Safeguarding your Facility

Safeguarding your Facility

Turnstiles: What are you trying to achieve?

  • By Kassi Karr
  • Mar 01, 2023

When assessing whether turnstiles are appropriate for your facility, ask this first question: What are you trying to achieve?

  • Enhance the general security at any entrance or exit point, no matter whether it is manned or unmanned.
  • Detect tailgating for security purposes.
  • Reduce your reliance on your security guard staff and/or make your existing staff more efficient.
  • Increasing the accuracy of mustering.
  • Ticketing for events.
  • Membership identification and access.
  • Money or fare collection for access.

If the answers to any of these questions are ‘Yes’, then a turnstile should be considered.

Security is a priority, but it is also critical to eliminate the risk of tailgating and membership misuse, as well as prevent loss. In the case that these factors are relevant to securing your business, then the answer to your question is always yes. While their loud and prominent appearance makes them effective deterrents, their capabilities make them effective in all the areas mentioned above.

Among the many ways in which a turnstile can protect what matters most, there are a number of unique uses for them. While full-height turnstiles still dominate the industry today, optical turnstiles are gaining popularity in corporate lobbies, stadiums, and college campuses because of their integrations and capabilities.

Environments and Applications of Turnstiles
Recreation centers and dining halls are the most common facilities where optical turnstiles installed at universities and colleges. This turnstile has an integrated software system that allows tracking of meal cards and membership cards. With this software, it is impossible for a student or administrator to use another person's card, focusing on single-entry authentication. Over the years, the number of Avant-Garde installations on college campuses has steadily grown, and we anticipate that turnstiles will become mainstream in all universities soon.

As a result, the modern appeal of optical turnstiles have become increasingly popular in corporate offices and lobbies. In addition to designing a secured entry product that fits aesthetically, Avant-garde can ensure it provides the security that keeps employees and visitors safe. By using options like tailgating and biometrics, you can guarantee that only authorized people can access the facility.

The entrance of large corporate buildings will typically have two types of turnstiles. Through a full-height revolving door turnstile, a single user will be able to enter the building, followed by an optical turnstile that allows only a permitted user access to a specified area via biometrics, facial recognition and card reader integrations. Additionally, this allows onsite security staff better visibility of who enters and exits the building and enables the flow of traffic to be controlled.

Stadiums and arenas are also examples of facilities that use turnstiles for access control as well. As concerts and sporting events in recent years have become more popular, these facilities are deploying optical turnstiles that integrate metal detection and barcode technology. As a result, attendance can be counted and help ticketing and security processes can be sped up. This optimizes the attendees' experience, eliminates manual ticket checks, and reduces entry point security.

This enhanced security option also provides high-end facilities with the ability to monitor, track, and analyze traffic flow, allowing them to optimize their entry and exit points and provide an even better experience for the attendees.

With this trend in mind, casinos are implementing turnstiles at their entryways to keep track of their patrons, and not necessarily as a measure of security. As a result, gathering real-time data during peak business hours allows the company can make informed decisions regarding the direction of the business. Thus, they can make informed decisions when it comes to the division of staff between different departments as a result. In addition, this data will help determine how many people will attend an event and the amount of needed staff. The traffic data produced at a large event will assess the costs associated with hosting the event. Additionally, people counters can assess revenue from other sources, such as shops, restaurants and shows.

Although, they are not as technologically advanced as optical turnstiles. The full-height turnstile is still a top pick when it comes to the most used turnstiles in factories, distribution centers, and construction work sites, due to its ability to provide the highest level of security. The advantages of a fully enclosed turnstile are an unprecedented level of security and it stops people from climbing over, or around the device. Furthermore, the turnstile also can allow a single user to enter by employing a lock mechanism. This prevents the turnstile arms from spinning before a completed pass, and the next user has presented a credential for entry.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.