How to choose a CCTV installer in Brisbane — the honest 2026 checklist
Last updated June 2026. The checklist we wish every Brisbane homeowner and commercial property manager used before they signed a CCTV install contract. Written by Jarrod Edwards, QLD Class 2 licensed installer (#4546326), Mr Secured Pty Ltd.
TL;DR — the 8-question installer interview
- What is your QLD Class 2 Security Provider Licence number? (mandatory)
- Will the person who installs the system be the person who quoted it?
- What hardware brand AND specific model are you installing?
- Are you the authorised installer for that brand?
- What’s the warranty — manufacturer AND your installation warranty?
- Do you provide written commissioning documentation?
- Can you show a certificate of currency for Public Liability Insurance?
- Are you ASIAL member? Can you show recent five-star Brisbane Google reviews?
If an installer cannot answer all 8 definitively, walk away. The cheaper quote will cost you more by year 3.
Why this checklist matters
Brisbane has approximately 280 security installers operating across Greater Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast. Most are competent. Some are not. The difference between a good install and a bad install isn’t apparent on day 1 — it becomes apparent 6-18 months later when something fails, when warranty matters, when service is needed, or when insurance asks for compliance evidence. The 8 questions above filter most of the risk out at the quoting stage.
Question 1 — QLD Class 2 Security Provider Licence number
Mandatory. Queensland law requires anyone installing security cameras with door release, alarms, or access control to hold a Class 2 Security Provider Licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading. Ask for the number directly. Verify it at the QLD Office of Fair Trading licence register. Mr Secured holds licence #4546326.
Installers without a valid Class 2 cannot legally install your system. Your homeowner insurance discount for licensed-install security systems will not apply. Your strata insurance policy may exclude claims involving unlicensed installs.
Question 2 — Will the installer be the same person who quoted
Most Brisbane CCTV installers subcontract the actual installation labour. The quote comes from a salesperson, the installation comes from a different technician, and the service call months later comes from a third person who doesn’t know the system. This is the single biggest cause of “the system stopped working and nobody fixes it” complaints.
Ask explicitly: “Will the person who quotes my job be the person who installs it? And the person who returns for service?” The answer should be yes, or it should be a clearly explained team-based model where the same 2-3 people handle the whole lifecycle. If the answer is “we have a network of subcontractors”, walk away.
Question 3 — Hardware brand AND specific model
A quote that says “8-camera 4K system” without naming the model is a quote that lets the installer downgrade hardware between quote and install. Ask for specific model numbers in the quote:
- Dahua TiOC IPC-HFW3849T1-ZAS-PV (specific model)
- Hanwha Wisenet QNV-7022R
- NVR model: Dahua NVR4216-16P-4KS3
- etc.
This lets you cross-check NDAA-compliance status, warranty terms, and supply-chain provenance. See our explainers on Dahua vs Hikvision and Is Dahua banned in Australia? for context.
Question 4 — Authorised installer status
“Authorised installer” means the manufacturer recognises you as a trained, accountable installer with warranty pass-through. Without this status, manufacturer warranty applies differently — typically with longer support routing and supply-chain delays for replacement parts.
Ask: “Are you an authorised installer for Dahua / Hanwha Wisenet / AJAX / Akuvox / Inception EVO?” Verify on the manufacturer’s authorised installer locator. For Dahua specifically, the Australian distributor (typically BGW Technologies or CSD) maintains the installer list.
Question 5 — Warranty (manufacturer + installation)
Manufacturer warranty:
- Dahua: 3 years on cameras
- Hanwha Wisenet: 5 years on cameras
- AJAX: 2 years standard, extending to 5 years with PRO Cloud registration at install (free)
- Akuvox: 2-3 years on intercom hardware depending on authorised distributor channel
- Inception EVO: 3 years standard on the controller (extended terms via authorised distributor)
Installation warranty: the installer’s own warranty on cable runs, mounts, and configuration. Standard is 12-24 months. Mr Secured provides 24 months on installation work.
Ask both warranty terms in writing. If the installer’s installation warranty is less than 12 months, that’s a flag.
