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NSAB - Network Surveillance Accreditation Body

IP CCTV

NSAB is a voluntary accreditation body for installers, operating in the field of IP CCTV Systems and Network Surveillance. NSAB was the first organisation in the UK, to develop an installation (not manufacturing) standard for Networked CCTV.

NSAB Accreditation is entirely voluntarily. As it's success and reputation are reaching decision makers at all levels of the public sector, it is possible to likely, that our IP CCTV Installation Code of Practice will become a procurement requirement in public sector projects and tenders.

NSAB recognised changes and drastic advances in technology, such as the introduction of High Definition Megapixel Resolution - and these not yet being considered at all in professional codes of practice. Example: The CCTV Code of Practice still takes reference to the percentage of screen coverage, when determining validity of evidence - entirely omitting to take into account the resolution of the recorded footage stream.

A 4.0 Megapixel IP Camera technically only needs 10% of object coverage on screen, when compared to an analogue camera recording at a max. of 0.4 Megapixel.

With the transition of CCTV into the IP IT sector, an entirely new installation force came into the scene: IT IP Network Specialists. CCTV is now a technology stretched over two camps: IT IP Network Specialists for Data infrastructur and the traditional Security and Alarm Installer.

Effectively neither are entirely qualified to enter IP CCTV Installation (!).

Example:

  • Traditional Security Installer: Specialists at camera positioning, security site survey, frame rate requirements, illumination requirements. Traditionally not adequately trained nor experienced in IP Network Technology like: IP Addressing, sub-netting, routing and port forwarding, RAID storage systems, PoE, NAT, NAS and last but not least at all : IT SECURITY. There have been many incidents of installers successfuly enabling remote viewing of DVRs (Digital Video Recorders), but simultaneously critically compromising the Network and Data Security in Firewalls and Explorer settings etc.
  • IP IT Specialists: Very knowledgable at Data Infrastructure Installation. There have been uncountable incidents of incorrectly positioned cameras, over- and under specification of systems, complete non conformity with legal standards and inability to offer after sales support as required by the police etc.

NSAB undertakes the assessment of both installation sectors to conformity to all applicable standards, fully taking into account the advances of new technologies. NSAB is not commercially orientated, nor about ticking boxes and increasing overheads - It is all about sensible procedures, for sensible installers, serving sensible clients.

NSAB Approved Contractors are not annually assessed as a company, which has shown to drive little improvement. They are rather obliged to make available supporting evidence of conformity for every single installation deemed to receive our approved status. Repetitive failure to comply will greatly lower the contractors ratin in our system and lead to exclusion from leads. Approved installers reaching an unsatisfactory rating will be banned from the NSAB scheme.