Page 36 - Security Today, January/February 2022

Slow It Down
Don’t let choosing the correct traffic control system become a burden to you
BPy Greg Hamm
rotecting perimeters, buildings, property and peo- ple is no small responsibility, whether it is an em- bassy, a school, factory or farmers market. Know- ing you have the right equipment in place to secure your facility and to prevent human tragedies brings
a peace of mind that no amount of money can buy.
Carefully researching available options and consulting with experts will ultimately lead to the right solution for you. Keeping pedestrians safe, protecting structures from accidental or inten- tional automobile crashes, and force protection (keeping employ- ees and visitors from harm) have always been a concern. From pedestrian-filled farmers markets and universities to new and used car lots, a wide variety of agencies find peace of mind using of barriers, barricades, bollards and crash gates for vehicle-based
physical access control at the perimeter.
You might be surprised at how versatile perimeter protection
equipment has become, even in difficult installation environ- ments. Here is a look at what is available in the world of physical security today. From sturdy, portable crash barriers that can be towed into place to barricades that will stop a 15-ton truck in its tracks, going 50 miles per hour, physical access control has evolved and adapted. No matter how large, small or temporary the application may be, there is a security solution.
WEDGE BARRIERS
With a crash rating as high as K54 in widths up to 240 inches, a lowered wedge barrier will allow the flow of authorized vehicles. These security barricades are the first line of defense at critical facilities including embassies, nuclear facilities, military bases and corporate headquarters. They provide high-speed opera- tions, shallow foundations and sleek designs that are aesthetically pleasing and extremely effective. With security systems built for high-traffic locations requiring rapid emergency fast operation
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | SECURITY TODAY
rates, these counter-terrorism barricade systems can meet and ex- ceed governments’ highest-level requirements.
Surface mounted wedge barricades feature quick installation into difficult locations such as parking-structure ramps or areas with sub-surface drainage problems. The shallow foundation barriers eliminate concerns about interference with buried pipes, power lines and fiber optic communication lines. It also reduces installation complexity, time, materials and corresponding costs. These types of barriers are suitable for high water table locations and areas with corrosive soils.
Crash rated, lowered barriers allow passage of authorized vehicles and are available in widths up to 240 inches. Surface mounted barricades are very easy to install and provide high se- curity vehicle access-control system for banks, city and federal government offices, museums, corporate buildings, factories, oil refineries, railway, airport and other transportation hubs as well as other facilities threatened by truck bomb attack, errant drivers or car-crashing thieves.
High security, shallow foundation barriers are available for ad- vanced counter-terrorism applications in sub-surface conditions that negate extensive excavations. This type of barricade was de- signed for the Navy, and used at U.S. embassies. Set in a founda- tion only 18 inches deep, shallow foundation barriers are able to survive and operate after a 1.2 million foot-pound impact.
In the lowered position, the shallow foundation barrier ramp is completely flush with the roadway. Buttresses, counterweights and road plates do not obstruct authorized pedestrian or vehicu- lar traffic. The barrier is raised and lowered to and from the guard position via hydraulic cylinders driven by a hydraulic power unit. This unit can be configured to provide pass-through rates of 3 to 15 seconds, suitable for most inspection and identification station requirements. However, when danger is imminent, the barricade rises in less than 2 seconds.
TRAFFIC SECURITY
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