Fire detection camera cost: what drives the price

We do not publish a price list, because two sites rarely need the same thing. A yard with good cameras already in the right places needs far less than a new building with none. What we can do is explain what shapes the cost, so you know what to have ready and where the money goes. This page covers the factors, the existing-camera question, installation, buying direct or through your installer, and how to get an accurate quote.

What drives the cost of fire detection cameras?

Six things shape almost every quote. Most are about your site rather than the software, which is why a short assessment matters more than a list price.

Two sites with the same number of cameras can still end up with quite different quotes. A compact yard with cameras on the building already pointing at the bays might need no new hardware at all. A long, open site with stockpiles at the far end might need a pole, a new camera and a cable or network run to reach it.

Is it cheaper to use my existing CCTV?

Often, yes. Woodcock AI connects to your cameras or recorder over ONVIF or RTSP, so a camera that already looks at the right area can start detecting smoke and fire without being replaced. That usually means less hardware to buy and less installation work.

It depends on the view, though. For reliable detection a camera needs to see the area you care about, at a sensible distance, with enough light or a good night picture. A camera pointed at a gate will not watch the bale store behind it, however good it is. At the assessment we check each existing view and mark which ones can be used as they are.

Old and new, side by side

Where a camera is needed, we supply Hikvision ColorVu turret and bullet cameras, pre-configured for smoke and fire detection before they arrive. ColorVu cameras are built to show colour at night, which helps your team see what an alert is about. See our Hikvision smoke detection camera page for how turret and bullet models suit different areas.

Your recorder normally stays where it is. Your footage keeps recording as it does today, and the AI adds detection and alerts on top. If you want to check whether your network can carry the extra streams, try our CCTV bandwidth and storage calculator.

Recorder stays put

What adds cost to an installation?

Installation is usually where quotes differ most. The main items are:

• Mounting. A camera on an existing wall bracket is quick. A new pole, or a camera high on a building that needs access equipment, takes longer.
• Cabling and power. Long cable runs across a yard, or areas with no power nearby, add work.
• Network. Some sites need a switch, extra network ports or a better link to reach far corners.
• Integrations. Wiring an alert to a siren on site or to an input on your fire alarm panel adds a small amount of electrical work.
• Access and timing. Working around live operations, or in restricted areas, can affect how long the visit takes.

Fire panel and sounder

Alerts themselves go out by app, with a short clip, and by email to the people you choose. An alarm receiving centre (ARC) connection is an optional add-on if you want a monitoring centre to act on alerts too, and it is included in the quote only if you ask for it.

We offer an end-to-end design, supply and install service: site survey, design, supply, installation, commissioning, go-live and ongoing support. During commissioning we run smoke tests on site, so you see the system detect before we hand it over.

Can I buy through my installer?

Yes. Woodcock AI is sold direct and through CCTV installers and resellers. If you already have an installer you trust, they can fit and support the system while Woodcock AI runs on the cameras. If you would rather deal with one company, we can design, supply and install it ourselves.

Installers who want to offer AI detection to their own customers can read about our white-label AI CCTV programme.

What are you paying for beyond the cameras?

The cameras are only part of it. The value is in what the system does with the picture, and that is where Woodcock AI differs from basic motion alerts:

• Polygon detection areas. You draw a shape round each bay, stockpile or quarantine area, so alerts name the area and ignore the parts of the view that do not matter. See polygon detection zones.
• Self-learning, fitted to each scene. The models are fitted to each camera’s view, trained on that site’s normal, no-incident footage and on synthesised smoke. Read more about our self-learning AI.
• Years of development, now in use. Woodcock AI has been built over several years and is running on real UK sites today.

Per-camera schedules let you choose when each detection is active, for example intrusion only when the site is closed, while smoke and fire watching carries on around the clock.

How do I get an accurate quote?

Book a site assessment. It is the quickest way to an exact figure, because it answers each of the questions above for your site rather than guessing.

1. 1
   Book a site assessment. Tell us about the site and what you want to protect.
2. 2
   Share what you have. A list of your cameras and recorder, and a site plan if you have one (a fire prevention plan drawing is ideal).
3. 3
   Agree areas and detections. We mark which cameras can be used, where any gaps are and which detections each camera needs.
4. 4
   Get your quote. A written quote for using your existing cameras, new ColorVu cameras, or both.
5. 5
   Install and commission. We fit, set the zones, smoke-test on site and go live. You can also ask for a live test on your cameras or an on-site demo first.

Frequently asked questions

Last reviewed 29 October 2026