for that specific ecosystem.
Have a site plan but want a second opinion before you order?
Talk to our engineers — we'll review your goals, risk zones and camera-type choices honestly, without pushing a specific brand or model.