Access control experts, Business Development Manager, Troy Tolhurst and Director Lee Rance, of UK Turnstiles, talk to Tomorrow’s FM about their meticulous approach to getting your access control right, maximising its value and making the process compliant and straightforward for facility managers across the UK.
Many facility managers inherit their access control systems rather than select them. Yet those systems quietly influence everything from daily people flow and reception workload to compliance, safety and operational efficiency. When designed properly, turnstiles and speed gates can become powerful operational assets. When poorly planned, they create bottlenecks, complaints, unnecessary call-outs and long-term costs. The key is understanding how entrance control works in real buildings, not just on paper.
Here’s how facility managers can maximise the value of their investment.
Start with people flow, not hardware
The most common mistake in access control planning is choosing equipment before understanding how people actually move through the building. Facility Managers need to account for hundreds of staff members changing shifts throughout the day, as well as contractors or visitors entering and exiting at any given moment, which is why we always recommend mapping movement patterns and peak traffic flows before specifying hardware, ensuring smooth entry, safe occupancy, and a friction-free user experience from day one.
From our experience, we often see that when throughput isn’t carefully calculated, people flow management can quickly become a daily challenge. Bottlenecks appear, reception teams are stretched, and security staff are pulled into manual checks to keep things moving.
We’ve worked with many facility managers who, unfortunately, have learnt the hard way that poorly planned turnstile and speed gate layouts create avoidable congestion and even compliance risks. Retrofitting or redesigning later is always more disruptive (and more costly) than getting the layout right from the start.
Choosing the right solution for your facility
At UK Turnstiles, we know that not every building needs the same type of entrance control. High-traffic construction and industrial environments usually require robust solutions like Tripod Turnstiles, which provide reliable construction site access control and can handle heavy use day after day. In corporate offices, gyms, and commercial environments, Speed Gates are often a better fit, offering controlled access while maintaining a welcoming, premium experience.
The key is to match the system to your building’s people flow, integrate it with your existing access control systems, and ensure it supports ID cards, fobs, or biometric readers. Done properly, this reduces pressure on reception teams, improves safety, and makes secure building access seamless for everyone.
DDA compliance and fire safety
You must always plan for DDA-compliant access from the outset, ensuring accessible lanes, clear signage, and smooth integration with the rest of your entrance control. Again, planning early avoids costly retrofits, operational disruption, and potential compliance headaches later on. Adhering to DDA Compliance isn’t just a box-ticking exercise for regulations; it genuinely improves the user experience for everyone entering your building.
Fire safety is another critical part of what we do. Our turnstiles and speed gates integrate with fire alarm systems, providing fail-safe opening during emergencies, free egress in evacuations, and real-time occupancy tracking. This ensures secure building access never compromises life safety. Getting both fire safety and DDA compliance right means your building access is not only secure, safe and compliant, but also works extremely efficiently.
Reliability, maintenance, and operational efficiency
A well-installed system should work quietly without constant intervention. We design turnstile and speed gate installations to require only routine maintenance, typically once a year.
Our team of professional installers have years of experience and use exceptionally durable components to prevent issues and reduce wear, meaning reactive call-outs and unexpected downtime truly are a rarity.
A huge benefit to businesses that we tend to receive good feedback on is the effectiveness of our entrance control systems, as it considerably reduces staffing pressures. Automated systems manage who enters and exits, improve staff safety, and allow reception teams to focus on service rather than manual checks.
From corporate offices and gyms to warehouses, manufacturing facilities, education campuses, and healthcare sites, our access solutions can adapt to almost any environment. The common factor in all of these industries is the need to manage movement intelligently, maintain compliance, and provide a smooth experience for everyone entering and exiting your building.
Questions for UK Turnstiles
What really counts when planning entrance control systems?
When planning entrance control systems, careful consideration is essential. We look at factors like footfall to make sure the correct number of lanes are specified, creating the right balance between security and a smooth user experience. A poorly designed system can create bottlenecks and slow down the flow of people, which ultimately makes the user journey frustrating and inefficient.
What real-world issues do people have with entrance control prior to UK Turnstiles stepping in?
We see a range of issues from both a security and safety perspective. Many sites struggle to control exactly who is on the premises, and while it’s important to ensure only authorised personnel are allowed entry, it can become a real challenge during emergencies. Without proper entrance control, it’s difficult to know exactly who is on site for fire role calls. Small things, like people holding doors open for colleagues, may seem helpful, but they can create serious problems when accurate occupancy information is needed.
What do you think sets UK Turnstiles apart from other companies?
What sets us apart is our attention to detail, the pride we take in our workmanship, and the quality we deliver on every project. Because we hold stock in the UK, we can complete projects quickly without compromising on standards. Our process is designed to keep everything running smoothly: from the initial sales call and recommending the right solution, to site visits for accurate measurements and pre-installation meetings. By the time we’re on site installing, everything is exactly as it should be, and everyone involved is fully informed throughout the process.
We’re proud to have received feedback like this from Damien at Sure Builders: “Fantastic company. Everybody was extremely helpful, from Lee in the office to the team on site. Nothing was too much trouble, and they made the process very straightforward, with clear explanations every step of the way. Extremely professional, I highly recommend.”
It’s always rewarding to hear that our attention to detail, communication, and professional approach make a real difference for our clients.
Ready to review your access control?
UK Turnstiles delivers high-quality turnstiles and speed gate solutions for every type of facility. We provide expert planning, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance, helping facility managers streamline entrance control, improve safety, and manage high-volume people flow with ease.
