IEC 62676-4:2025

IEC 62676-4 ®
Edition 2.0 2025-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
REDLINE VERSION
Video surveillance systems for use in security applications -
Part 4: Application guidelines
ICS 13.320 ISBN 978-2-8327-0779-1
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 6
INTRODUCTION .
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 10
3.1 Terms and definitions. 10
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 20
4 General Planning considerations . 21
4.1 General considerations . 21
4.2 Security concept . 22
4.2.1 General . 22
4.2.2 Risk assessment . 23
4.2.3 Selection of security grades . 24
4.3 Developing the operational requirements . 25
4.4 Site survey . 25
4.5 Security of the VSCC room . 25
4.6 System design including site plan . 26
4.7 Developing the test plan . 27
4.8 Installation, commissioning and hand over . 27
4.9 Documenting the system . 27
5 Operational requirements specifications . 27
5.1 General . 27
5.2 Purpose of the operational requirements . 27
5.3 Content of the operational requirements . 27
5.3.1 General . 27
5.3.2 Basic objective/functionalities . 28
5.3.3 Definition of surveillance limitations . 28
5.3.4 Definition of the site(s) under surveillance . 28
5.3.5 Definition of activity to be captured . 28
5.3.6 System/picture performance . 28
5.3.7 Period of operation . 28
5.3.8 Conditions at the location . 29
5.3.9 Resilience. 29
5.3.10 Monitoring and image storage . 29
5.3.11 Exporting images . 29
5.3.12 Routine actions . 29
5.3.13 Operational response . 29
5.3.14 Operator workload . 30
5.3.15 Training . 30
5.3.16 Expansions . 30
5.3.17 List of any other special factors not covered by the above . 30
5.4 System operational criteria . 30
5.4.1 General . 30
5.4.2 Automation . 30
5.4.3 Alarm response . 31
5.4.4 System response times . 31
6 Technical considerations (equipment selection and performance) . 32
6.1 General . 32
6.2 Camera equipment . 32
6.3 Camera and lens selection criteria . 32
6.4 Camera selection . 33
6.4.1 General . 33
6.4.2 PTZ . 33
6.5 Lens and housing selection . 34
6.6 Site coverage/numbers of cameras . 34
6.7 Field of view – object size .
6.7 Object sizes and pixel density . 36
6.7.1 General . 36
6.7.2 Object size definitions and required pixel density in IP VSS . 37
6.8 Field of view – Other considerations . 40
6.9 Illumination . 41
6.10 IP Video equipment . 43
6.11 Tamper protection/detection. 43
6.11.1 Camera tamper protection/detection . 43
6.11.2 System tamper protection/detection . 43
6.12 System integration . 43
7 ImageVideo signal presentation . 44
7.1 Display types . 44
7.2 Resolution . 46
8 Transmission . 47
8.1 Principles . 47
8.1.1 General . 47
8.1.2 Selection of IP video performance classes . 48
8.1.3 Interoperability. 49
8.1.4 Interoperability with voice communication . 49
8.2 Wired transmission links . 49
8.3 Wireless transmission links . 50
8.4 Key considerations for IP based transmission systems . 51
9 Video performance characteristics . 51
9.1 Image compression . 51
9.2 Frame rate . 52
9.3 Resolution . 52
10 Storage characteristics requirements . 53
11 Image storage and export . 55
11.1 Format of the compressed video data . 55
11.2 Encryption . 56
11.3 Basic metadata (time, date, camera identifier) . 56
11.4 Multiplexing format. 56
11.5 Image enhancements . 57
11.6 Image export . 57
11.7 Replay of exported images. 58
12 VSSVSCC control room configuration . 58
12.1 Control rooms or secure viewing area . 58
