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ing or hitting) than more discretely designed housings or casings for a fixed dome or PTZ dome
camera. The smooth, rounded covering of a fixed dome or PTZ dome makes it more difficult, for
example, to block the camera’s view by trying to hang a piece of clothing over the camera. The
more a housing or camera blends into an environment or is disguised as something other than a
camera—for example, an outdoor light—the better the protection against vandalism.
Figure 4.5a Examples of fixed camera housings. Only the middle and right housings are classified as vandal-resistant.
Figure 4.5b Examples of vandal-resistant housings for a small or compact fixed network camera (at left), for a fixed
dome network camera (middle) and for a PTZ camera (at right).
4.5.2 Mounting
The way cameras and housings are mounted is also important. A traditional fixed network camera
and a PTZ dome camera that is mounted on the surface of a ceiling are more vulnerable to attacks
than a fixed dome or PTZ dome camera that is mounted flush to a ceiling or wall, where only the
transparent part of the camera or housing is visible.
Figures 4.5c Examples of flush ceiling-mounted housings for fixed network cameras.
Another important consideration is how the cabling to a camera is mounted. Maximum protec-
tion is provided when the cable is pulled directly through the wall or ceiling behind the camera.
In this way, there are no visible cables to tamper with. If this is not possible, a metal conduit
tube should be used to protect cables from attacks.
CHAPTER 4 - CAMERA PROTECTION AND HOUSINGS
