Security, automation and fire safety — price, types and what to check
CCTV, video door phones, sensors, detectors, EV charging.
Cameras, door phones, smart sensors and fire safety are cheapest to plan while walls are open — a few extra conduits now save chasing walls later.
The basics
- CCTV is either IP cameras recording to an NVR, or Wi-Fi cloud cameras.
- Video door phones show who's at the gate from inside the house.
- Every home should have smoke detectors and a kitchen fire extinguisher.
Security, automation and fire safety types and price ranges in India
| Type | Specification | Best used for | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP CCTV camera | 2–4 MP, PoE | Entrances and parking | ₹2,500–8,000 |
| NVR with hard disk | 4–16 channel | Recording | ₹6,000–25,000 |
| Video door phone | 7″ screen | Gate and main door | ₹6,000–25,000 |
| Smart hub and sensors | Zigbee / Wi-Fi | Automation, motion, door sensors | ₹1,500–6,000 |
| Smoke / heat detector | Battery or wired | Bedrooms and kitchen | ₹800–3,500 |
| Fire extinguisher | ABC, 2–4 kg | Kitchen, parking, meter room | ₹1,500–4,000 |
| Gas leak detector with shut-off | LPG / PNG | Kitchen | ₹2,500–9,000 |
| EV charger | 7.4 kW AC | Parking | ₹25,000–70,000 |
Quality checks before you accept delivery
- Outdoor cameras rated IP66 or better, with night vision.
- Use surveillance-grade hard disks in the NVR.
- Extinguishers should be ISI-marked with the gauge needle in green.
- Check each camera's night view on site before paying.
- Confirm the NVR stores at least 15–30 days of footage.
- Press the test button on every detector after installation.
Pro tips
- Run Cat6 conduits to every camera point and a data point in every room.
- Keep the NVR hidden, ventilated and on a UPS.
- Pre-wire the parking with a dedicated 6 sq mm circuit for a future EV charger.
- Replace detector batteries once a year.
- Change all default passwords on cameras, NVR and smart devices.
- Mount one camera at the gate at face height, not only high up.
Mistakes to avoid
- Wi-Fi cameras at a gate far from the router.
- Pointing cameras into neighbours' windows — it creates disputes and privacy issues.
- No extinguisher near the kitchen or meter board.
- Leaving cameras online with factory passwords.
- Smoke detectors directly above the hob — they trigger on every tadka.
Where you can save
- Lay conduits now even if cameras come later — retrofitting costs far more.
- PoE cameras carry power and data on one cable, halving wiring.
How much you need
A typical house: 4–6 cameras, one door phone, detectors in kitchen and bedrooms.
Brands to know
CP Plus, Hikvision, Godrej Security, Legrand, Honeywell, Ceasefire, Tata Power EZ Charge
Related materials
Wires and cablesHidden in walls for decades — never compromise here.Switches, MCB and DBModular switches, sockets and circuit protection.Lights and fansLED lighting, BLDC fans and exhausts.Air conditioning and ventilationSplit, ducted and VRF systems, copper piping, ventilation.Home liftsTraction, hydraulic, screw and vacuum lifts for homes.