Practical Considerations for Entry Point Access Control

For busy facilities or corporate campuses with high standards for vehicle throughput and perimeter security, entry points represent a significant – albeit obvious – opportunity to shape the traffic environment; they are the single area where security and property management have the most ability to exert control over the movement of people and vehicles. As a result, Nick Valdez, specification sales team manager with Nice|HySecurity, says there are a variety of security and traffic management considerations to keep in mind when selecting the appropriate vehicular access control solution. He provides an overview of some of the most important of these.

Firstly, and most simply, entry points should be used to regulate the nature and volume of vehicles. There is a constant, wide range of reasons for vehicles to enter a property; however, authorizing and pacing throughput with a management solution is both a prudent risk management strategy and a measure against fender-benders.

Throughput management solutions can also be used to slow down arrivals as they are granted entry, so vehicles do not enter at high speeds, thereby enhancing pedestrian safety. These systems should also aim to optimize throughput and avoid backups, while deterring cut-throughs or otherwise aimless traffic. The deployed solution must have the capacity to allow industrial vehicles to enter as well, since commercial vehicles are commonplace visitors in many industrial and corporate campuses.

Barriers are manufactured to meet the needs of the client and the site. They are available in different duty cycles for both commercial and industrial applications. The gates, barriers, and other vehicular access control solutions must be durable enough to meet the throughput needs of the site and also hold up against inclement weather, with wind being the most commonly overlooked consideration.

Valdez says wind is a powerful force and should be considered when designing and specifying an automated gate system, especially when dealing with a swing gate system. In certain cases, a strong gust can even mimic an accidental strike, tricking the gate operator into thinking it hit something. This higher level of security won’t be necessary in most commercial properties however, where a more appropriate solution will likely be a barrier arm. Designed to raise and lower for the regulation of routine traffic, barrier arms are efficient, versatile, and visible, making them an effective entry regulation tool.

“For example, consider the StrongArm® from HySecurity,” says Valdez. “With a cycle speed of just two seconds to open and three to close, the StrongArm will slow traffic without allowing it to stack. Its 90-degree open angle allows for even the largest industrial vehicles to enter.” He says the speed and flexibility of barrier arms like the StrongArm have distinct advantages over slide or swing gate solutions, which feature far larger entrapment zones where pedestrians may become injured, especially if wind acts up, as mentioned above.

Prioritizing additional safety measures like UL325 compliance and soft-start/ soft-stop pacing is yet another measure barrier arms should feature to protect pedestrians. For maximum safety, many barrier arms utilize a “breakaway arm.” In the event of a vehicle strike, this feature allows for damage to the arm without endangering the device’s more valuable motor or chassis. Maintenance staff can then bolt the arm back on after a crash rather than having to replace an entire system. LED lighting on the arm is another safety feature, as it allows drivers to see the barrier arm from a distance, giving them time to slow down and acting as a passive deterrent.

Though individual traffic management needs will vary property to property, Valdez says the need to manage the flow of traffic – vehicular and pedestrian – is paramount to the safety and security of all. “The best management solutions always improve the property experience, so facilities managers, security staff, and contractors should keep each of the above considerations in mind when specifying their next property.”

For more information about Nice|HySecurity gate and barrier solutions, visit www.hysecurity.com.