Choosing security cameras for an Edmonton commercial building comes down to four things: the views each site needs, the right type of camera for each view, a recording system you can search quickly, and an installation built for an Edmonton winter. This guide covers all four, plus what to ask before you hire an installer.
Start with the site
- Condos and apartment buildings: entrances, lobbies, mailrooms, parkade gates and ramps, with faces captured at every door.
- Offices: main entrances, reception, loading areas and parkades, connected to access control so door events bring up video.
- Retail and plazas: storefronts, parking lots and rear doors, with clear views of the till areas where appropriate.
- Industrial yards and shops: gates, fence lines and yards, with plate recognition at the entrance and thermal cameras for long dark perimeters.
- Schools: entrances, hallways, parking lots and play areas, kept out of private spaces.
For each view, decide what the camera must show: a face, a plate, or only activity. That one decision sets the camera type, the lens and where it is mounted.
Camera types compared
- Dome cameras: compact and vandal-resistant, good for lobbies, hallways and parkades.
- Bullet cameras: long, visible and easy to aim, good for building exteriors, lots and fence lines.
- Turret cameras: like a dome without the bubble, so less glare from infrared at night.
- Multi-sensor and panoramic cameras: several views in one camera, good for large lots and busy corridors.
- PTZ cameras: pan, tilt and zoom to follow activity, best with someone watching live.
- Thermal cameras: detect heat rather than light, good for long, dark perimeters, usually paired with a regular camera.
- Plate recognition cameras: set up to read plates at gates and parkade entrances.
Recording options compared
- Recorder on site: video stays in the building and keeps recording if the internet goes down.
- Video management software on a server: one system for many cameras, sites and users, with stronger search.
- Cloud-managed: cameras managed and viewed from the cloud, with less equipment on site.
- Hybrid: video recorded on site and managed from the cloud, which suits businesses with several locations.
Features worth having
- People and vehicle detection, so alerts are about real activity rather than shadows or blowing snow.
- Smart search to find a person, vehicle or colour across cameras in minutes.
- Wide dynamic range for headlights, lit doorways and dark corners in the same view.
- Two-way audio and speakers so after-hours visitors can be warned off.
- Easy export of clips for police and insurers.
How a good installation runs
1. Site walk
Walk every entrance, parkade, yard, loading dock and shared space, at night as well as by day if lighting is a concern. Note what each view must show, where cable can run and where the recorder or server will live.
2. Camera schedule and quote
A written schedule lists every camera, its type, its view and its purpose, plus how long video is kept and who can see it. It turns into a written quote and makes it easy to compare installers fairly.
3. Cabling and network
Most cameras run on network cable that also carries power (PoE). Cameras should sit on their own network, separate from office or tenant devices, with secure remote access for viewing and support.
4. Mounting for Edmonton weather
Outdoor cameras need housings and mounts rated for deep cold, sealed cable entries and positions that avoid snow build-up and glare. Winter installs need extra planning for access and working conditions.
5. Set-up and testing
Each view is set, focused and checked at night. Detection is tuned so alerts are about real activity, users get the right permissions, and exports, phone viewing and any link to access control or intercom are tested before handover.
6. Handover and support
You should receive admin access, a camera list, network details and full documentation. After installation, a maintenance plan keeps lenses clean, firmware current and storage healthy.
Performance through an Edmonton winter
Outdoor cameras in Edmonton spend months in the cold and the dark, so low-light performance comes first. Snow reflects infrared and can wash out the picture, and falling snow triggers motion alerts, which is why people and vehicle detection matters more here than in milder climates. Lenses need cleaning and housings need checking on a maintenance plan.
How to judge a camera installer
- Do they walk the site and give you a written camera schedule?
- Do they install more than one brand, and can they explain why they recommend this one?
- Will you get admin access and full documentation?
- Who supports the system after installation, and how do you reach them at night?
- Can they take over cameras another company installed?
Recording, viewing and live monitoring
Phone and browser viewing are part of a normal install. Live 24/7 monitoring is separate: our monitoring partner watches the cameras, can warn people off through a speaker and calls police or your contact when it is real.
Where we work around Edmonton
Hightower's head office is in Edmonton, and we install and support cameras across the city and area, including St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc and Nisku, as well as Calgary, Red Deer, Kelowna and the rest of Alberta and BC. We install and support Avigilon, Axis, Bosch and Uniview cameras on Milestone, Genetec or the manufacturer's own software, and we take over camera systems other companies installed.
Related on this site
Read more: security cameras, security systems in Edmonton, office security, heavy commercial security, remote video monitoring, Avigilon vs Genetec, all services.
Security cameras near you: Edmonton · Calgary · Red Deer · Kelowna.
More from Insights
- Integrated Security Systems for Edmonton Businesses
- 8 Technologies Changing Commercial Video Surveillance
- How to Choose a Commercial Security Company in Edmonton
Need this for a commercial building? Request a quote, or call 587-920-1610 in Alberta or 236-473-1610 in BC.
Questions
Does Hightower work on this for commercial buildings only?
Yes. We design, install and support systems for commercial buildings only, including condos and apartments, offices, retail, industrial sites, schools and automotive businesses across Alberta and BC.
Can you take over an existing system like the one in this article?
Yes. System rescue is a core service. We regain admin access to systems you own, repair what we can, document everything and support it. See system rescue.
Where should I start if this is the system I need?
Start with our security cameras page, or request a quote. We have offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna.