Short answer
Turnstile choice is made according to the number of passages at the entrance, the level of security wanted and the look of the place. A tripod turnstile is economical and common; a full-height turnstile gives high security at unattended outdoor entrances; sliding wing and swing turnstiles offer fast, elegant passage in offices and lobbies. Accessible passage and emergency exit must be planned separately in every choice.
What is a turnstile for?
A turnstile is a mechanical or motorized barrier that lets only one person through an entrance at a time. It works with a card, face, fingerprint or QR code reader: when an authorized person scans, the turnstile allows a single passage and locks itself again.
How it differs from an access control reader fitted to a door is that it makes tailgating harder. When a door opens, the person behind can go in too; at a turnstile, each passage needs a separate scan. So a turnstile is used both for security and for accurate counting and staff attendance records.
A turnstile can be used not only for entry but also for exit. In two-way turnstiles, separate readers are placed for the two directions and who is in the building is known at every moment. This information helps when counting at the assembly point in an emergency: the software can give the list of people left inside. In systems where scanning is done only at entry, this list cannot be produced. In installations where exit is free, the turnstile turns in the exit direction without a scan and the reader is only on the entry side.
Tripod turnstile
A tripod turnstile is a rotating mechanism with three arms. It is the type most often seen at factory entrances, schools, gyms and public transport points. Its structure is simple, it is easy to maintain, and it is among the economical options in terms of price.
Its weak side is that a determined person can jump over the arm or pass under it. That is why it is preferred at entrances that have a security guard or are watched by camera. The drop arm (panic arm) feature, which lets the arm fall down when the power goes out or in an emergency, is a desirable feature for tripods on an escape route.
Tripods are divided into two kinds: mechanical (turned by hand, with an electromagnetic lock) and motorized. With the mechanical type, the person pushes the arm; with the motorized type, the arm turns half a turn by itself after the scan. In places where small children pass, such as schools, the height of the arm and its turning force should also be evaluated.
Full-height turnstile
A full-height turnstile is a rotating cage structure taller than a person. It is not possible to jump over it or pass under it. It is used at factory outer gates, construction site entrances, stadiums and unattended perimeter entrances.
To withstand the outdoors, it is usually made of stainless or galvanized steel. In hot and dusty regions like Şanlıurfa, make sure the mechanism and the reader of a full-height turnstile placed outdoors are protected from dust and sun; a small canopy or protective box helps for the reader.
A full-height turnstile takes up a lot of space and looks severe. It is not suitable for an office lobby. It also does not allow passage with a bicycle, suitcase or wheelchair; a separate gate is needed beside it. There are single-cage and double-cage models; double-cage ones offer two passage lanes in the same body and shorten waiting time at busy moments such as shift changes.
Sliding wing and swing turnstiles
In sliding wing (speed gate) turnstiles, the glass or acrylic wings between the two bodies slide to the side on an authorized passage. In swing turnstiles, the wings turn like a door. Both types have infrared sensors in the body; they track the person passing, detect two people trying to pass at the same time, and the wings do not close until the person has fully passed.
These turnstiles are preferred in office lobbies, hospital and university entrances, hotels and business centers. Passage is fast and their look fits the architecture. The wing opening of a swing turnstile can usually be made wide; this lets wheelchairs, strollers and cargo carts pass through the same lane.
These models are motorized and sensor-equipped, so they contain more electronic components than a tripod. They suit indoors; if they will be used outdoors, check whether the manufacturer permits that use.
Expert note: On wing turnstiles, ask about the number of sensors and the height of the sensor line. Models with few sensors may not always tell apart a child or a second person passing close behind an adult.
Which one for which entrance?
Do not decide on a single criterion. The questions below narrow down which type suits.
- Is the entrance indoors or outdoors?
- Is there a security guard or camera at the entrance?
- How many people pass at the same time at shift or class dismissal?
- Will there be wheelchair, stroller or cargo passage?
- What will the look and architecture of the place allow?
- Turnstile PDKS or visitor management: will it be connected?
Accessible passage and emergency exit
At an entrance with turnstiles, there must be a way for people with disabilities, strollers and people carrying loads to pass. This is usually a wide-wing swing turnstile or a motorized accessible gate placed beside the turnstile line. This gate can also be connected to the same reader system or opened by an attendant.
In an emergency, turnstiles must not obstruct the flow of people. Wing turnstiles can be set to put their wings in the open position when a fire alarm comes or the power goes out; on tripods the drop arm is used. Arrangements on the escape route are determined according to the Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings and the building's fire project; how the turnstile affects this route must be checked during design.
Price and installation
Turnstile prices vary with the type, body material, number of lanes, reader method and software integration. Installation includes anchoring to the floor, cable conduits and the reader connection. When it is installed later on an existing floor, the floor may need to be cut for the cable. That is why an on-site inspection and a written quote are essential. Ask for the reader, the software license and the accessible gate to be listed as separate items in the quote.
Desa Bilişim installs turnstiles and access control systems at school, factory and institution entrances in Şanlıurfa. We can look at the traffic at your entrance and your user profile together and recommend the right type.
Frequently asked
Which turnstile suits a school entrance?
At inside entrances with staff and cameras, a tripod turnstile is a common and economical solution. Enough lanes must be planned for the rush at student exit time, and a separate wide passage must be added for accessible access and emergency exit.
What happens to a turnstile when the power goes out?
It depends on the model and the setting. On tripods, the drop arm feature lets the arm fall down; wing turnstiles can be set to go to the open position. Turnstiles on an escape route must be set this way.
Does a turnstile work together with PDKS?
Yes. The reader on the turnstile both allows passage and sends the entry and exit time to the PDKS software. So a separate attendance device is not needed.
Let's choose the right turnstile for your entrance together
Share the traffic and user profile at your entrance, and we will inspect on site and prepare a written quote.
