Access Control Inspection Software and Checklist
An access control inspection is a door-by-door walk: present a credential, watch the lock release, open the door, and confirm the system saw all of it. Below is a checklist you can use today. The software to run it is planned, not available yet.
What to check at each controlled door, and at the panel
Practical field checks for preventive maintenance visits. Add the manufacturer's maintenance steps and anything your service agreement or the customer requires.
Readers and credentials
- Reader is secure, undamaged and not tampered with
- Indicator LEDs and beeper respond to a credential
- Valid credential grants access within the expected time
- Invalid or expired credential is denied
- Keypad or PIN entry works where installed
- Reader cabling and enclosure are protected
Locks and strikes
- Electric lock or strike releases on a valid read
- Lock re-secures when the door closes
- Maglock bond sensor or strike monitor reports correctly
- Mounting hardware is tight; no misalignment or binding
- Fail-safe or fail-secure operation matches the door's design
- Mechanical key override works where installed
Door contacts and request-to-exit
- Door position contact reports open and closed
- Door held open alarm triggers after the set time
- Forced door alarm triggers without a valid read
- Request-to-exit sensor or button releases the door
- Request-to-exit shunts the door alarm as programmed
- Free egress is not obstructed by the hardware
Power, panel and software
- Power supply output is within the manufacturer's range
- Backup battery is dated, tested under load and within service life
- Controller and panel enclosures are closed and tamper switches report
- Communication to the server or cloud host is online
- Event log recorded every test performed on this visit
- Firmware and software versions recorded
Record each failed item against the door it belongs to, with a photo, so the corrective work can be quoted and closed out later.
Door counts are high and findings are easy to lose
Hundreds of doors, one spreadsheet
A campus can have hundreds of controlled openings, and a single sheet makes it hard to see which doors were actually tested.
The log and the visit don't meet
The panel's event log proves a test happened, but it rarely ends up attached to the inspection record.
Lock failures that come back
A strike that binds is noted once, then appears again next visit because nobody tracked the fix.
How access control inspection software could work
Planned, not available. The same Inspect → Record Deficiencies → Recommend Corrective Action → Document Completion workflow Fire Inspect Hub runs for fire protection.
A door list per site
Each controlled door as its own record, so next visit starts from the list instead of a walk-through.
Door-by-door checklist
The checks above on a phone or tablet, with photos attached to the item that failed.
Deficiencies to close out
A recommended repair on each failed item, tracked until the work is documented complete.
Access control inspection questions
What should an access control inspection cover?
Every controlled door end to end: the reader and credential, the electric lock or strike, the door position contact, the request-to-exit device, the power supply and its backup battery, and the controller. A useful inspection also confirms the system logged each test, because the event log is how you prove a door worked.
How often should access control systems be inspected?
There is no single interval that applies everywhere. Many contractors set the frequency in the service agreement, often quarterly, semi-annual or annual, and follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidance and any requirements from the customer or their insurer.
Is there access control inspection software in Fire Inspect Hub?
Not yet. Access control inspection software is planned, not available. Fire Inspect Hub inspects fire protection systems today, including NFPA 80 fire door inspections. Join the early-access list to hear if access control inspections launch.
Can I use this access control inspection checklist now?
Yes. The checklist on this page is free to use on paper or in a spreadsheet. Adjust it to the equipment and service agreement at each site.
Do fire-rated doors with access control need a separate inspection?
Often, yes. A fire-rated door assembly that also carries access control hardware may need a fire door inspection as well as the security checks. Fire door inspections under NFPA 80 are available in Fire Inspect Hub today.
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Tell us what you inspect
Security inspection software is planned, not available. Join the early-access list and your answers help decide which systems we cover first. If we launch, early-access contractors hear first, and we may offer introductory pricing — nothing about pricing or a launch date is promised.