The purpose of physical security is to protect against physical threats. The following physical threats are among the most common:
- fire and smoke, water (rising/ falling),
- earth movement (earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes),
- storms (wind, lightning, rain, snow, sleet, ice),
- sabotage/ vandalism,
- explosion/destruction,
- building collapse,
- toxic materials,
- utility loss (power, heating, cooling, air, water),
- equipment failure,
- theft,
- and personnel loss (strikes, illness, access, transport).
