Intrusion Alarm Inspection Software and Checklist
An intrusion alarm inspection is only as good as its zone list. Every sensor tripped, every signal confirmed at the monitoring center, every failure written down. Here is a checklist to work from. Software to run it is planned, not available yet.
Panel, zones, signaling and users
Practical checks for an intrusion detection system maintenance visit. Notify the monitoring center before testing and again when you finish.
Control panel and power
- Panel enclosure secure; tamper switch reports
- No unexplained trouble or fault conditions
- Standby battery dated, load-tested and within service life
- AC power supply and transformer secure
- Event history reviewed since the last visit
Keypads and arming
- Every keypad displays and responds
- Arm and disarm work from each keypad and app
- Entry and exit delays match the agreed settings
- Panic or duress functions signal correctly, where installed
Zone-by-zone sensor walk
- Door and window contacts trip on opening
- Motion detectors trip across their coverage area
- Glass-break detectors respond to a tester
- Wireless sensors report signal strength and battery level
- Each zone shows the correct number and name at the panel
- Zones that could not be reached are recorded as not tested
Sirens and communication
- Internal and external sirens and strobes sound
- Primary communication path signals the monitoring center
- Backup path (cellular or radio) signals when primary is down
- Monitoring center confirms test signals by zone
- User codes and contact list reviewed with the customer
"Not tested" is a valid result and should be recorded as one, so a zone nobody reached does not quietly read as a pass.
The zone list is the inspection
Zones assumed, not tested
A long zone list invites "all zones OK" when only some were walked.
Monitoring confirmations lost
Which signals the central station received lives in a phone call, not in the record.
Batteries that age out
Standby batteries fail quietly; without install dates on the record, replacements are reactive.
How intrusion alarm inspection software could work
Planned, not available. Inspect → Record Deficiencies → Recommend Corrective Action → Document Completion.
A zone list per site
Every zone and device as its own record, so each visit tests the same list.
Pass, fail or not tested
Per-zone results with photos, and monitoring confirmations on the record.
Repairs tracked to completion
Each failed sensor carries its recommended repair until it is documented fixed.
Intrusion alarm inspection questions
What does an intrusion alarm inspection include?
A check of the control panel and its standby battery, every keypad, a zone-by-zone walk test of each sensor (door and window contacts, motion detectors, glass-break detectors), the sirens and strobes, and the communicator, confirming each test signal reached the monitoring center.
How do you test burglar alarm sensors zone by zone?
Put the system in test or walk-test mode, tell the monitoring center you are testing, then trip each sensor in turn and confirm the panel shows the right zone. Record which zones passed, which failed and which could not be reached, so nothing is assumed tested.
How often should intrusion detection systems be maintained?
It varies by site, by the service agreement and by what the customer's insurer or monitoring contract asks for. Many contractors inspect annually or semi-annually. Follow the manufacturer's guidance for panels, batteries and sensors.
Does Fire Inspect Hub have intrusion alarm inspection software?
Not yet. Intrusion alarm inspection software is planned, not available. Fire Inspect Hub inspects fire protection systems today. Join the early-access list to hear if intrusion inspections launch.
Can I use this alarm system test checklist now?
Yes. The checklist on this page is free to use on paper or in a spreadsheet. Add the panel manufacturer's test procedure and the monitoring center's requirements for each site.
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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.