Share

Sites with a vast perimeter require protection from a range of security threats. An effective perimeter security system helps to protect sites with significant assets to protect.

Organisations operating sites with vast perimeters include:

  • Solar farms
  • Construction sites
  • Car dealerships
  • Large schools
  • Warehouses
  • Distribution and logistics centres
  • Industrial sites

These types of business will typically have millions of pounds in revenue to protect in addition to:

  • Plant machinery
  • Goods
  • Stock
  • Forklift trucks
  • Solar panels
  • IT hardware
  • Cash

In this short article, we look at the different types of perimeter security systems.

What is perimeter security?

Perimeter security covers systems that are designed to protect a site’s perimeter. According to Wikipedia:

Perimeter Security Perimeter security refers to natural barriers or built fortifications to either keep intruders out or to keep captives contained within the area the boundary surrounds.

Source: Wikipedia, Perimeter Security

What are the different types of perimeter security?

The different forms of perimeter security include:

  • Perimeter protection
  • Perimeter CCTV surveillance
  • Perimeter detection systems
  • Access control

Let’s have a look at each.

Perimeter protection systems

Perimeter protection systems do exactly what you think they do.

They help to protect a site perimeter from a range of security threats.

Perimeter protection systems include:

  • CCTV
  • Video surveillance
  • Perimeter alarms
  • Site fencing

Perimeter protection also covers physical security, such as guards and keyholders.

In providing complete protection and security for a site’s perimeter, alarms and cameras can be fitted with:

  • Infrared beams – An invisible beam which will ‘alarm’ when broken
  • Passive Infrared Sensors – Detecting motion around the external perimeter

More information on these detection devices some later on in this article.

If the system is triggered, an alarm signal is sent to an onsite or offsite security team to review the footage or take the appropriate action.

Perimeter CCTV surveillance and offsite monitoring

As a form of advanced protection, perimeter CCTV surveillance cameras can be deployed to monitor activity around a site’s perimeter.

Footage can be viewed internally by an onsite security team, or offsite via the use of CCTV monitoring.

Sites with a vast perimeter often need protecting most at night.

To aid detection accuracy, the range of cameras we recommend are:

  • PTZ cameras
  • IP CCTV cameras
  • Thermal CCTV and video analytics
  • ANPR CCTV cameras
Solar Farm CCTV Perimeter Protection

What is CCTV monitoring?

If you are new to the concept of CCTV monitoring, you can read our article: What is CCTV monitoring and how does it work?

For a quick explanation, it is:

CCTV monitoring is where a business’s CCTV system and cameras are monitored offsite by a team of security professionals. When the system is triggered, an alert is sent to an offsite security team (ARC) for them to take the appropriate action.

Construction site perimeter

Perimeter detection systems

There are a range of perimeter detection systems. These advanced threat and intruder detection solutions include:

  • Passive infra-red (PIR) sensors
  • Infra-Red (IR) lighting and illuminators
  • Perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS)

Passive infra-red (PIR) sensors

PIR sensors detect intruders approaching your site perimeter.

When triggered, the system can:

  • Alert your security team to a potential security threat
  • Trigger security lighting
  • Activate an alarm siren

Infra-Red (IR) lighting and illuminators

You can fit IR lighting and illuminators to CCTV poles. These advanced detection systems help to:

  • Reduce false alarms associated with grazing wildlife and falling branches
  • Offer an element of stealth when seeking to detect and catch intruders
  • Send an alarm signal to the ARC if human presence is detected

Perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS).

Perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDs) are an advanced type of perimeter detection.

PIDS are typically:

  • Attached to the perimeter fence
  • Ground-mounted close to the site perimeter
  • Buried underground

PIDS can be integrated into a system where non-linear perimeters and other directional changes need to be catered for.

Regulating access with key fob door entry systems

Access control

Access control systems can play an important role in perimeter security.

Key fob door entry systems allow trackable access to approved individuals and can be used to restrict entry to certain areas.

Intercoms can grant access either by site operatives or remotely.

ANPR CCTV cameras can provide access to pre-registered vehicles.