This article provides Portal Beam placement and coverage area guidelines to achieve accurate room or seat occupancy, as well as people footfall traffic. It's important to follow these guidelines when mounting and installing Portal Beams.
In some cases, obstructions or other conditions may require a Portal Beam to be mounted outside these guidelines.
When there is a deviation from these guidelines, consult with your Kontakt.io representative or submit a request to our support team for additional recommendations.
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Ceiling mount only, facing downwards. Do not mount to a side wall or in the corner of a room or space.
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Mount in the center of the room or space being monitored.
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For optimal coverage and accuracy, mount at its maximum height of 10.6 ft (3.25 m) and do not mount below its minimum install height of 8.2 ft (2.5 m). Mounting above or below this range will affect the Portal Beam coverage area and accuracy.
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Must have an unobstructed view of the area being measured. Do not mount where tall cabinets, hanging light fixtures, or other large stationary objects would obstruct its coverage area.
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Place at least 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) away from heat sources, including supply vents, lighting or large stationary fixtures, windows, and other electronic stationary devices.
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Avoid mounting in the direct path of HVAC airflow ducts/vents or other heat sources.
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Avoid mounting directly above an area where the sun heats the floor, near glass doors, or in the path of direct sunlight.
The Portal Beam is equipped with a far-infrared wide-angle thermal camera that detects people by the thermal heat image captured within its coverage area. To accurately count people, the Portal Beam coverage area must contain the areas being measured and monitored for occupancy and be mounted at the correct ceiling location.
The following table provides the Portal Beam coverage area specifications. The ceiling height of the mounting location impacts the coverage area.
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Ceiling Height (H)* |
Coverage Area** |
Square Size (X) |
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8.2 ft (2.5 m) |
257 ft2 (24 m2) |
16 ft x 16 ft (4.9 m x 4.9 m) |
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9.0 ft (2.75 m) |
298 ft2 (28 m2) |
17.3 ft x 17.3 ft (5.3 m x 5.3 m) |
|
9.8 ft (3 m) |
342 ft2 (32 m2) |
18.5 ft x 18.5 ft (5.6 m x 5.6 m) |
|
10.6 ft (3.25 m) |
527 ft2 (49 m2) |
23 ft x 23 ft (7 m x 7 m) |
* do not mount below the minimum install height of 8.2 ft (2.5 m) or above the allowed maximum height of 10.6 ft (3.25 m).
** coverage area may increase up to 15% when people are seated, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Important
For large open areas or spaces that require more than one Portal Beam for coverage, contact your Kontakt.io sales representative or reach out to our support team.
The below images illustrate the coverage area of a Portal Beam.
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In footfall traffic mode a Portal Beam counts people entering and exiting a defined space.
The mounting placement guidelines vary by the two types of footfall traffic:
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Doorway traffic - counts people as they enter and exit a room
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Corridor traffic - counts people as they only pass through a space
To maintain an accurate count of people entering and exiting through a doorway:
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Center the Portal Beam horizontally so that its thermal camera eye faces the doorway to ensure people are detected within its coverage area.
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Mount on the non-door swing of the doorway to avoid the door obstructing its crossing line pathway and reducing its coverage area.
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Mount as close to the doorway as possible, so that people are counted as they pass through the crossing line.
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Do not mount where it would be obstructed by opening or closing the door or could risk being dismounted by opening or closing the door.
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If a door is higher than a standard 6.8 feet (2 meters) and the interior door and opens to the inside of the room, place it closer to the doorway and verify that people are visible as they open or close the door.
To maintain an accurate count of people passing through a corridor pathway:
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Center the Portal Beam above the corridor pathway entryway to ensure alignment with its crossing line. People are counted as they cross this invisible barrier.
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Do not place near doorways or where two corridor entryways intersect.
The following provides the details on how to ceiling mount a Portal Beam by each available method.
A Portal Beam is supplied with 3M double-sided mounting tape, T-Bar ceiling mounting kit, mounting screws and anchors, and pre-installed batteries.
Optional accessories (sold separately): AC power adapter (110-220VAC to 12VDC power supply, DC jack 5.5mm)
Portal Beam is mounted to the ceiling using the supplied screws, anchors, and mounting plate.
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Drill two mounting holes into the ceiling and insert supplied anchors.
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Place the mounting plate against the ceiling and fasten it to the ceiling with the supplied screws.
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Place Portal Beam into the mounting plate and rotate gently to lock it.
Portal Beam is mounted with a t-rail mount to a suspended ceiling.
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Put all kit elements together.
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Lock the t-rail to the suspended ceiling bar.
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Screw standard mount to t-rail mount.
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Place Portal Beam into the standard mount and rotate gently to lock it.
Warning
Recommended for use if the plate mount or T-bar ceiling mount cannot be performed or for use during a short-term mounting placement.
Portal Beam is mounted directly to the ceiling using the supplied 3M double-sided mounting tape.
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Peel one side of mounting tape and affix it to the backside of the mounting plate.
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Peel the other side of the mounting tape and affix it to the ceiling surface.
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Align the mounting plate tape to the ceiling tape and press to secure.
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Place Portal Beam into the mounting plate and rotate gently to lock it.