Flir thermal imaging cameras are used to protect the industrial complex.
The Industriepark H?chst industrial zone in the suburbs of Frankfurt is more than 800 leased facilities, 120 manufacturing plants and over 80 laboratories and office buildings, where a total of 22,000 people work.
The complex occupies more than 460 hectares, 50 of which are free and can be used for the relocation or expansion of companies.
Three types of transport are used in the zone and beyond: road, rail and water.
Security is a top priority
Given the important and in some cases sensitive nature of chemical and pharmaceutical production plants and the associated processes, security in the industrial area of Industriepark Höchst is a top priority.
However, this is not easy due to the large area with many access routes.
«When creating the security system around the entire perimeter of the industrial complex, we installed different types of video cameras, including several thermal imaging cameras,» says Thomas Krueger, head of the Infraserv control center, which is responsible for security and safety. «As for the thermal imaging cameras, we use the FLIR SR-313 model with a 35-mm lens and the FLIR SR-324 model with a 19-mm lens. The choice of these cameras was dictated by the fact that they are an effective and cost-effective solution to the tasks we face in providing security for this dynamic industrial complex.»
Excellent night vision
Thermal imaging cameras provide excellent night vision even in the dark. Due to the contrast in temperature between the human body and the environment, an intruder who has entered the territory is very clearly visible in the thermal imaging image. And that's not all: compared to covert CCTV cameras, thermal imaging cameras see better in difficult conditions, including through smoke, dust, foliage and fog.
Mr. Krueger is very pleased with the choice of FLIR thermal imaging cameras: “I sometimes think how great it would have been if we had had this technology available when we started installing our security network. We would probably have installed a lot more thermal imaging cameras than we do now, because in many ways CCTV cameras are inferior to them.”
Thomas Krueger purchased FLIR thermal imaging cameras from FLIR distributor VIDEOR. As one of Europe's leading distributors of professional video equipment, VIDEOR has thirty years of experience in the market. Located near Frankfurt, the company offers a wide range of products, including high-quality components and integrated systems in the areas of security, networking, imaging and broadcasting.
Bird's eye view
Now, based on the positive experience of using thermal imaging cameras, Thomas Krueger is planning to install a new thermal imaging camera at a high point in the terrain. For such cases, the best solution may be the FLIR PTZ-35×140 MS thermal imaging camera. This model provides two thermal imaging cameras and one low-light camera, which provides excellent vision even in complete darkness. The two thermal imaging cameras provide a continuous image with the ability to zoom (a thermal imaging system with a wide-angle lens for general observation and a thermal imaging system with a narrow field of view for recognizing mid-range objects).
If Krueger opts for the FLIR PTZ-35×140 MS, the camera’s high-angle, 360° rotation and wide range will give him a clear view of the entire complex. “This would be very useful,” explains Thomas Krueger. “We would then be able to not only detect intruders who have entered the area, but also use the camera in the event of a fire or accident, for firefighting and rescue operations.”
No lighting required
The thermal imaging cameras that have already been installed have proven their worth. «We have installed them in places where CCTV cameras are not as effective,» Krueger continues. «In some places, for example, there may be insufficient lighting due to infrastructure. But for thermal imaging cameras, this does not matter.»
Thermal imaging cameras are extremely effective at nighttime surveillance, but that's not their only advantage, according to Krueger: «Both the FLIR SR-313 and FLIR SR-324 have a long range. Depending on the conditions, these thermal imaging cameras can detect intruders up to 450 meters and 780 meters away, respectively.»
Long Range
«Thermal imaging cameras generally have a longer range than CCTV cameras,» explains Thomas Krüger. «To detect a person who has entered an area, CCTV cameras require visual contrast, which is not always possible, especially in poor lighting conditions, such as on a cloudy day. Thermal imaging cameras have a much greater contrast capacity due to the difference in temperature and heat radiation between the human body and the surrounding environment. Therefore, a thermal imaging camera can detect a person at a greater distance than a CCTV camera. And because such a camera sees further, fewer of them are needed to cover the same area.»
Very high cost-effectiveness
According to Krueger, all of these advantages make thermal imaging cameras very cost-effective. “And it’s not just because fewer cameras are needed. Deploying a complete security solution involves much more than just installing a camera. You have to consider the entire infrastructure. Each camera you install requires power, a pole to mount it on, and a CCTV camera requires multiple lights to keep it operational at night. A thermal camera only needs one pole and no lights. The overall cost of ownership for a thermal camera is very low, and while the price per camera is higher, it is ultimately cheaper to install a thermal camera than multiple CCTV cameras. In my opinion, the profitability of thermal imaging cameras is really very high.»
Observation in inaccessible areas
According to Krüger, the long range of thermal imaging cameras not only affects their cost effectiveness. «The longer range of thermal imaging cameras allows them to be used to monitor inaccessible areas that cannot be viewed by CCTV cameras. In the Infraserv Höchst industrial estate, certain areas of the perimeter are constantly at risk of flooding, as we are located on the banks of the Main River. In such conditions, protecting such areas is a challenge. Due to the risk of flooding, ground sensors and fencing are not an option, and CCTV cameras and lighting have also proven their inadequacy, as the water overflows the banks and destroys the power supply for both the cameras and lighting. But with thermal cameras, they can be installed outside the flood zone, with the lenses pointed into the area, allowing them to view the area without the risk of being destroyed by flooding.»
Fewer false alarms
Thomas Krueger's experience shows that there is a difference in the number of false alarms between thermal cameras and CCTV cameras. «With CCTV cameras, we had about one false alarm a week. With thermal cameras, that number dropped to one a year or less.»