14 Jul How to Differentiate Between Speedstiles

Speedstiles play a crucial role in modern office buildings, particularly within corporate and government facilities. As your need for secure environments grows, speedstiles provide vital access control for both your employees and visitors. Acting as the first line of defence, they enhance security by preventing unauthorised access and safeguarding people and assets within your building.

However, not all speedstiles offer the same level of security and functionality, and without expert knowledge, distinguishing between different models can be challenging. To help you make an informed decision, here are four key components you should consider when selecting a speedstile.

Infrared Sensors: The Eyes of a Speedstile

One of the most critical differentiators is the number of infrared (IR) sensors in a speedstile. These sensors act as its ‘eyes’, enabling a speedstile to detect movement and accurately assess what is happening in its lane.

Security Benefits: A well-equipped speedstile should have sensors positioned at strategic points – beyond the closed barrier and near the exit side – to ensure rapid lane closure upon an individual’s departure. Additionally, a higher number of sensors allows a speedstile to distinguish between a single large object and multiple smaller ones, which helps in detecting tailgaters more effectively.

Speedstiles with fewer sensors require greater spacing between individuals to detect unauthorised access, making it easier for intruders to slip through.

Moreover, speedstiles with more sensors can differentiate between people and inanimate objects such as briefcases or umbrellas, reducing false alarms. Excessive false alarms can lead to complacency among your security staff, ultimately weakening your system’s effectiveness.

Safety Benefits: Precise positioning of sensors within its lane helps a speedstile determine whether it can safely close the barrier without hitting someone. A speedstile with insufficient sensors may either compromise security by erring on the side of caution or pose a risk by miscalculating the movement of slow or hesitant individuals.

The EasyGate SPT, for instance, is equipped with 36 sensors, enabling it to accurately track movement, assess object sizes in the lane and minimise security risks.

Motors: The Driving Force Behind Performance

Speedstiles need powerful, efficient motors to handle frequent operations. For example, a 1,800mm high barrier can weigh over 20kg, meaning the motor must reliably drive this weight hundreds of times each day.

Additionally, the speed at which the barrier opens directly affects throughput rates – how many people can pass through per minute. For long-term reliability, a motor shouldn’t operate at full capacity for every movement, as excessive strain reduces durability over time. The mean cycles between failures (MCBF) rate of a motor is an essential measure of longevity.

Before selecting a speedstile, you should ask yourself:

• Is the motor powerful enough to handle high-frequency usage?
• Can it open your barrier quickly enough to maintain smooth throughput?
• Will it provide years of reliable service without frequent breakdowns?

For example, the EasyGate SPT opens its barriers in under 0.4 seconds and boasts an impressive MCBF of more than 20 million operations, ensuring reliability.

Control Board: The Brain Behind Speedstiles

Traditionally, speedstiles work by receiving access control input to grant entry and sending alarm notifications in case of unauthorised access. However, modern security demands deeper system integration.

Your speedstiles should:

• Be network-compatible to provide high-level integration with your building-management system.
• Connect with your fire-alarm systems to automatically open during emergencies.
• Offer detailed event reporting to enhance security monitoring.
• Provide additional functionality for smoother operational control.

Our EasyGate SPT range is Internet Protocol (IP) addressable, allowing for seamless communication with your building-management system. It features eight inputs and up to 13 outputs, facilitating advanced integration and customisable security settings. Functions such as VIP access, lockdown mode, or free passage for events enhance user flexibility.

Additionally, it provides distinct alarms for tailgating, crossover events, forced entry attempts and object obstructions, improving response accuracy.

Matching Your Speedstile to the Level of Throughput

If there is significant daily foot traffic through your access control, advanced sensor arrays, high-performance motors and sophisticated control boards are essential for maintaining security while ensuring smooth operational flow. Premium security solutions like our EasyGate range are the ideal option to deliver the performance you require.

However, if you’re managing a lower-throughput site with only moderate daily usage, then lower-specification speedstiles that still provide effective security at a more accessible price point are available. Our GymGate range offers the essential security features you need to safeguard your facility, without the advanced specifications required for high-throughput environments.

Selecting the right speedstile requires careful consideration of IR sensors, motor performance, control-board capabilities and throughput, along with price. Each of these components plays a pivotal role in ensuring both security and efficiency within a facility.

By evaluating these four aspects you can confidently choose a speedstile that ticks the right boxes in terms of your security, functionality and budget requirements.