Question 6 — Written commissioning documentation
For commercial sites and body corporate buildings this is mandatory for strata search compliance and insurance. For residential it’s good practice but optional.
Commissioning documentation should include: camera placement diagram, NVR configuration record, network IP schema, firmware versions, motion detection sensitivity settings, retention policy (days of recording), remote access credentials handover. Mr Secured provides written commissioning reports on every install.
Question 7 — Certificate of currency for Public Liability Insurance
$10 million minimum for residential. $20 million for commercial. Strata managers and body corporate committees should require this at quote stage. Mr Secured holds $20M PLI and can provide certificate of currency on request.
If the installer’s PLI is $5 million or below, that’s not enough for body corporate / commercial work. If they cannot provide a certificate at all, walk away.
Question 8 — ASIAL member + recent Google reviews
ASIAL (Australian Security Industry Association Limited) membership signals professional accreditation. Not mandatory but useful.
Recent Google reviews — ask for the most recent 5 customer reviews from the last 6 months. Read them. Look for: same-tech-throughout-project complaints (subcontracting problem), price-change-after-quote complaints (quoting integrity problem), no-show-for-service-calls complaints (post-install support problem). Mr Secured has 195+ five-star reviews accumulated over the brand’s history.
Red flags — walk away if you see these
- Quotes Wi-Fi cameras for a real security install — Wi-Fi cameras drop connection during the exact incident you need them for
- Cannot name the specific camera model — opens the door to hardware downgrade between quote and install
- Refuses to provide written warranty terms — typical of subcontracted-labour models
- $2,500 for 4 cameras — that’s a generic-Bunnings-kit price, not a real installation
- Cannot show recent Brisbane Google reviews — new brand, no track record, no accountability
- Wants payment in full upfront — standard practice is 30-50% deposit, balance on commissioning
- Verbal-only quote — if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t exist
Green flags — confident pick if you see these
- Class 2 licence number on every email signature and on the quote document
- Specific camera model numbers in the quote (Dahua IPC-HFW… etc)
- Owner-installer model (same person quotes, installs, returns)
- Authorised installer relationship for the brand you’re getting
- 5+ recent Google reviews from named Brisbane suburbs
- Can provide certificate of currency for PLI on request
- Provides written commissioning documentation as standard
- ASIAL member
- Doesn’t pressure you to sign on the day of quote
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a Brisbane CCTV installer’s QLD Class 2 licence?
Visit the QLD Office of Fair Trading licence register at qld.gov.au and search by licence number or business name. The register shows licence status (active/suspended/expired) and licence class. Mr Secured Pty Ltd holds Class 2 licence #4546326.
Should I use the cheapest CCTV installer quote in Brisbane?
Usually not. The cheapest quotes typically involve generic Wi-Fi cameras (not real security hardware), unlicensed installation (insurance discount lost), no manufacturer warranty pass-through, and subcontracted labour (no accountability when something fails). The 30-50% upfront saving costs you more by year 3.
What’s the difference between authorised and non-authorised installers?
Authorised installers have manufacturer-warranty status, expedited support routing, and supply-chain access through the authorised distributor relationship. Non-authorised installers may install identical-looking hardware but warranty path, firmware update channel, and replacement-part supply differ materially.
How long should a CCTV installation take in Brisbane?
4-camera residential: same day, 4-6 hours. 6-camera residential: same day, 6-8 hours. 8-camera residential: same day, occasionally 2 days. 12+ camera acreage: 2-3 days. Commercial 8-camera: 1-2 days. Warehouse 16-20 camera + AJAX alarm: 3-5 days. Body corporate: 1-3 weeks depending on common-area access scheduling.
What questions should I ask before signing a CCTV install contract?
Ask for: QLD Class 2 licence number, whether the installer who quotes will install, specific hardware model numbers, authorised installer status for the brand, warranty terms (manufacturer + installation), written commissioning documentation, PLI certificate of currency, ASIAL membership, recent Brisbane Google reviews. If the installer cannot answer all 8 definitively, walk away.
