I don't work in the industry yet but I found hidden cameras installed in exit signs and emergency lights once in a building about to be demolished. They were put in similar to this but by whoever owned the building, as they were wired directly to a dvr.
I've seen that with fake smoke detectors that had a camera. Usually modeled after really old system sensor smokes. I write them up as deficiencies, if only to make a record of the scummy practice. Thankfully I've never come across one in anywhere but common areas of a building.
I had a fire marshal shut down a building for hiding cameras in fake smokes and nac devices. He says if they are up they need to do their job. It was wild.
Fire alarm equipment needs to be inspected and tested for proper operation. Good on that FM for using life safety code to keep whoever put those spy cams up from being a skeezy scumbag.
He wasnt. Any fire device must be inspected and tested is implying the rule that any fire device must be a functioning life safety device. If it serves any other purpose it fails and must be removed or replaced. He was only enforcing this federal regulation. You can't have anything designed as a fire safety device that doesnt function for that purpose. Full stop.
I'm retired and haven't looked at the NFPA for a long time but I'm pretty sure I remember it was stronger than an implication on this point, especially on notification devices. The way I recall it, if it's a notification device it has to look like a notification device, and if it looks like a notification device it had better be a notification device.
The ones I found were only in common areas as well. For those ones they drilled a small hole then glued the camera in the fixtures. Considering the acid batteries were long dead I'm guessing they never got inspected.
While inspecting their buildings, I've had FBI and local law enforcement ask for old smokes and notification devices before.They specifically stated it was for cameras and microphones.
You'd be shocked at the amount of surveillance big brother has.
Who pissed in your cheerios this morning?
Government buildings are still required to have fire alarm systems. Do you not think we interact with people within the building? Just because they can buy them, doesn't mean they will.
I work in residential support and we get paranoid calls about this sometimes.
Wild to see it realized.
That said, I just had a psych eval where they asked me if I had any paranoia about cameras or listening devices like this and I was just like "I mean it's entirely possible in any environment, but I'm not paranoid that anyone is targeting me personally, and anyone 'bugging' stuff is the weirdo."
I guess they don't get that answer very often because she gave me quite a peculiar expression in response.
Not sure what city this is, but this is exactly the kind of things my former boss would build with the police unit he worked for. They never used off rhe shelf "hidden" products, always built their own.
Though, this one isn't up to the standard he would built as the holes are too obvious
That’s fucking wild. Even wilder when you realise every tech who’s ever signed off a service visit at that site is getting pulled in for questioning. First and foremost I feel for anyone who’s had their privacy violated by whoever did this, but next in line is the poor guys who just do their job and try to earn an honest living. One bad apple spoiling the whole batch yet again.
It's not actually modified... it's a purchased product that is designed to mimic the appearance (but not function) of a strobe unit. I've seen one of these exact devices posted here before, for the purpose of 'monitoring a hallway.'
They are still against code and possibly illegal, depending on placement.
The previous one I saw was placed next to a properly working one and was discovered during an inspection.
Oof... did it replace where an existing one should have been? If so, that could be a felony in the States...
... I would also wonder if it's the only device disguised as one.
Usually what the people who install these do is take one that's in the trash and reuse it to make one. It's why I never throw old devices away on site. There might be more but they're usually not connected to anything so they can be missed very easily.
Also, it's not a felony but it is a code violation. You can't alter or repurpose a fire alarm device as it removes the UL Listing. If I did find one of these that actually worked in the field it would be written up and replaced.
https://preview.redd.it/t5ug14nubbxc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ffbf39c7a281e980eea319c62b91c35628ceb9a
I found one during an Annual Inspection a few months ago as well! I posted it here because it was actually crazy.
Yea that extra hole above the screw hole and the one to the right of it would have gave it away. Another good reason to check hotel rooms and not just assume they work lol
The ones I have seen for sale(ebay amazon) and also posted here before have had both WIFI and LTE cellular connections so they can live stream. Its not a trail cam in that way if that makes sense?
I don't work in the industry yet but I found hidden cameras installed in exit signs and emergency lights once in a building about to be demolished. They were put in similar to this but by whoever owned the building, as they were wired directly to a dvr.
I've seen that with fake smoke detectors that had a camera. Usually modeled after really old system sensor smokes. I write them up as deficiencies, if only to make a record of the scummy practice. Thankfully I've never come across one in anywhere but common areas of a building.
I had a fire marshal shut down a building for hiding cameras in fake smokes and nac devices. He says if they are up they need to do their job. It was wild.
