High Security Demands Within a Limited Floorspace – No Problem for Fastlane!
With 2,000 plus students, Winstanley College located on the outskirts of Wigan is one of the largest sixth forms in the North West of England.
The College was looking to enhance the perimeter security of the campus, especially in areas of high footfall, and sought an additional security solution for its main student entrance. Working with Lock-tec, one of our installation partners, Fastlane turnstiles were installed in July 2021, helping to safeguard both students and staff.
Lock-tec presented a security solution that could integrate the IDL glasswing turnstiles into the College’s existing SALTO site-wide access control system, supplied and maintained by them over the past decade. This allowed for seamless integration for staff and students alike, enhancing the online features of the SALTO read/write technology by presenting their ID card to gain access.
Two lanes of Fastlane’s Glassgate 400 turnstiles were installed within the entrance lobby, a standard lane with a width of 660mm and a wider lane with a width of 914mm, providing disabled access compliance to the DDA regulations.
The Glassgate 400 was chosen as its full height barrier provides a high level of physical deterrent whilst still maintaining a sleek design, complementing the building’s aesthetics. Fastlane products benefit from the capability to be integrated with all known security and building management systems and for this install, SALTO readers were enclosed beneath the Corian end caps, creating a seamless and intuitive experience for users.
Glen Whalley, Managing Director at Lock-tec, said: “As the supplier of their existing access control system, we were well placed to be able to provide the college with an integrated solution that would best meet their security requirements. We have been partnering with IDL for a number of years and knew that their adaptable product range would work well for the College, in particular the capability of the Glassgate 400 to integrate effectively with the SALTO access control system.”
“The solution installed means that when a student presents their SALTO ID card to the turnstile, as well as granting or denying access to the site, the reader adds and subtracts information to and from the card, eg. blacklist, audit trail, and battery status, thus creating SALTO’s Virtual Network.”
The installation at the College also presented a few challenges, notably the limited floorspace, underfloor heating, and the siting of large TV/monitors within the lobby area, as Glen explains: “We had to work within the confines of the entrance area, mounting the turnstiles on floor protector plinths to avoid the existing underfloor heating. Due to the shape and design of the entrance area, bespoke glass panels were installed on either side of the turnstiles to maximise the useable space, avoid congestion and obstruction of the monitor together with maintaining the integrity of the security solution.”
As with all products in the Fastlane range, the Glassgate 400 entrance control system was designed with the latest optical technology, enabling optimum throughput of authorised users with minimal intrusion in their daily lives, ensuring quick user acceptance. The product also features an optional locking brake, making the glass doors virtually impenetrable, even in the event of someone trying to gain unauthorised access by running at them or applying significant force.
Glen concludes: “The College has been really pleased with the installation as it has added an extra layer of security to their campus, whilst at the same time being straightforward and intuitive for staff and students to use. The turnstiles look modern and smart and we know, given our experience of working with Fastlane products, they are robust and reliable too.”
Phil Allen, Regional Sales Manager UK & Ireland at Integrated Design Limited added: “One of the key benefits of the Fastlane turnstiles is that they can be altered to incorporate third party integration technology as was the case here with the addition of SALTO readers.
“Our team work closely with our integration partners to seamlessly incorporate additional hardware into the design of our units, not only does this enhance the look of the units but it aids the overall user experience too.”
For more information about the Fastlane Glassgate 400 you can read our product profile or contact our team who would be happy to arrange a product demonstration or talk through your project requirements – +44 (0)20 8890 5550 or email info@fastlane-turnstiles.com
