--- title: "Designing a Commercial CCTV System | SPS Technical" url: https://sps-technical.com/services/cctv/system-design description: "Typical CCTV layouts for offices, industrial sites, retail, schools and construction sites, from survey to SSAIB certificate and handover paperwork." lang: en-GB --- Image: Commercial CCTV system (https://sps-technical.com/img/opt/c404c8f35_ChatGPTImageJun22202610_41_05PM6.webp) Design your system # Designing a CCTV System for Your Site See what a typical system looks like for offices, industrial sites, retail, schools and construction sites, how we get from survey to certificate, and the paperwork you receive. Book a free site survey: https://sps-technical.com/contact#type=survey Back to the CCTV hub: https://sps-technical.com/services/cctv System builder ## What a typical CCTV system looks like for your site Pick your type of site to see a typical layout. The numbers on the plan match the list. Every real system is designed from a survey of your own site. ### Typical setup: industrial unit or yard 1. 1 Bullet or thermal cameras on the perimeter Detect activity at the fence line, day and night. 2. 2 PTZ camera over the yard Follow vehicles and people across open ground. 3. 3 ANPR at the gate Log every vehicle in and out. 4. 4 Monitoring out of hours Alarms are acted on before damage is done. Illustrative layout only. Not a real site. ### Typical setup: office or reception 1. 1 Dome cameras at entrances and reception Clear faces of everyone coming in. 2. 2 Cameras linked to access control Footage tagged to each door event. 3. 3 Car park coverage Protects staff vehicles and visitors. ### Typical setup: retail store 1. 1 High-resolution domes over tills Evidence-quality footage of transactions. 2. 2 Wide-angle coverage of the shop floor No blind spots between aisles. 3. 3 Public view monitor at the door A visible deterrent as people enter. ### Typical setup: school or academy 1. 1 Perimeter and gate cameras Safeguarding at every entry point. 2. 2 Dome cameras in corridors Covers shared spaces, not classrooms. 3. 3 Trust-wide remote viewing One login across every site. ### Typical setup: construction site 1. 1 Rapid-deployment camera towers Solar or 4G powered, no mains needed. 2. 2 AI analytics to cut false alerts Ignores wildlife and weather. 3. 3 Monitored response with audio warning Intruders are challenged in real time. How it works ## From survey to certificate Five steps, each with the paperwork that proves the system was designed and installed properly. 1. Step 1 ### Site survey We walk the site with you, agree what each camera needs to do and check cable routes, power and lighting. You get: Survey notes 2. Step 2 ### System design Camera positions, lenses, recording period and storage are designed to suit your site and risks. You get: Design specification 3. Step 3 ### Installation Our own engineers install the system, working around your site with minimal disruption. You get: “As fitted” specification 4. Step 4 ### Commissioning Every camera view, recording setting and remote connection is tested and set to the agreed purpose. You get: Handover certificate and checklist 5. Step 5 ### Handover We show your team how to use the system and leave everything you need for insurers and audits. You get: System logbook and SSAIB certificate of compliance ## At least 30 days of footage, up to 45 where needed Storage is sized at survey to match the number of cameras and image quality, and confirmed at handover. Remote health checks can then confirm every hour that the system is still recording. FAQs ## Design and paperwork questions ### What paperwork do I get? A design specification, an “as fitted” specification, a CCTV handover certificate and checklist, a system logbook and an SSAIB certificate of compliance. ### How long will footage be kept? We set systems to keep at least 30 days of footage, and up to 45 days where a site needs it. Storage is sized at survey to match the number of cameras and image quality, and confirmed at handover. ### Do I need to register my CCTV with the ICO? If your cameras capture people, you are processing personal data under UK GDPR and usually need to pay the ICO data protection fee. We supply compliant signage and advise on retention and privacy at survey. ### Can you monitor the health of a system you didn't install? Usually, yes. Health monitoring works with most leading brands of recorder, so an existing system can normally be connected after a takeover audit. ## Ready to plan your system? Book a free site survey and we'll design a system around your site. 01482 226570: +441482226570 Accreditations ## Why trust SPS Technical Independently certified, working to British Standards. Check every accreditation on the official register. ### SSAIB Registration HUMB018 Intruder alarms to PD 6662, CCTV to SSAIB Code of Practice SS2003, access control to SS2002, and fire alarm systems Verify at ssaib.org (https://www.ssaib.org/) ### BAFE SP203-1 Certificate 104302 · Organisation ID 303286 Fire alarm design, installation, commissioning and maintenance to BS 5839-1 Verify at bafe.org.uk (https://www.bafe.org.uk/) ### ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 1208-QMS-001 · 1208-EMS-001 Quality and environmental management, certified by Alcumus ISOQAR. ISO 9001 held since 1997 ### Safety and procurement CHAS-0004703 · Constructionline 92018 · SafeContractor PE5040 SSIP health and safety approval, procurement registration and Paxton Gold Installer status ### Police-response intruder alarms For intruder alarms, SPS Technical is an approved installer of police-response systems with the following forces, so your intruder alarm can be issued a police Unique Reference Number (URN) under the NPCC Police Requirements for Security Systems. - Humberside Police - Lincolnshire Police - North Yorkshire Police - South Yorkshire Police - West Yorkshire Police - Nottinghamshire Police - Derbyshire Constabulary - Greater Manchester Police Police approval applies to intruder alarms only. Since 1992 Established in Hull 1,750+ Systems maintained 2,850+ Scheduled service visits a year 4 Regional offices: Hull, Grimsby, Lincoln, Sheffield Trusted across universities, NHS and healthcare, local authorities, schools and academy trusts, logistics and industrial sites, transport, and stadiums and venues. Reviewed by the SPS Technical team · Last updated October 2026 Full accreditation details (https://sps-technical.com/about/accreditations-compliance) ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What paperwork do I get?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A design specification, an “as fitted” specification, a CCTV handover certificate and checklist, a system logbook and an SSAIB certificate of compliance." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long will footage be kept?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "We set systems to keep at least 30 days of footage, and up to 45 days where a site needs it. 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