Optical turnstiles are viewed as a growing trend in entrance control, currently dominating the speedgate market, according to IMS Research. As a security measure, optical turnstiles restrict or control access to a building or secured area. But they are also attractive from a design perspective as their slim footprint makes them unobtrusive. Their design attributes go hand in hand with security decisions as buildings undergoing renovations want not only the best security controls in place but want those controls to be aesthetically pleasing.

Optical turnstiles are usually a part of an access control system that consists of software, card readers and controllers. They operate much like regular mechanical turnstiles, except that they rely primarily on electronic (infrared) beams, and audible/visual interfaces to control entry. Rather than physically restraining a person, the optical turnstile uses sounds and lights to alert others to attempted entry by unauthorized individuals. The beams in opticalturnstilescan monitor the number of people entering a building by using the one card, one person system. If more than one person breaks the beam after an ID card is presented, then the system will notice. Opticalturnstilesare an extremely useful system for buildings with a high level of people entering and leaving. They are also useful for monitoring how many people are in the building at any given time in case of emergency evacuation. If someone enters without using a valid ID card, an alarm will alert security staff.

Integrating Card Readers with Optical Turnstiles

For many of the reasons discussed here, Peckham, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides job training and competitive employment opportunities for persons with significant disabilities and other barriers to employment, chose to install optical turnstiles. Since opening its doors in 1994, Peckham has grown to be one of the largest community vocational rehabilitation programs in the state of Michigan.

But with success comes challenges, such as controlling access to the 290,000 square feet vocational building in the state’s capital of Lansing. Those who receive training often go on to find jobs and a new set of clients will follow. Additionally, clients work various shifts during the day

Peckham was already controlling entry with card readers at the main client entry where upwards of 1,000 people have authority to enter and a secured lobby whereby upon reading the card a rapid open-slide door would permit entry to the vestibule. “The problem with that was that one person would swipe their card but nine others would follow,” explains Nat Vander Laan, facilities manager at Peckham. “This made it difficult to restrict access to unscheduled visitors.” A second entrance provides guests entrance into a secured lobby.

While Peckham had not experienced any security threat from piggyback entrants, Vander Laan admits that the what-if scenario was always present. So, when the opportunity presented itself to upgrade the security system, Vander Laan wanted to research optical turnstiles and sliding gates based on what he’d heard about performance features, physical appearance and the fact that they present a barrier-free entrance for those with physical disabilities.

“More than 80 percent of the people who work here are people with a significant disability, so we didn’t want an entry path that would intercept, such as the three-arm posts on traditional turnstiles,” he says. Peckham ultimately chose a Boon Edam optical turnstile because of its retracting glass gates. This past fall, three lanes costing $30,000 each was installed, two standard lanes and one extra-wide lane to accommodate wheelchairs. A fourth turnstile is planned for an installation this year. And, as renovations plans begin in Peckham’s Charlotte, Mich. facility, conduit has been added to the floor to accommodate a future installation of optical turnstiles.

The optical turnstiles have been tied into the infrastructure of the technology. Visitors approach the gate, swipe their HID card and the gate opens. The gate stays open long enough for someone to pass – but still long enough for a piggyback to enter. “No, it’s not a 100 percent perfect barrier, but if a piggybacker does get through, an internal alarm sounds to notify the security staff immediately, and it is definitely an embarrassing-sounding alarm,” he adds. As a result, the problem of piggybackers has dropped by about 80 percent.

An Opportunity to Think Security

Problems are common when buildings undergo renovations, but taking care of incorporate security as part of a redesign can help alleviate some of the challenges. A mid-Atlantic high-rise faced critical financial issues when the departure of its primary tenant left it three-quarters vacant in the recession year of 2009. The building owners seized the opportunity to make the building more attractive by investing tens of millions in modernizing the property, which included a lobby renovation and security upgrades. As part of the security plan, the customer installed 12 lanes of optical turnstiles to control access to the two elevator bays.

Aesthetics were of prime importance to the building, which led to the purchase of the turnstiles for modern lobby security. The small footprint of the turnstiles enabled the customer to install three lanes at each entrance, providing one more lane to speed access to the elevators.

Enticing corporate tenants does require an investment in high-quality design. For example, 321 Exhibition Street in Melbourne, Australia, recently underwent a $32 million refurbishment to transform the location into a multi-tenant office building as a means of bringing in high-rent tenant companies. As part of the design, an integrated access control system and turnstile solution was required to limit access to authorized occupants and visitors. This was desired to help speed up pedestrian movement in to and up through the building.

An access control system was integrated with speedgates to allow staff to scan ID cards at the turnstile, which then direct them to the next available elevator going to their specific floor. This process is completed while verifying they have authority to access the building at that specific time.

The speed gate uses bi-directional glass barriers that remain closed until a valid card has been presented to allow the authorized user to pass. The access control barriers close quickly behind the authorized person to deter tailgaters, however infrared sensors monitor the lane to detect unauthorized entry.

A spokesperson for 321 Exhibition Street says that the integration of the turnstiles was key to ensuring a high-speed, easy-to-use and secure access and elevator destination control solution to get people in and through the building as fast as possible.

Optical turnstiles have proven themselves in building lobbies as a way to separate and clear employees carrying access control cards from visitors who must present identification and verification of their purpose in entering the building. Their elegant look and design creates an environment that is welcoming and barrier-free but still protective.