AST Digital Magazine April 2017 April 2017 | Page 33

Volume 11
Biometric Devices
But what if the active shooter doesn’t stop there?
If the shooter were to steal an employee’s access
card and attempt to proceed through the door –
alone – he could gain access UNLESS you uti-
lize one or more biometric devices.
Biometric devices identify unique physiological
characteristics, such as fingerprints, hand geom-
etry, facial features, and iris patterns. They also
comply with two-factor authentication (2FA) regu-
lations.
These devices alone will not stop an active
shooter from gaining access to a building, though
(think about a swinging door opened by a reg-
istered user, and then held open for numerous
people to pass through).
April 2017 Edition
Bullet-Resistant Glass
The common denominator between all mass
shootings is a weapon.
And it comes as no surprise that most active
shooters choose the light, inexpensive and easy
to conceal 9mm semiautomatic handgun to carry
out their schemes, according to data compiled
by The Washington Post.
Bullet-resistant glass can safeguard the integrity
of your door up to a certain point, and possibly
save lives.
Bullet-resis-
tant (BR) glass is
the layer of armor your se-
curity door needs for protec-
tion against an active shooter
attack.
But, when coupled with an anti-piggybacking
technology, biometric devices provide a solid de-
fense against unauthorized entry.
Security revolving doors can be equipped with an
external biometric post placed immediately out-
side of the door, or as one of many leading up to
the door.
Security mantrap portals are available with an in-
terior post, ideal for mounting the latest biometric
technology directly inside the door. Both options
provide a layered method of access and meet
2FA compliance.
Keep in mind, though, that your throughput will
be impacted by the type of biometric device you
choose to incorporate.
BR glass is made from layers of polycarbonate
(tough plastic) sandwiched between pieces of
toughened glass.
And not all BR glass is created equal; there are
different BR-rated protection levels.
Security revolving doors and mantrap portals can
be outfitted in BR glass with protection Level 3.
As mentioned, the weapon most commonly used
by an active shooter is a 9mm handgun.
According to Total Security Solutions, BR glass
with a Level 3 rating is capable of stopping three
.44 magnum bullets, or a bullet that is twice as
heavy and moves significantly faster than the
bullet of a 9mm handgun.
Level 3 BR glass is 1.04” thick, over 4 times the
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