While the array of ancillary devices surrounding an ACS may vary and range in levels of complexity, the fact is that most access control systems are designed to work with swinging doors, and this hasn’t changed in several decades. The difficulties of trying to properly integrate your ACS with other types of entrances, such as security doors or turnstiles remains a challenge for many systems integrators and their end-user partners. This is because most ACS are designed to track the events that happen at swinging doors, telling you only one thing: the door opened. Typical events are: “Door Unlocked”, “Door Forced Open” and “Door Held Open.”
From a physical security strategy standpoint, the other issue with swinging doors is that if they are used exclusively throughout a facility, that facility is vulnerable to intrusion from tailgating. Ideally, a facility should have a layered approach where, for example, security turnstiles and/or security revolving doors are stationed at perimeter access locations and then swinging doors can be used for interior office spaces and mantrap portals for sensitive data or records rooms (this is a general approach – your facility may require a different strategy). Given this ideal scenario, the solution for a secured entrance that mitigates tailgating is to integrate it with a compatible ACS so events can be logged and personnel entering the facility are properly tracked and identified. So, how can EAC and other devices like biometrics technologies be configured to help mitigate unauthorized entry through swing doors and turnstiles? We’ll take a look at swing doors and turnstiles first, then the high security revolving doors and mantrap portals.