12.2 Number, size and positioning of VSS video displays . 58
12.3 Displays and screens mounted on or off the workstation . 59
12.4 Recommended display sizes . 59
12.5 Number of camera images per operator . 59
12.6 Number of work stations . 60
12.7 Equipment siting . 60
12.8 Backup power supply provision . 60
12.9 Operating temperature . 61
12.10 Lightning and surge protection . 61
13 Defining the test plan . 61
13.1 Purpose of the test plan . 61
13.2 User acceptance testing/inspection . 61
13.3 Technical acceptance testing . 61
13.3.1 Imaging chain consistency . 61
13.3.2 Image quality . 62
14 Summary of the documentation – Documentational considerations (pre-
installation) . 64
14.1 General . 64
14.2 Risk assessment . 64
14.3 Operational requirements . 64
14.4 Design specification . 64
14.5 Site plan . 64
14.6 Test plan. 64
15 System installation and commissioning . 64
15.1 Factory acceptance testing . 64
15.2 Installation process . 65
15.3 User acceptance testing, commissioning and handover . 66
15.4 Declaration of conformance to standards . 66
16 Final documentation . 66
16.1 General . 66
16.2 Complete system drawings . 67
16.3 System commission (with camera specific audits) . 67
16.4 Interface descriptions . 67
16.5 Operating logbook VSS . 67
16.6 Compliance with legislation (informativefor information) . 67
17 Maintenance .
17.1 Maintenance service agreements .
17.2 Staff .
17.3 Corrective maintenance .
17.4 Preventive maintenance .
17 Operation of VSS. 70
17.1 General . 70
17.2 Behaviour in the event of malfunctions . 71
17.3 At-site visual check . 71
17.4 Deviation of requirements for at-site visual checks and maintenance . 72
17.5 Maintenance . 72
17.6 Inspection (part of preventive maintenance) . 72
17.7 Service checks (part of preventive maintenance) . 74
17.8 Repair (corrective maintenance) . 74
17.9 Improvement . 74
Annex A (informative) Current Video standard formats . 75
A.1 Current video standard format . 75
A.2 Pixel densities for recognition of other objects of interest . 75
Annex B (normative) Test protocol for VSS target . 76
B.1 Scope of the test . 76
B.2 Test prerequisites . 76
B.3 Preconditions . 76
B.4 Face selection . 76
B.5 Live view methodology (faces) . 77
B.6 Live view methodology (VRN) . 77
B.7 Recorded view methodology (faces) . 77
B.8 Recorded view methodology (VRN) . 78
B.9 Motion . 78
B.10 Faces: scoring criteria . 78
B.11 VRN: scoring criteria . 79
B.12 Heads control sheet (for example only) . 81
B.13 VRN control sheet (for example only) . 82
Annex C (normative) Test method of image quality: Guidance for the use of the video
test target . 83
Annex D (informative) Guidelines to specifying VSS parameters and security gradings . 93
D.1 VSS parameters . 93
D.2 Suggested building blocks . 93
D.3 Security gradings . 95
D.4 Security grading by system view: . 95
D.5 Security grading by size view: . 96
D.6 Security grading by application view . 96
D.7 Number of frames depending on the object speed in a scene width. 100
Annex E (normative) Detection response testing and acceptability criteria . 102
E.1 General . 102
E.2 False and nuisance alarms . 102
E.3 Setting the response time . 103
E.4 PTZ response time test procedure . 103
E.5 Observer cueing and prompting . 103
E.6 Detection test locations . 104
E.7 Target camouflage . 104
E.8 Tests with moving targets . 104
E.9 Test conditions . 104
E.10 Testing a 'live' system . 105
E.11 Detection test results tables . 105
Bibliography . 106

