April 2026
Alongside your annual or biannual professional servicing, allocating time to internally inspect your security system is crucial to guarantee your system’s long-term reliability. This is referred to as planned preventative maintenance.
Planned preventive maintenance is a proactive, scheduled strategy for inspecting and servicing systems to identify and resolve potential issues before they occur, resulting in reduced overall risk of security breaches.
Do you have a planned preventive maintenance schedule in place? If not, this blog will cover the key reasons you should have one, what’s included, and what you should be looking for to ensure your long-term security.
What is Included in Planned Preventive Maintenance?
- Cleaning - regularly cleaning your systems removes dust and debris that may impact the system’s ability to function optimally, preventing false alarms or system failures if breaches occur - particularly important for CCTV systems as a clear image is critical.
- System updates - double-checking that your system is all up-to-date is vital to reduce the risk of a faulty system.
- Inspecting hardware for wear - you should be aware of any wear or tear on your security systems as these can lead to bigger - and potentially critical - issues in the future.
- Ensuring monitoring connectivity - if you have a monitored security system, it is vital to check connectivity to the source to ensure any activations are picked up on when it really matters.
- Back-up - testing of back up batteries to ensure the premises can remain secure during a power outage..
Key Reasons to Implement Planned Preventive Maintenance in Security Systems
Reduced Costs and Downtime
Making a routine of checking your security system’s functionality can help you identify and resolve issues before they escalate. This reduces the risk of emergency call-outs and false system activations, which can waste emergency responders’ time and resources.
Compliance and Safety Requirements
Obligations under The Health and Safety at Work Act make you legally responsible to ensure your commercial premises are reasonably secure for employees and visitors.
This means regularly checking and maintaining security systems can ensure your business’s compliance. It can also help showcase cooperation with potential insurance requirements.
Enhanced Peace of Mind
Simply having annual or bi-annual system servicing may not be enough to fully guarantee your peace of mind. Physically checking these systems for yourself can be an excellent way to enhance dependability on your security system.
What Exactly Should You Be Looking For?
- CCTV Cameras - clean the camera lens and housings, and check the camera focus and image quality to reduce the risk of blurry footage. Upgrade firmware on recorders (NVR/DVR) to increase dependability. It’s also essential to check cameras that are placed externally for water ingress. Check playback and storage duration.
- Intruder Alarm Systems - test detectors such as PIRs, check batteries (wireless systems only), verify signals are correctly received at the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), and test remote signalling. Test backup power.
- Door Access Control - testing magnetic locks and readers, testing backup power, and checking for wear on physical components. It is also vital to constantly update user logs, especially if there are changes in authorisation within your business.
Finally, make sure to keep a record of any internal maintenance checks undertaken as evidence of compliance. You can use this to track potential issues, such as early signs of wear, as a reminder for the next check.
Ask For Help From Professionals
You should seek help from professionals if you are unsure of what you’re looking for, and Lynx Fire & Security are always happy to help. Our team of experts can talk you through the process, providing further guidance on what to look for and how to resolve issues.
For information regarding our servicing and maintenance, email us via [email protected]. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] for more generalised help or call our office on 0800 998 1303.
Your security is our number one priority.
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