Physical security is one of the most important and effective methods for businesses looking to secure their assets. Like it or not, businesses are often targeted by thieves due to their propensity for housing valuable equipment and stock. However, businesses can be protected using a multitude of security systems that can deter and prevent would be attackers from illegally entering your premises.
What are security barriers?
Simply put, physical security barriers are used to prevent unauthorised access to a premises. From turnstiles and bollards to rising barriers. Security barriers can come in many shapes and sizes all of which are most effective in different situations.
The different types of physical security barrier
There are three main types of physical security barriers: traffic barriers, height restriction barriers and turnstiles. However, each of these main types of barriers have their own sub-categories as well as some security barriers not falling into these categories. These outliers include the likes of rising kerbs and bollards, both of which can be extremely effective methods of controlling access to a premises.
Traffic Barriers
There are 3 different types of traffic barrier that are commonly found on business premises, these are Rising Arm Barriers, Height Restriction Barriers, and Swing Arm Barriers. Rising and swing arm barriers are among the most common methods of access control deployed. Rising arm barriers can be either automatic or manual as well be integrated with other technologies such as ANPR while also commanding less space when compared to their swing arm counterparts.
Height Restriction Barriers
Height restriction barriers are another popular choice especially at entrance points and car parks. These, however, are a lot more specialised with their main use being to prevent high vehicles from entering a premises.
As such, these are often used in addition to another access control security system or in very specific situations which may not be applicable to the majority of businesses.
Turnstiles
There are many different types of turnstile, including outdoor turnstiles such as single rotor and twin rotor turnstiles which can also provide robust security solutions. Single rotor turnstiles are an excellent solution for controlling the flow of personnel in or out of the premises whereas twin rotor turnstiles expand this control to personnel entering as well as exiting a premises.
Additionally, turnstiles are excellent solutions for controlling high volumes of entry, for example at sports stadiums. Each option has its own nuanced advantages which is why it is important to consider which is most suitable for your unique requirements.
Rising Kerbs & Bollards
Rising kerbs and bollards are excellent methods of providing discrete access control as you are able to hide them away when you wish to allow access to an area and quickly deploy them again when needed. Unlike other traffic barriers, such as rising arm barriers, rising kerbs and bollards are often low usage, preventing or allowing access to a site during longer stretches of time. For example, a business may choose to deploy a rising kerb through the night but allow access to the premises throughout the day.
Automatic vs Manual Barriers
When choosing your security barrier, you need to decide whether it will be automatic or manually controlled. If you are looking to control the traffic that enters and leaves your site, then an automatic barrier has its advantages, as it can employ other forms of technology such as ANPR without the need for manual support.
This is particularly useful for larger businesses with significant amounts of traffic that would otherwise be very time intensives.
However, manual barriers are often preferred in smaller settings with fewer vehicles coming and going as they are generally more cost-effective.
Does your business need physical security barriers?
Physical security barriers are a necessity for any business that has a physical premises. With more than 469,000 businesses experiencing crime in the last year and just 1% reporting having installed barriers, there is a huge opportunity for UK businesses to improve their security.
Physical security can act as highly effective deterrent and preventative measures for crime against your business. Unsurprisingly, the retail sector is the most susceptible to crime however it is important that businesses in any industry consider how their premises are protected.
Why businesses should install security barriers
The most obvious reason to install security barriers is to protect your business from unwanted vehicles. They are essential in all kinds of industries, as they put you in control of who can enter your site and when they can do so.
They provide a physical barrier, which means that they also provide an effective deterrent against those who are looking for a weakness or an unsecured site. By making it clear that you have put security in place, criminals are more likely to move on to an easier target and save you the heartache and expense that they would otherwise have caused.
In addition to criminal intent, security barriers allow you to limit entry to your premises if it is becoming overcrowded or the car park is being used by those who are not visiting your business.
It allows you to control who comes and goes using keypads, intercoms, cameras, and card readers or even fingerprint recognition, and offers your business privacy whilst still making a good first impression with your legitimate visitors. It shows that you are a serious business with safety and security at your heart and can provide a professional image to anyone who approaches.
A security barrier helps you to define your boundaries, and can still remain welcoming whilst keeping your business, and everyone in it, safe. We understand many companies will have strict health and safety measures that involve not allowing any unauthorised personnel to enter the premises, and therefore need the ability to identify every person that enters the site or building.
Where can security barriers be used?
Physical security barriers can be used to secure any premises; however they are most effective when deployed correctly. For example, rising arm barriers are most effective in situations where the vehicles entering and exiting the site will be frequent.
What to consider when installing security barriers
- Level of security: The first key consideration you should be making is the level of security you and your business requires. For some businesses security is the top priority whilst for others security ay be lower down in the list of priorities for the business. Furthermore, depending on your premises size you may need multiple solutions to meet your own requirements.
- Cost: Your budgets will ultimately decide which type of security barrier you are able to purchase as each different type of security barrier will have its own unique cost associated with it. When planning a large purchase like a security barrier it is essential to decide what is feasible within your budget which will help ensure that you have picked the right security barrier for you.
Secure your business with Newgate!
Here at Newgate, we provide a range of access control security products designed to help businesses improve their premises’ security. Our range of solutions includes all of the products mentioned within this article, all of which are custom made by our engineers to ensure that your exact security needs are met.
For more information on our range of security systems, please contact the team today.