Figure 1 – Process visualization . 22
Figure 2 – Structure of a security concept . 23
Figure 1 – Recommended minimum sizes for PAL (576i) resolution .
Figure 3 – HD and UHD screen percentages occupied by various categories . 39
Figure 4 – Pixel density formula . 40
Figure 5 – Operation of a VSS . 70
Figure B.1 – Heads control sheet . 81
Figure B.2 – VRN control sheet example . 82
Figure C.1 – A3 test target .
Figure C.2 – Avoiding optical distortion .
Figure C.1 – Test charts . 88
Figure C.2 – Key to Figure C.1 . 91
Figure C.3 – Avoiding optical distortion . 92

Table 1 – Measures depending on security grades . 26
Table 2 – Commonly encountered resolutions (in pixels) .
Table 3 – Person screen height equivalent for different digital resolutions (in percent) .
Table 2 – Example of system feedback – PTZ control responding time, performance
and operator . 32
Table 3 – Group names for test charts . 38
Table 4 – Typical lux levels . 41
Table 5 – Examples of display technologies . 45
Table 6 – Example resolutions . 46
Table 7 – Factors affecting the storage capacity required for a video recorder .
Table 7 – Wireless transmission options . 50
Table 8 – Inspection cycles versus security grading . 70
Table A.1 – Recommendations for recognition of some “non-human” objects . 75
Table B.1 – Example auditor log sheet . 79
Table B.2 – Example control room observer log sheet. 79
Table B.3 – Example camera audit sheet . 79
Table B.4 – Blank auditor log sheet . 80
Table B.5 – Blank control room observer log sheet . 80
Table B.6 – Blank camera audit sheet . 80
Table C.1 – Test targets . 83
Table D.1 – Suggested VSS building blocks. 93
Table D.2 – Security grading by size view . 96
Table D.3 – Security grading by application . 96
Table D.4 – Security grading by critical infrastructure . 98
Table D.5 – Number of frames depending of object speed – Low pixel density objects . 100
Table D.6 – Number of frames depending of object speed - High Pixel Density Objects . 101
Table E.1 – Detection test results . 105

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Video surveillance systems for use in security applications -
Part 4: Application guidelines

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
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9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
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This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes made
to the previous edition IEC 62676-4:2014. A vertical bar appears in the margin wherever a
change has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in strikethrough red text.

IEC 62676-4 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 79: Alarm and electronic security
systems. It is an International Standard.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2014. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) implementing request for define a security concept (instead of just a risk analysis) (4.2);
b) selection of security grades (4.2.3);
c) complete redefinition of pixel densities (6.7) including new test charts (Annex C):
– upgrade of previous MDORII system with 6 pixel densities (12,5 pixels/meter; 25
pixels/meter; 62,5 pixels/meter ; 125 pixels/meter; 250 pixels/meter; 1 000 pixels/meter)
into new O2DCPVS system with 7 pixel densities (20 pixels/meter; 40 pixels/meter; 80
pixels/meter; 125 pixels/meter; 250 pixels/meter; 500 pixels/meter; 1 500 pixels/meter
d) operation of VSS (Clause 17);
e) security grading by size view (Annex D, Table D.2);
f) security grading by application (Annex D, Table D.3);
g) security grading by critical infrastructure (Annex D, Table D.4);
h) tables for number of frames depending on object speed (Annex D, Table D.5 and Table D.6);
i) general updates of tables in entire document.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
79/727/FDIS 79/732/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English
A list of all parts in the IEC 62676 series, published under the general title Video surveillance
systems for use in security applications, can be found on the IEC website.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
INTRODUCTION
The IEC Technical Committee 79 in charge of alarm and electronic security systems together
with many governmental organisations, test houses and equipment manufacturers has defined
a common framework for video surveillance transmission in order to achieve interoperability
between products.
The IEC 62676 series of standards on video surveillance system is divided into 4 independent
parts:
Part 1: System requirements
Part 2: Video transmission protocols
Part 3: Analog and digital video interfaces
Part 4: Application guidelines
Each part offers its own clauses for the scope, normative references, definitions and
requirements.
The purpose of this part of IEC 62676 is to provide guidance on how to ensure that video
surveillance systems (VSS), thus far referred to as closed circuit television (CCTV), meet their
functional and performance requirements.
This part of IEC 62676 will prove useful to those responsible for establishing operational
requirements, writing specifications, selecting, installing, commissioning, using and maintaining
a VSS.
VSS, in its simplest form, is a means of providing images from security cameras and recorders
for viewing on a display via a transmission system. There is no theoretical limit to the number
of cameras and displays which may be used in a VSS installation but in practice will be limited
by the efficient combination of control and display equipment and the operator's ability to
manage the system.
The successful operation of a VSS requires the active co-operation of the user in carrying out
the recommended procedures.
Due to the wide range of VSS applications, for example security, safety, public safety,
transportation, etc. only the minimum requirements are covered in this part of IEC 62676.

