Page 44 - Security Today, October 2019

Facility Security
“Barriers, bollards and other vehicle control equipment discourage attempts to cause harm and encourage employees and visitors to feel secure.”
turning point and a speeding car can take it out and not even hesitate. Knolls and other impediments should be considered.
Where turns cannot be created, many are turning to an “Early Warning System.” This system is best applied at locations where there is a long and relatively straight run into the facility that would allow a large vehicle to build up its speed. A vehicle traveling at 60 mph can cover 88 feet per second so it is imperative that guards are alerted immediately.
Intelligent vehicle systems can check the velocity of an approach- ing vehicle, or set off an alarm if a car is coming down the wrong lane. Intelligent systems will also protect innocent drivers who might be trapped between barricades and a speeding, approaching vehicle. Intelligent vehicle systems also are able to tell if a vehicle is too large to enter a parking structure, potentially saving countless dollars on structural repairs.
Continuous Doppler Radar picks up instantaneous changes in ve- locity and addresses the threat scenario in which an inbound vehicle approaches at normal speeds and then accelerates to commence the attack. It will also warn if a hidden vehicle suddenly passes a larger vehicle and attempts an attack. Once alerted, the guards can take ac- tion, including raising the barrier systems.
Security equipment for parking facilities ranges from tire-punctur- ing devices to simple swing arm gates to pop-up crash barriers built into the roadway that will stop errant vehicles dead in their tracks.
Use the Barrier You Choose
Today’s barriers and bollards are capable of stopping and destroy- ing a truck weighing up to 65,000 pounds and traveling at 50 mph. Such barricades can be raised or lowered at will to stop traffic or let it through. In an emergency, the thick steel plates or bollards pop out of the ground within 1.5 seconds.
With any barrier system, frequency of operation is also a key con- sideration. For example, a sliding gate would not be practical for a business that requires admitting and releasing hundreds of employee cars per day. In reality, due to the inconvenience to the employees, most operators would simply leave the gate open.
With vehicle barriers, the most common security breach is tail-
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gating. When a system suspends a tailgating car, it’s literally doing its job—stopping an unauthorized vehicle from entering a facility. Most vehicle barrier systems are set up to allow only one car at a time. How do you avoid these “accidents,” yet avoid weak links? Employ loop detectors. These little sensor subsystems determine when the first car has passed by and automatically and immediately drop the gate or raise the bollards.
Another common planning deficiency occurs when designers choose non-certified barriers or barricades. No area is more critical to the vehicle barrier selection process than testing. Without adequate testing, there is no assurance that the barrier will resist the threat.
Certified equipment has been tested and proven to work under extreme conditions, giving planners the confidence they rely on. Test- ing is normally done by an independent testing company or govern- ment agency, such as the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and mili- tary. Comprehensive reports of test results are issued and are available from the testing agency or manufacturer.
Example: Barricades Bolster Security
at Miami Federal Courthouse
To regulate traffic, provide a safe place to transfer prisoners and offer secure underground parking for judges, the Miami Federal Court- house installed hydraulic barricade systems. Each 10-foot wide barri- cade is a moving ramp that is surface-mounted and rises to 18 inches when activated.
In normal operation, these barricades stay up and are lowered only to allow passage of authorized vehicles. The speed at which the barrier deploys can be fully adjusted to the security site and facility requirements. Security personnel at the Miami Federal Courthouse can have different speeds on different barriers and change the speeds as security warrants.
To ensure the units will not rise if a car is on or in the way of the barrier, the Miami Federal Courthouse barriers use the afore-men- tioned loop detectors. The loop detector holds the barrier open until the last part of the vehicle has passed the closing loop, located beyond the unit. The detector then gives a pulse on departure, instructing the barrier to rise after the vehicle has passed.
Vehicle Attacks: A Growing Threat
Although the obvious goal of such a system is to protect when as- saulted, the larger objective for the system is to deter. Barriers, bol- lards and other vehicle control equipment discourage attempts to cause harm and encourage employees and visitors to feel secure.
Whether building a new parking structure, or retrofitting an old one, there are a myriad of ways to protect people and property by using everything from common sense design to the latest technol- ogy innovations. When integrated properly into a total system, in- cluding fences, lights, alarms, gates and other security components, well planned vehicle barrier systems are a key measure in preventing threats to sensitive resources.
It’s critically important to consider supplemental gate and fenc- ing reinforcements that may be necessary to optimize vehicle bar- rier effectiveness. Failing to understand this aspect, and not using the proper equipment to counter the threat, may lead to a false sense of security.
Greg Hamm is the vice president of sales & marketing at Delta Scientific. GOVERNMENT SECURITY OCTOBER 2019