What the law requires, said before the work begins
Installing video surveillance or fire detection is not only a technical decision. There are rules on what you may record, what you must signpost and what you must maintain. This page explains them in plain language.
Video surveillance: what you may and may not do
You must signpost. Locations under video surveillance must carry a visible notice stating that the site is monitored and identifying the controller of the footage — an obligation set out in Portuguese Law 34/2013. And you may not record what is not yours: the national data protection authority is clear that public thoroughfares and third-party property must not be captured.
Footage is personal data, so the General Data Protection Regulation and Law 58/2019 apply: a defined purpose, a retention period limited to what is necessary, and restricted access. In the workplace there are further limits — video surveillance may not have the purpose of monitoring employee performance. During the survey we tell you where cameras may and may not go.
Fire detection: compliance and maintenance
The legal regime for fire safety in buildings is set out in Decree-Law 220/2008, as amended by Decree-Laws 224/2015 and 95/2019. The technical regulation is in Ordinance 1532/2008, amended and republished by Ordinance 135/2020. Detection and alarm components follow the EN 54 series of standards.
Two points cause real problems. Maintenance is not optional: a system without documented maintenance is a problem at inspection, and may be one with the insurer after an incident. And compliance belongs to the building, not only the equipment — it depends on the use type, the risk category and, where required, the fire safety design.
Access control: escape route doors
This is the most serious error seen in poor installations. A door on an escape route must open when the fire alarm sounds. If access control holds it shut, the system meant to protect people becomes the one trapping them inside.
It is resolved by correctly choosing between a fail-safe lock, which opens without power, and fail-secure, which stays shut — and by wiring the release command to the fire detection panel. It is a design decision, not an accessory to add later. If you already have access control and do not know whether this is guaranteed, it is the first thing to check.
What this means for you
| If you have | You must ensure |
|---|---|
| Cameras in a space with public or employees | A displayed notice, a defined purpose, a limited retention period and capture restricted to your own property |
| Cameras capturing the street | Corrected framing, or a privacy mask |
| A fire detection system | Periodic maintenance with documented records |
| Access control on exit doors | Automatic release when the fire alarm sounds |
| Employee entry logs | A security purpose, not performance assessment, and a limited retention period |
Where the limit of what we do lies
We sell and install systems; we do not issue legal opinions. We tell you what the regulations require in the areas we work in, and we install in accordance with them.
We do not stand in for the fire safety designer where a design is required, nor for your organisation's data protection officer, nor do we confirm the overall compliance of your building on your behalf. When your case needs more than we can guarantee, we say so rather than leaving the doubt hanging.
Questions about your specific case
Tell us what you have installed or what you want to install. We will tell you what the regulations require and what needs correcting, before any quotation enters the conversation.