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All-seeing eye keeps watch over Durham’s new soccer centre
Mar 7 2006
Norbain has supplied CCTV equipment for a state-of-the-art indoor football centre, which is providing full coverage of the building’s interior while avoiding the need for complex maintenance.
Soccarena is a purpose-built indoor soccer centre in Durham comprising dressing rooms and bars as well as eight six-a-side pitches. All sorts of different types of people use Soccarena from children to adults, boys and girls. “The surface is the main attraction for people who play here," says Chairman Stewart Dawson. "It is just like playing on real grass.” Single storey offices, refreshment areas and changing facilities run through the middle of the building, flanked by the pitches.
Innovative design layout dramatically simplified camera maintenance. The original intention had been to install cameras high in the roof space above the football pitches but installer Tate Security Services advised against this. "Special lifting apparatus would have been needed for maintenance," says Tate Security Managing Director Jeff Tate. "Instead, we recommended mounting a fully-functional camera on a purpose-made pole on top of the central offices." This gives very easy access as the pole has a weighted pivot and could easily be lowered if servicing were needed. The camera - a Pelco Spectra III™ series pan-tilt-zoom model - can look all around the building's interior. The same model is also used for the three external cameras while Vista fixed domes (VFD4V9Ce) complete the internal coverage.
Norbain has supplied both external and internal cameras, which Tate Security has installed at Soccarena. “We’ve been delighted with the CCTV system. It’s fantastic. It’s everything we needed,” says Stewart Dawson. The requirements were discussed with installer Tate Security, which produced a system covering both outside and inside. “Everywhere is covered, and the cameras home in on any incidents.”
The system proves its worth in all kinds of ways, says Stewart Dawson, even helping track down people who have taken the wrong bag home. The value comes from a combination of external security and keeping a record of what is happening. “Having a system like this helps with the insurance," says Stewart Dawson.
Movement detectors and alarmed fire exit doors are linked to both the internal and external cameras. Cameras are configured to turn to point at any incidents triggered by either type of sensor. “If anybody is coming in or going out via a fire door when they shouldn’t be, the cameras will immediately turn to look,” says Jeff Tate. A 320Gb Vista Triplex™ (VC16STe-320) hard disk recorder captures the camera images 24 hours a day.
