Survey the rack and power before you promise camera counts.
Photo: Unsplash / Taylor Vick
How-to · 2026-10-18
CCTV installer site survey checklist for commercial jobs
A practical security camera installation checklist covering PoE, runs, NVR/VMS placement, and customer expectations.
By Linki Security
A clean security camera installation starts before the first Cat6 pull. Use this checklist on commercial and light-industrial site surveys so your CCTV installer notes turn into accurate quotes.
Outside the building
- Lighting at night (IR vs white light vs existing floods)
- Mounting substrate (brick, metal fascia, soffit)
- Cable path to IDF / NVR closet and any aerial or conduit constraints
- Privacy / neighbour sightlines the customer cares about
Inside / IDF
- Switch PoE budget vs datasheet max draw (not typical)
- UPS for NVR/VMS if continuous recording is in scope
- Network segmentation expectations (VLAN / guest / corporate IT)
- Viewing clients: AXIS Companion, ACS, Hik-Connect, UniFi Protect, etc.
Scope language that prevents callbacks
Spell out: camera count and resolution, retention days, remote viewing, who’s providing internet, and what is excluded (trenching, painting, after-hours fees).
Quote faster after the survey
Capture the survey in Linki as line items (cameras, labour, NVR licenses, cable) the same day. Customer PDFs stay cost-free; your margins stay internal.