Page 86 - Security Today, November 2017

SECURITY ENTRANCES
By Greg Schreiber
IT’S NOT JUST A TURNSTILE
Evaluating an entrance location based on end user goals
any professionals in the security industry today tend to use the word “turnstile” to refer to all security en- trances, when, in fact, there are actually multiple types of entrances for different applications, indus- tries and levels of security. These include a number
of different types of turnstiles but also mantrap portals and security revolving doors. If assumptions are made between a customer and an integrator around the word “turnstile,” the end user can end up with a solution that doesn’t adequately meet their needs, is unnecessarily costly, or worse, allows a security breach to occur when they thought they were protected. For the integrator, it is vital to understand your customer’s needs and requirements for an entrance location before making a recommendation.
You can begin the process by evaluating each entrance location based on four potential end user goals related to tailgating mitigation: crowd control, deterrence, detection, and prevention. Clearly under- standing the goal will help you in a discussion with your customer to
determine the appropriate security entrance to deploy. In this article, we will break down each goal and its corresponding security entrance type, along with typical applications and benefits to the end user. Of course, budget can be a limiting factor and you will need to work with your customer and bring your own knowledge and experience into the discussion regarding certain applications, but this goal-centered approach is a great way to dispel misunderstandings up front.
CROWD CONTROL:
TRIPOD/ WAIST HIGH TURNSTILES
Crowd control is a goal that involves slowing down traffic to count people or collect tickets or payments. Crowd implies a high volume of traffic, and therefore an ability to handle conditions that may be abusive toward the entrance hardware. Mechanical waist high/ tripod turnstiles are a great fit for this goal and they are typically seen in stadiums, public transit venues, amusement parks, shipping ports, distribution warehouses, manufacturing plants, universi-
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