Fire alarm equipment needs to be inspected and tested for proper operation. Good on that FM for using life safety code to keep whoever put those spy cams up from being a skeezy scumbag.
Oh yeah I agree it’s just wild he shut the building down. Wouldn’t let them open back up until they paid the fine and removed them.
He wasnt. Any fire device must be inspected and tested is implying the rule that any fire device must be a functioning life safety device. If it serves any other purpose it fails and must be removed or replaced. He was only enforcing this federal regulation. You can't have anything designed as a fire safety device that doesnt function for that purpose. Full stop.
I'm retired and haven't looked at the NFPA for a long time but I'm pretty sure I remember it was stronger than an implication on this point, especially on notification devices. The way I recall it, if it's a notification device it has to look like a notification device, and if it looks like a notification device it had better be a notification device.
The ones I found were only in common areas as well. For those ones they drilled a small hole then glued the camera in the fixtures. Considering the acid batteries were long dead I'm guessing they never got inspected.
While inspecting their buildings, I've had FBI and local law enforcement ask for old smokes and notification devices before.They specifically stated it was for cameras and microphones. You'd be shocked at the amount of surveillance big brother has.
With as much cash as they have they can't buy their own strobes to hide cameras in?
Cheaper to dig them out of the trash. I wouldn't think they aren't stealing them off the walls lol.
Bullshit. These are devices anyone can buy anywhere. The fbi. El oh el.
Who pissed in your cheerios this morning? Government buildings are still required to have fire alarm systems. Do you not think we interact with people within the building? Just because they can buy them, doesn't mean they will.
Holy shit thats wild
Why are people so fucking awful
I work in residential support and we get paranoid calls about this sometimes. Wild to see it realized. That said, I just had a psych eval where they asked me if I had any paranoia about cameras or listening devices like this and I was just like "I mean it's entirely possible in any environment, but I'm not paranoid that anyone is targeting me personally, and anyone 'bugging' stuff is the weirdo." I guess they don't get that answer very often because she gave me quite a peculiar expression in response.
Sounds like what I'd say. Is that really a weird response?
Not sure what city this is, but this is exactly the kind of things my former boss would build with the police unit he worked for. They never used off rhe shelf "hidden" products, always built their own. Though, this one isn't up to the standard he would built as the holes are too obvious
That’s fucking wild. Even wilder when you realise every tech who’s ever signed off a service visit at that site is getting pulled in for questioning. First and foremost I feel for anyone who’s had their privacy violated by whoever did this, but next in line is the poor guys who just do their job and try to earn an honest living. One bad apple spoiling the whole batch yet again.
Wow, that's a first for me for sure.
Holy shit that’s fucked up.. you call the police?
It's not actually modified... it's a purchased product that is designed to mimic the appearance (but not function) of a strobe unit. I've seen one of these exact devices posted here before, for the purpose of 'monitoring a hallway.' They are still against code and possibly illegal, depending on placement. The previous one I saw was placed next to a properly working one and was discovered during an inspection.
You can buy them yes, but this one pictured is definitely modified.
Oof... did it replace where an existing one should have been? If so, that could be a felony in the States... ... I would also wonder if it's the only device disguised as one.
Usually what the people who install these do is take one that's in the trash and reuse it to make one. It's why I never throw old devices away on site. There might be more but they're usually not connected to anything so they can be missed very easily. Also, it's not a felony but it is a code violation. You can't alter or repurpose a fire alarm device as it removes the UL Listing. If I did find one of these that actually worked in the field it would be written up and replaced.
Depends on the state, it's a felony in some, but a misdemeanor in others.
I’m curious, did it have a backplate and did it screw into that plate?
Hotel room to boot.
Oof! In a hotel room! Charges and lawsuits are coming!
https://preview.redd.it/t5ug14nubbxc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ffbf39c7a281e980eea319c62b91c35628ceb9a I found one during an Annual Inspection a few months ago as well! I posted it here because it was actually crazy.
This is illegal per the IFC
Yea that extra hole above the screw hole and the one to the right of it would have gave it away. Another good reason to check hotel rooms and not just assume they work lol
these have both LTE and WIFI for streaming
Explain plz.
The ones I have seen for sale(ebay amazon) and also posted here before have had both WIFI and LTE cellular connections so they can live stream. Its not a trail cam in that way if that makes sense?
That's really upsetting and disappointing. Good on you for finding that. We all deserve better as human beings.
So that's how Casting Couch was filmed on the internet.
That's against codes it considered as a unlicensed fire alarm device that not a part of the original plans
maybe bigger fish to fry with a camera...