Fall is the time for exterior inspections at schools

October 3, 2025
Building and Grounds Risk

Key takeaways

Before the weather turns colder, schools should take the opportunity to conduct crucial exterior inspections, such as checking to see if leaves and other debris are clogging roof drains and stormwater basins.
Another important area for inspections is walking surfaces. They should be adequately illuminated and checked for any hazards, such as cracks, missing concrete or uneven surfaces.
On the security side, school security personnel should verify there are no “blind spots” that the security cameras don’t cover and if doors are being propped open.

Depending on the size of a school, inspections can run the gamut from an easy, several-hours-long project to a days-long process. It’s important, then, to have a guide that can help administrators and other relevant employees stay on top of what need to be done, and how often.

CM Regent provides just such a guide—an Inspection Cheat Sheet that details required inspections for both interior and exterior, and how often they should be performed.

Because it’s fall, the season for winter preparation, we’re focusing here on some of the most important exterior inspections.

Seasonal inspections

While autumn leaves can be beautiful, they also pose problems for buildings. The most important checks at this time of year include:

Flooding – It’s vital to assess and clear roof drains, downspouts and stormwater basins that may have become clogged with fallen leaves or other debris. If left unchecked, the buildup can cause water to pond and infiltrate interior spaces of the building.
Mechanical and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems – Leaves and other debris can block these systems, which restricts airflow and could lead to bigger problems.
Trees – Over the summer, trees and bushes may have grown substantially, which could disrupt utility services. Before the winter freeze, trim or remove any trees that might pose a problem. A tree inspection program should be implemented to monitor and identify any trimming or cutting needed to protect the building, roof and other property from damage.

Walking surfaces

In about two months (or less), walking surfaces outside a school may become significantly more hazardous as they bear the brunt of snow, ice and other challenges of winter weather. Now is the time to determine whether:

Walking surfaces are adequately illuminated – An employee should regularly check whether lamps are burnt out or malfunctioning to aid visibility. Especially during the shorter days of winter, staff may report to work before sunrise or leave after sunset. Additionally, areas that have walking surface risks—such as curbs or other height transitions—should be bright enough for pedestrians to see at any time.
There are any hazards in the walking surface – These types of hazards could include cracks, depressions, elevation changes not easily distinguishable, roots growing through the walking area, or missing sections of sidewalks that could pose significant danger.
Loose gravel or debris is present on the walkway – Such an inspection is important year-round but now is a good time to check it.

Preventive maintenance

Before winter sets in, take advantage of fair weather to check for:

Openings or failures in the roofing system – If there are holes or cracks that need to be patched or other preventative maintenance necessary to the roofing system, it’s better to determine that now than when there’s ice on the roof.
Problems with the HVAC system – There should be no missing covers or damage that may impact start-up in cooler weather. In fact, if a school hasn’t already needed to run its heating system, it’s a good idea to do a test run now.

Security

Schools should be performing regular security checks and updates to keep students, staff and visitors safe.

Natural surveillance – When plant life is not properly controlled, it can quickly become a security risk. Untrimmed bushes can turn into an easy hiding spot for a vandal, thief or other bad actor. Ideally, inspections will take place after the sun has set so the employee can observe potentially risky areas of the school property. Additionally, trees and shrubs should not block visibility to and from the playground.
Security cameras – These cameras should be examined periodically to ensure there are no “blind spot” areas.
Traffic patterns – This inspection requires an employee to periodically observe traffic to see if there is an increased risk for pedestrian and vehicle collisions.

Door checks – Checking problem doors to ensure they are not left or propped open. For example, loading dock areas, kitchen, shop, and doors that lead to the playground. Inspections are the very definition of proactive risk control. They can save a school time and money and help it to keep its people safe.

For more risk control tips from CM Regent, check out our library of resources.

Q&A

Q: Why are exterior inspections especially important in the fall?
A: Fall is the season to prepare for winter. Inspections help schools prepare buildings by clearing leaves, trimming trees, checking HVAC systems and addressing potential hazards before cold weather makes issues harder to fix.

Q: What exterior risks should schools look for during fall inspections?
A: Key checks include roof drains, downspouts and stormwater basins for clogs; preventive maintenance concerns on HVAC systems; and trees or bushes that may interfere with utility services or potentially cause damage to roofing systems.

Q: How should schools evaluate walking surfaces before winter?
A: Inspect for adequate lighting, absence of cracks, potholes, elevation changes and debris like gravel or leaves that could create slip-and-fall risks.

Q: What security measures should be part of regular inspections?
A: Schools should trim plant life that obscures visibility, check security cameras for blind spots, monitor traffic patterns to reduce risks to pedestrians, and check frequently that doors are not propped open.