According to Hikvision, Custom Connections Audio Video – a dealer for the company based in Springboro, Ohio – was contracted to provide expertise for video security cameras for a car wash company with numerous locations.

Express Car Wash Concepts, out of Columbus, Ohio has a portfolio of more than 200 car wash locations throughout the state. The company contacted Custom Connections to advise them on improving the visibility of vehicles traveling through the car wash tunnels to help reduce liabilities.

Car wash security

“Their average car wash needs between 15 – 20 security cameras. The primary goal is to capture the vehicle, including all sides and the top, with a high frame-rate scan of the vehicle upon entering and exiting the tunnel,“ said Mark Crumbacher, Owner of Custom Connections.

“We recommended using Hikvision 4 MP and 4K turret cameras that offer a superior solution over dome cameras for the car wash, as the plastic covering on a dome lens and infrared (IR) can get cloudy over time or develop a pinhole leak that affects image quality. Turret cameras offer a rugged option with a longer performance that separates the IR from the lens, eliminates halo effects and presents better clarity in the video and images. Over time, the turrets are easier to care for and present a better long-term investment.”

Updating security

The company says that the car washes were also maxing out their existing 16-channel DVRs and constantly adding new switches to maintain the video footage records. Custom Connections therefore recommended the Hikvision DS-7732NI-I4/24P plug-and-play PoE NVR with 32 channels and 24 ports.

Hikvision says that its 4K AcuSense Fixed Turret Network Cameras DS-2CD2383G2-I(U) were installed at the entrances and exits of more than 70 car wash tunnels for ultra-high definition video and images. These cameras were also placed throughout each car wash in other strategic locations (cashier, hallways, safe) to provide comprehensive site security. Both camera models are water and dust-resistant (IP67). They also feature AcuSense technology, which includes AI-driven human and vehicle target classification, simplifying forensic video searches.

The company highlights that the Hikvision 2 MP pinhole camera was used at the kiosks where customers pay on a touch screen. The pinhole cameras provide facial identification to go after people who’ve vandalized the screens, which can cost up to $3,000 to replace.

The organization also wanted a user-friendly GUI that was the same across all locations. They deployed the iVMS-4200 app with static IP addresses so company executives and managers could log in and see the system. Employees at each car wash site can access a 4K monitor with live video views inside their IT room. They can easily save video clips and send them to the corporate office via Dropbox or another tool for review.

Outcome

“All in all, the upgraded Hikvision video cameras with a robust NVR helped to deliver better protection against liability for Express Car Wash Concepts,” said Crumbacher.

“Mark Crumbacher and his team at Custom Connection are professional, efficient and experienced in installing the camera systems we need at our facilities. Car washes are a tough environment for video systems. These cameras perform in very wet and chemical-filled environments,” said Michael Boyle, Senior IT Manager at Express Car Wash Concepts.

“Custom Connections knows our business and how to place equipment in locations that are protected from the wash setting while still being able to capture the information we need. They are also always willing to help us when challenges arise and have gone the extra mile more times than I can remember.”