Myth No.17 ~ 'You can't put IP cameras outside'

Purpose-made, ruggedised IP cameras are now available that are specifically designed for external use. In addition, older analogue external cameras can also be added to IP systems.

Housings and other enclosures of electrical equipment have an ingress protection (the other IP!)rating that classifies their degree of protection from the environment. By assigning different number codes, the product’s degree of protection can be identified quickly and easily. In the code IP 54, for example, IP identifies the standard, the 5 describes the level of protection from solid objects, and 4 describes the level of protection from liquids. The higher the number, the better the environmental protection, and housings and enclosures for external use should have a rating of IP 65 or higher.


The CCTV industry has massive experience of manufacturing and installing cameras for outdoor
use, and there are literally millions of static and PTZ analogue cameras in current operation in external applications. One way to add rugged external cameras to an IP network effectively is to feed existing analogue cameras to a video server that then connects to a switch on the new IP network.

In addition to using existing analogue cameras and a video server, the CCTV industry is starting to manufacturer network cameras for external use. These cameras and domes are designed for IP applications with the correct levels of environmental protection. Because they are purpose-built, they are more attractive than indoor IP cameras and domes fitted into an external housing.