Physical Security Systems and Equipment
What the domain tests
This domain tests knowledge of security equipment and its limits: CCTV, access control, alarms, barriers, locks, lighting and fire detection systems. The guard must operate, test and report, not repair unless trained.
Core rules
- CCTV is a deterrent and evidence tool, not a substitute for patrol. Check that cameras are clean, focused, recording and time-stamped correctly; report faults and blind spots.
- Access control systems include cards, PINs, biometrics, turnstiles and vehicle barriers. Never share passwords or lend access cards; report lost cards at once and revoke them.
- Alarms have zones. Know the difference between a real activation and a fault; respond, verify, and record the zone and time. Do not silence an alarm without following procedure.
- Physical barriers slow intrusion: fences, bollards, locks, grilles, lighting and clear signage. Check damage and forced marks on patrol.
- Fire detection and suppression equipment must be unobstructed and tested on schedule. Do not paint over or hang items from detectors.
- Equipment failure is a security incident: log it, report it, and apply a temporary control such as a guard at the failed door.
Worked example
At shift start a guard finds the main gate barrier will not close and the CCTV monitor for that gate is black. Reasoning: two controls have failed at the same point, creating a tailgating risk. He reports both faults immediately, places a temporary manual check at the gate, records the fault times, and does not try to repair the barrier himself.
Traps
Assuming a camera is recording because the screen shows a picture, sharing a supervisor's PIN, ignoring a nuisance alarm, blocking a detector with stock, or leaving a failed door propped open.