1 Scope
This part of IEC 62676 gives recommendations and requirements for the selection, describes
the planning, design, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintaining and testing of video
surveillance systems (VSS) comprising image capture device(s), interconnection(s) and image
handling device(s), for use in security applications within private or public spaces.
The objectives of this document are to:
a) provide a framework to assist customers, installers and users all interested parties in
establishing their requirements,
b) assist specifiers and users in determining the appropriate equipment required for a given
application,
c) provide means of evaluating objectively the performance of the VSS.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 62676-1-1:2013, Video surveillance systems for use in security applications - Part 1-1:
System requirements - General
IEC 62676-1-2:2013, Video surveillance systems for use in security applications - Part 1-2:
System requirements - Performance requirements for video transmission
IEC 62676-2 (all parts), Video surveillance systems for use in security applications - Part 2-X:
Video transmission protocols
IEC 62676-2-1, Video surveillance systems for use in security applications - Part 2-1: Video
transmission protocols - General requirements
IEC 62676-2-2, Video surveillance systems for use in security applications – Part 2-2: Video
transmission protocols – IP interoperability implementation based on HTTP and REST services
IEC 62676-2-3, Video surveillance systems for use in security applications – Part 2-3: Video
transmission protocols – IP interoperability implementation based on Web services
IEC 62676-3, Video surveillance systems for use in security applications - Part 3: Analog and
digital video interfaces
IEC 62820-2, Building intercom systems - Part 2: Requirements for advanced security building
intercom systems (ASBIS)
IEC 62820-3-2, Building intercom systems - Part 3-2: Application guidelines - Advanced security
building intercom systems (ASBIS)
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
4K
UHD
standard for ultra high-definition television (UHDTV) defined by SMPTE 2036 to be with
3 840 pixels × 2 160 pixels at 25 fps or 30 fps
3.1.2
8K
UHD
standard for ultra high-definition television (UHDTV) defined by SMPTE 2036 to be with
7 680 pixels × 4 320 pixels at 25 fps or 30 fps
3.1.3
at-site visual check
activity to determine and assess the feasibility of implementing the safety concept per camera
location to be monitored as well as checks of visible disturbances and defects at site on the
monitoring tasks of a VSS that are not evaluated operationally and whether there are deviations
from the function of the VSS required in the safety concept
Note 1 to entry: In particular for influences occurring outside of VSS system parts.
Note 2 to entry: The at-site visual check is the responsibility of the operator, who can, however, hand over the
inspection to a competent person VSS or to a competent system engineer VSS.
3.1.4
camera housing
enclosure to provide both physical and/or environmental protection of the camera, lens and
ancillary equipment
3.1.5
camera sensitivity
image capturing device capability to produce an image in certain light conditions
Note 1 to entry: The report may be an electronic document.
3.1.6
characterise
defined functional purpose of a VSS camera to enable characterisation of a target, e.g. person
(type of person, gait and action can be characterised) and vehicles (vehicle brand can be
characterised) with a pixel density of > 250 pixels/meter
3.1.11
company
organization providing design, installation or maintenance of the VSS system
3.1.7
competent person VSS
person who has been instructed by a competent system engineer VSS about the assigned tasks
within the scope of the on-site check and the possible dangers and consequences of improper
behaviour
Note 1 to entry: This includes the necessary knowledge for the assessment of the object requirements, with regard
to the type of danger and the required function of the VSS, the influence of the use as well as the limits of use and
the instruction about the security concept of the video surveillance system, about existing requirements as well as
legal requirements or requirements of the operator from safety aspects as personal and property protection measures
or to avoid personal injury.
Note 2 to entry: The task requires competences for independent planning and processing of the requirements from
the at-site visual check as well as in-depth general knowledge and specialist theoretical knowledge in order to be
able to assess to what extent environmental or object changes can influence the effectiveness of a video surveillance
system. The recognition of possible interactions from other requirements as well as the development of alternative
actions is necessary. Detected deviations shall be securely justified, responsibly communicated and, if necessary,
retracted if no other problem solutions can be found.
3.1.8
competent system engineer VSS
person who, on the basis of professional technical training, knowledge and experience as well
as knowledge of the relevant standards, regulations and directives, is able to assess the work
to be carried out and recognise possible hazards
Note 1 to entry: A competent system engineer VSS can be employed by either an installation company/system
integrator company, project
...