Time for a cleaning?
A day-long walk around Washington DC reveals the beautiful architecture, numerous restaraunts, and historic views.
It's also is a great place to look at security cameras. Yes, believe it or not, Washington DC has it's share of security concerns to deal with!
As you walk around the area, you're able to see a significant number of camera projects, many of which our team has proudly worked on. Many of them have been highly complex, interesting projects.
What you can also see are some seemingly abandonded cameras on neighboring buildings. At least that's what they looked like.
Let's ponder a few points...
- Were the cameras properly handled during initial installation?
- Is someone regularly looking at the images coming from these cameras or just when something of concern occurs that needs to be investigated?
- Perhaps nothing has happened in so long that the cameras are basically forgotten?
- Did the dirt and grime accumulate so slowly that no one has noticed that you can barely see anything on the monitor?
- Is the "owner" of the system onsite or was it installed and forgotten about long ago?
- Is it possible that these "street-side" cameras get so dirty so fast, that this is part of the normal routine to get this dirty between frequent, scheduled cleanings?
- For remote sites/offices, is there a cleaning/maintenance program in place?
- And, if the cameras are in this kind of condition, is it time for a technology update after all these years anyway?
Online resource IPVM released test findings where dome cameras in various states of damage and dirtiness were evaluated. Likely worth a read if this article is resonating with you. link to IPVM here
We checked in with some of our resources to see what their advice is for handing dome camera housings. Below are a few key points to consider for polycarbonate and acrylic domes. There's certainly a lot more advice floating around in the security camera industry.
Always refer to and follow your camera manufacturer's recommendations before cleaning.
Domes are often made of acrylic or polycarbonate to provide impact resistance. The optical clarity is comparable to glass, although the dome surface is much softer. Special care is required when handling and cleaning domes to avoid damaging them.
- Domes are often packaged with a protective plastic sheet. It is recommended that the dome remains stored this way until it is ready to install.
- Limit handling of the dome. Any scratches or fingerprints can affect visibility.
When cleaning is required, consider the following procedures and be sure to comply with all the “Do Nots” listed below and those recommended by your camera manufacturer:
- Use clean dry compressed air, preferably from a spray can, to remove any dust from the interior surface.
- Use ony cleaning solutions and cloths suitable for cleaning safety glass lenses.
- Dry the dome thoroughly with a dry nonabrasive cloth to prevent water spots.
- The extremely soft interior surface should not be cleaned by rubbing or dusting with a cloth.
- Do not use alcohol-based solutions to clean the dome. This will cause the polycarbonate to cloud and over time cause stress aging, which makes the dome brittle.
- Never scrub the dome with any abrasive material or cleaners.
- Do not use abrasive or highly alkaline cleaners on domes.
- Do not scrape domes with razor blades or other sharp instruments.
- Do not use Benzene, Gasoline, Acetone, or Carbon Tetrachloride on domes.
- Do not clean domes in the hot sun or on very hot days.
Sometimes the system is beyond cleaning or repair. Technology is advancing quickly. New cameras can see more detail, even in lower light.
If it's time for your technology refresh discussion, give us a shout. We're here to help at no charge and with no obligation with an onsite consultation.