Establishing robust, reliable and effective physical perimeter security around a property is challenging. But once installed, tested and operational a strong perimeter security shield establishes a valuable outer layer to a multi-layered property security solution.
Implementing effective perimeter security isn’t something that, once installed, can then be ignored. Perimeter security devices and tactics need to be maintained and effective maintenance is informed by regular inspections.
List Your Perimeter Security Solutions
Do you have a complete list of all perimeter security tactics and devices you are using around your property? For private homes this list may be relatively small, but larger commercial properties or establishments in rural locations might involve a wider variety of solutions.
Elements of perimeter security are likely to include:
- Perimeter walls
- Perimeter hedges
- Perimeter fences
- Gates and gateways
- Security plants and planting
- Security lighting
- Noisy drives and pathways
- CCTV cameras
- Alarms
- Perimeter intrusion detection systems
- Entry control systems
- Security radar systems
- Photoelectric sensors
- Aggressive, spiked anti climb barriers
- Non-aggressive anti climb barriers
- Anti climb paint
- Warning signage
Inspecting your perimeter security solutions starts with knowing what’s in place. For your home or business premises, the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive list of what’s installed can be usefully referred to when carrying out routine inspections and assessments. Of course it's important to keep your list of perimeter security devices safe and secure so that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Look for Damage and Wear
Property perimeter security systems are outdoors and therefore subject to the rigours of the weather as well as other environmental factors. For example, a non-aggressive rotating perimeter security barrier, or perimeter security spikes, might be damaged by a falling tree or branch, brought down in a storm.
And since perimeter security is primarily about keeping unwanted intruders out there may have been damage caused when miscreants have attempted to gain entry. Damage can also occur as a result of vandalism or children playing. Kicking balls against a wall could potentially dislodge essential security warning signs that should be replaced.
Perimeter security plants can be very effective, but they need maintenance to keep them healthy and ensure they perform as required. And noisy driveways and paths can become overrun with weeds making them far less effective.
Fences, Walls and Gates
Any damage or wear to fences, walls and gateways needs to be spotted and repaired before the failing is exploited by an unwanted intruder. If electric fences are used, these need to be tested and verified as both working and safe. If gateway entry control systems are used, they must be operational to be effective.
Locks on gates should all be verified as secure and gate hinges along with gateposts should all be checked for wear and tear. Busy gateways are often areas that can be damaged by moving vehicles so its important to ensure they are always in a good state of repair.
Test All Security Systems
Technology plays a vital role in perimeter security, especially around commercial, military and government properties. Domestic homes also use a variety of technological devices including motion triggered security lighting, CCTV and alarms.
All of these systems should be routinely tested and verified. Any faults or failings should be promptly addressed with the same priority as a hole in a fence or broken gate.
Identify Opportunities to Bolster Perimeter Security
Routine perimeter security inspections not only serve to ensure existing precautions are doing what they are supposed to be doing, they also provide an opportunity to review the existing perimeter security tactics and implement further protections. For example, if a perimeter security inspection identifies an area where there has clearly been an attempted break-in, ensuring that specific area is well illuminated, protected and possibly covered by security CCTV, would be a valuable improvement.
Make Perimeter Security Inspections Regular
The question of how often a perimeter security inspection should be carried out often arises. The answer is - it depends. A high security military establishment might carry out perimeter patrols several times a day but this would not be appropriate for a quiet, private, domestic home.
A good rule of thumb would be to check all aspects of perimeter security each season. So a rural agricultural business, for example, might check all their fences, gates, walls and yards every 3 or 4 months. Similarly, a commercial goods yard might carry out detailed inspections every 3 or 4 months but also carry out less detailed visual inspections every month.
Routinely inspecting and assessing perimeter security protection is generally easy to carry out and raises confidence that a property is well protected against unwanted intruders.