In almost all corners of our society today, heightened security has become a part of daily life. All over the nation – in airports, banks, sports stadiums, casinos, theme parks, retail establishments, hotels, hospitals, government and commercial buildings, and even in some urban centers – millions of fixed and moving video surveillance cameras are constantly surveying the scene to recognize crime and ensure the safety and security of people and assets. In similar fashion, increasingly sophisticated access control systems are being deployed by private, public and government organizations to limit access to secure areas.

Driving the growth of video surveillance and access control system installations – in addition to increased security concerns – are the technologies that have improved security systems to the point where they are affordable, reliable and cost-effective.

According to industry analysts, digital video and off-the-shelf software are spurring rapid adoption of integrated and networked security systems with remote monitoring. On the access control side, the use of biometrics such as digital fingerprints, hand or retinal scans, and “smart cards” are also becoming mainstream.

Whether you select coaxial, coaxial/twisted pair composites, or unshielded multi-conductor electronic cables to support your security installations, it is critical to ensure that the cables you specify are designed for the task required. Be sure to verify with the cable manufacturer that the cables specified are UL-listed and meet all requisite industry standards, such as those published by the National Electric Code (NEC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

What’s new in video surveillance systems infrastructure?

Access Control Banana Peel Composite cables from Belden feature two innovations for ease of installation. There’s no overall jacket to strip off, and the four individual cables have color-coded, application-printed jackets for quick identification and termination.

Although traditional analog cameras are often used in security systems, the trend today is towards digital cameras – in part because they are better able to operate in diverse lighting conditions, and produce high-quality images requiring less storage space than videotapes. Also, digital camera users typically have more control setting options, plus DVRs (digital video recorders) enable users to quickly sort through the recorded images in search of a particular incident or time period.

Two types of security cameras are currently available: Fixed and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ). Fixed cameras are used for focusing on stationary, high-risk areas, such as entrances, exits, and cash registers. PTZ cameras are used for scanning an area of activity – a walkway or a gaming table, for example – and zooming in on a particular person or transaction if the situation requires.

What’s new in cabling options for fixed and PTZ camera applications?

An increasingly popular choice today are high-performance composite cables with a unique design (see photo) that affixes the individual cables to a center spline, eliminating the need for an outer, overall jacket. These cables typically include an RG-59 coax for video, one-pair 8-AWG for power, and UTP or STP cables for control. The jacketless, all-in-one design speeds up and simplifies installation, eliminating multiple cable pulls. Installers need only to “peel” the individual cable away from the spline to be ready for termination.

There is also a trend towards using unshielded twisted pair (UTP) composite as a cost-saving alternative to coax for fixed or PTZ security camera applications (video, power and control). The UTP cables are smaller in size than coaxial cables, making cabling density less of a concern, and they are available in round and Siamese constructions and riser and plenum versions. The UTP cables are also easier to pull than coaxes, which speeds up installation. However, UTP cables generally require baluns to convert their signal impedance from 100 to 75 Ohms, so this additional cost and installation factor should be weighed. In considering the UTP option, be sure to look for cables that are Category 5e tested and verified.

What’s new in cabling for secure access control?

Composite cables allow more cost-effective security installations, because they offer the installers of access control devices – including card readers, retina scanners and hand-scanning devices – a host of labor-saving features. In general, composite cables will decrease labor costs because they are easier and quicker to install than bundling and pulling individual cables.

The latest in access control composite cables feature the unique jacketless design referenced above, which offers an extra measure of installation ease and convenience. Without the overall jacket, each individual cable component is instantly identifiable and simply needs to be “peeled” away from the center spline to be ready for termination. With these cables, breakout versatility is assured since the individual cables can be connected to the junction box or they can be re-routed to the application site. To ensure that the correct cable can be identified for termination, look for color coding and printing of the application designation, such as lock power, card reader, door contact, and request exit (rex/spare).

Why is cable selection so important when installing video surveillance and access control systems?

In any kind of integrated communication system – whether it is computer networking, fire and life safety, commercial or residential security, or home automation – the long-term performance and reliability of the system is wholly reliant upon the infrastructure that supports it. Whether the installation is large or small, a well-engineered cabling system will deliver dividends to you and your customers by proving capable of supporting their applications and being resistant to downtime, data loss and system failure.

Customers who decide to implement mission-critical video surveillance and access control security systems deserve to receive a robust cabling infrastructure that will protect their investment and support their goal of providing security for people and assets. That’s why selecting the right cabling is such an important part of the security system implementation process. – Contributed by Juan Gudino, market manager at Belden CDT Electronics Division, Richmond, Ind. For more information, call (800) BELDEN-1, or visit www.belden.com.