Essential Reading
Introduction
Secure entrance systems, such as revolving doorsets provide a means to control access to a secure area by staff and visitors.
Research conducted by NPSA has also demonstrated they can have the potential to provide a significant delay to forced entry by marauding attackers with bladed weapons, firearms and explosive devices in contact with the product.
Products
NPSA have identified revolving doorsets have the capacity to delay progress by marauding attackers in accordance with NPSA’s Marauding Attack Test Standard (MTAS). Successful products are awarded a sophistication level of either BASIC, LOW, MODERATE, HIGH and EXPERT. Please refer to https://www.npsa.gov.uk/resources/introduction-marauding-terrorist-attack-standard-mtas
MTAS focusses on the delay a barrier can afford against the attacks stated above. It does not consider the ease with which barriers can be secured and unlocked to aid escape. It is therefore extremely important to understand how easily a barrier can be secured and unlocked to aid escape.
NPSA has not been able to evaluate every variant of revolving doorset currently on the market to award each product a MTAS sophistication level. However, the following design features will mitigate the progress of attackers to ensure people can alleviate themselves from danger:
- Revolving doorsets incorporating four-wings have the capacity to offer greater resistance to marauding attacks.
- Revolving doors incorporating laminated glazing within the rotor wings and curved walls offer greater resistance to marauding attacks. The thickness of the laminated glass should be a minimum 10 mm with a PVB interlayer.
Tests commissioned by NPSA demonstrated a four-winged revolving doorset incorporating the following laminated glazing was capable of resisting BASIC (Bladed weapon), LOW, MODERATE and HIGH ballistic forced entry (BFES) attacks for at least 30 seconds. It was also capable of resisting a MODERATE energetic forced entry (EFES) using a pipe bomb for at least 30 seconds:
- Glazed wings should incorporate 5mm/0.76mm/5mm laminated glass.
- Glazed walls should incorporate of 5mm/1.52mm/5mm laminated glass.
Further information can be found in NPSA MTA guidance entitled MTA: Supplementary Guidance - Physical Barriers that delay and discourage attackers.
The services of a reputable security consultant with demonstrable experience in the relevant area should be sough if further advice is required.