Published 15 Sept 2025
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3 min read
What is a CCTV Maintenance Checklist?
A comprehensive CCTV maintenance checklist is a tool designed to help inspectors, security teams, or facility managers in ensuring that closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems remain fully operational, secure, and capable of recording reliable footage. By following this checklist, organizations can perform routine inspections, testing, and servicing of their surveillance equipment.
What is CCTV Maintenance?
CCTV maintenance is a preventive measure to ensure the longevity and optimal functionality of the surveillance equipment. It involves tasks such as regular inspections, cleaning lenses, updating firmware, and checking connections. CCTV maintenance is performed by security and facility teams to identify defects and avoid substandard performance and expensive damage costs down the line.
Why Perform CCTV Maintenance?
CCTVs or Closed-circuit televisions, help keep businesses’ property and employees safe and secure, but they require regular maintenance to be effective. CCTV maintenance is performed to achieve three core objectives:
Ensure surveillance equipment works: physical and visual checks are performed to identify operational defects. Early detection saves both time and money.
Blind spots are identified: system setups should change as focus areas change. Regular checks can help identify blind spots and points of risk for building security.
Accurate recordkeeping: serves as a record to support insurance claims in the event of incident and damage.
Why Use CCTV Maintenance Checklists and Logbooks
CCTV camera maintenance inspections are performed anywhere between daily and monthly, depending on specific security requirements.
CCTV maintenance checklists and logbooks are tools used to instruct and document these inspections. A CCTV maintenance checklist generally captures the following:
Visual and physical condition of the camera, wiring, and control equipment;
Any physical defects found;
Assessment of focus areas and blind spots; and
Signature, date, and time of inspection to verify maintenance checks
What to Include in a CCTV Maintenance Checklist
Here’s a breakdown of what’s typically included in a CCTV maintenance checklist:
1. Camera inspection
Check camera housings for dust, dirt, or spider webs.
Ensure lenses are clean and free of scratches.
Confirm cameras are securely mounted and aligned correctly.
Verify that focus and zoom settings are accurate.
2. Wires and cables
Inspect cables for wear, damage, or exposure.
Ensure all connectors are firmly plugged in and free from corrosion.
Check for loose wiring or signs of tampering.
3. Power supply
Confirm that the uninterrupted power supply (UPS) or backup systems are functional.
Test voltage levels to ensure proper power delivery to each device.
Inspect power adapters and outlets for faults.
4. Recording equipment
Check DVR/NVR units for dust buildup and clean as needed.
Verify that recordings are saving correctly.
Ensure hard drives have sufficient storage and are not failing.
Confirm time and date settings are accurate for legal compliance.
5. Software and settings
Test motion detection and alert settings.
Verify remote access and user permissions.
Update firmware/software to latest versions.
Ensure system security (password protection, firewalls, encryption).
6. Image and video quality
Test video feeds for clarity, color accuracy, and frame rate.
Check night vision/infrared capabilities.
Ensure there are no blind spots in monitored areas.
7. System functionality tests
Run playback tests from different days/times.
Verify that alerts/notifications are being sent correctly.
Test integration with alarms or access control systems (if applicable).
8. Documentation and reporting
Record inspection results.
Log any faults or repairs made.
Schedule next maintenance check.
CCTV Maintenance Report PDF
A CCTV maintenance report summarizes the results of each inspection or maintenance performed in a system. Here’s how it looks in PDF format:
