AST Digital Magazine August 2017 Digital-Aug | Page 40

Volume 15
August 2017 Edition
A more secure environment is more attractive to
new employees and to new tenants (in the prop-
erty management example), and the IT systems
can be tied in with IP ready security devices. We hope that you found the information present-
ed here to be helpful as you being to consider
an addition/upgrade or replacement of a turnstile
system in your facilities.
A resourceful security director should be able to
garner internal support for the investment. Most folks don’t select and design turnstiles ev-
ery day, so calling upon experts is a real good
idea.
What will all of this cost?
Generally, the upfront costs for turnstiles range
from $10,000 to $45,000 per lane, depending on
many factors (type, finishes, options, etc.).
For that reason, we recommend engaging a se-
curity design consultant, a quality manufacturer,
and your local system integrator for further help.
But you should also plan to ask questions of ven-
dors upfront about the total cost of your entrance
control system.
The total cost includes maintenance (planned
and unplanned) over the lifetime of the system,
typically at least 10-15 years.
Ask if the manufacturer of your system offers ei-
ther a 1, 2, or 5 year warranty with their equip-
ment, and if they share their Preventative Main-
tenance Schedules with clients.
What is the real cost of downtime, in terms of
added staffing costs and loss of goodwill?
A low sticker price may really mean a much high-
er lifetime cost of the system.
This is an area where supplier references can
help a great deal, by sharing their experience
about breakdowns, availability of parts and ser-
vice, and loss of use.
Designing a turnstile or PEC system re-
quires some skills, preparation and time
Mike McGovern, Regional Sales Manager, Automatic Sys-
tems
About the Author:
Mike McGovern is a 20 year security industry
veteran and has been helped design turnstile
and pedestrian entrance control systems for
some of North America’s most secure and pres-
tigious campuses, companies, and government
agencies.
He serves on the ASIS Physical Security Council
Education Committee and has authored numer-
ous articles on security entrance control and re-
lated subjects.
Mike is Regional Sales Manager for Automatic
Systems, and is based in Boca Raton, FL.
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