Free inspection template
Weekly Facility Perimeter & Access Control Walkthrough
Run this Weekly Facility Perimeter & Access Control Walkthrough from your phone — online or offline — and get a finished PDF report when you're done.
Overview
What is a Weekly Facility Perimeter and Access Control Walkthrough?
A perimeter and access-control walkthrough is the deeper security sweep that typical daily opening and closing checks don't cover. It covers walking the fence line and building envelope, verifying every keypad and badge reader, confirming that terminated employees' credentials are actually deactivated, checking that cameras are recording, and verifying that emergency exits still open freely from the inside and can't be used to slip back in from outside. Most of this reflects general physical-security practice, informed at the concept level by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) small-business and facility-security guidance, not a binding regulation. The exit-door check is different: it enforces an actual legal requirement. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) exit-route rules, 29 CFR 1910.36 and 1910.37, require exit doors to open from inside without a key, tool, or special knowledge at all times. A facilities or site security manager typically runs the walkthrough weekly; an insurer, landlord, or corporate security team is often the one who asks for it.
This template runs 40 checkpoints across 7 sections: a walkthrough-details section; the site perimeter, building envelope, access control, and surveillance sections; the emergency egress and life-safety section; and a findings-and-sign-off section. It opens with a required usage note citing the CISA and OSHA basis described above. 6 items are flagged critical: a perimeter breach, an exterior door that won't lock, active credentials for someone no longer employed, exits that aren't openable from the inside or are obstructed, and an exit door that can be entered from outside. A Fail on any one forces a Security Deficiency verdict no matter what the rest of the site scores. It's built for a facilities or security manager to run weekly in 15 to 25 minutes, and it's the deeper counterpart to the daily gm-daily-opening-security-log and store-closing-security-log, which spot-check security rather than audit the whole site.
The checklist
Every checkpoint, in full
A read-only preview of the live template. Clone it to run the inspection on mobile, where each item records Pass, Fail or N·A with optional photos and notes.
Walkthrough Details
4 checksNOTENote on Usage
Based on general physical-security practice (incl. CISA guidance) and, for the egress checks, OSHA exit-route rules (29 CFR 1910.36/.37). Completing it does not guarantee the facility is secure or compliant with OSHA, fire, or building codes; the operator remains responsible for correcting all security and life-safety deficiencies and meeting applicable codes and insurer requirements. Emergency exits must be operable at all times — never chained, padlocked, or blocked.
Facility / location name
Date
Conducted by
Areas / buildings covered
What this walkthrough covered — perimeter, which buildings, docks, annexes.
Site Perimeter
7 checksPerimeter fencing, walls, and gates intact — no breaches or gapsCritical
A hole in the fence, a climbable gap, or a gate that won't latch is an open entry point.
Gates and vehicle barriers close, latch, and lock
Exterior / perimeter lighting all functioning
Dark zones invite intrusion and are a trip hazard. Note every fixture out.
Security / no-trespassing signage posted and legible
Landscaping and sightlines clear of entrances, windows, and cameras
Yard, dumpster, and outdoor storage areas secured
Photo — site perimeter
Building Envelope & Doors
5 checksAll exterior doors close, latch, and lock properlyCritical
Any door that doesn't lock is an unsecured opening overnight.
Door hardware, hinges, and frames intact — no signs of tampering or pry damage
Windows secure; locks and glazing intact
Overhead, loading, and delivery doors secured
Roof hatches, skylights, and utility / mechanical access secured
Mark N/A for access points your facility doesn't have.
Access Control Systems
6 checksKeypads / badge / fob readers functioning at controlled doors
Lost, terminated, or expired credentials deactivatedCritical
Active codes, keys, or fobs for former staff are a direct breach. Confirm the access list is current.
Key / fob inventory and master keys accounted for
Access / entry logs reviewed for anomalies since the last walkthrough
Intrusion alarm system tested and functioning
Alarm monitoring / central-station connection confirmed
Mark N/A if the facility has no monitored alarm.
Surveillance (CCTV)
5 checksAll cameras powered and recording
Camera views unobstructed and correctly aimed
Recorder (DVR / NVR) secure, online, and timestamp correct
Recorded footage retained
Confirm retention meets your policy or insurer requirement.
Photo — camera coverage / any blind spot
Emergency Egress & Life Safety
7 checksEmergency exits open freely from the inside — not chained, padlocked, or blockedCritical
The classic security-vs-safety violation. Exits must open without a key, tool, or special knowledge at all times (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.36/.37).
Exit doors don't allow entry from outside — no exterior handle, defeated latch, or unsecured proppingCritical
Panic hardware should only operate from inside. An exit door with exterior pull hardware, a taped or blocked latch, or left propped open is an unlocked entrance, not just an egress path.
Exit routes, aisles, and exit doors unobstructedCritical
Exit signs illuminated and legible
Emergency / egress lighting functional
Test units if equipped with a test button.
Panic / exit hardware operates correctly
Fire-exit doors not propped open or disabled
Findings & Sign-off
6 checksOpen deficiencies and corrective actions
List each issue, the corrective action, and the owner / target date.
Additional notes
Photo — any deficiency requiring follow-up
Conducted by (signature)
Reviewed with management?
Management signature
Yours to edit
Not quite how your site runs?
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Field procedure
How to run this inspection
Walk the site area by area. Mark each checkpoint Pass, Fail or N·A as you go, and add a photo on any Fail to document it for the report.
STEP 01
Walkthrough Details
Check all items in the Walkthrough Details area and record Pass, Fail or N·A for each.
STEP 02
Site Perimeter
Check all items in the Site Perimeter area and record Pass, Fail or N·A for each.
STEP 03
Building Envelope & Doors
Check all items in the Building Envelope & Doors area and record Pass, Fail or N·A for each.
STEP 04
Access Control Systems
Check all items in the Access Control Systems area and record Pass, Fail or N·A for each.
STEP 05
Surveillance (CCTV)
Check all items in the Surveillance (CCTV) area and record Pass, Fail or N·A for each.
STEP 06
Emergency Egress & Life Safety
Security measures must never trap people inside. These checks confirm everyone can still get out in an emergency.
Run your first Weekly Facility Perimeter & Access Control Walkthrough today
Clone the template, inspect from your phone, and hand over a finished PDF report before you leave the floor.