How to control pedestrian flow in a commercial space

Pedestrian flow is an incredibly important factor to consider when designing commercial spaces, especially if the property is frequently busy. Poor control over pedestrian flow, however, can result in long queues or even accidents, along with negatively affecting a workplace’s efficiency. Not to mention, even in a post-pandemic society, some commercial spaces may still be abiding by social distancing. 

Read on for the best ways to control pedestrian flow in a commercial space.

Turnstiles

Turnstiles are ideal for managing the flow of pedestrian traffic, as well as implementing further security measures. Full-height turnstiles provide a safe and efficient way for a high volume of people to pass in and out of your commercial space. As turnstiles allow only one person to pass through at a time, you can install the ability to control large crowds from entering your property. However, if you have a smaller space or require indoor pedestrian flow management, waist-high turnstiles make a great alternative.

Pedestrian speed lanes 

Pedestrian speed lanes are the perfect solution for commercial spaces with limited access, often found in spaces like a gym or an office rental space. Having speed lanes means that pedestrians can only access a space if they have the correct smart card or fob, resulting in keeping strangers or potential security threats out of the property. Pedestrian speed lanes also have a pass speed of 40 persons per minute, meaning that they’ll keep pedestrian traffic flowing smoothly - without causing a backlog. 

If your commercial space is still particularly concerned about the threat of Coronavirus, post-pandemic, then Temperature Detection & Facial Recognition Speed Lanes can help. These speed lanes detect the temperature of a person for an access control solution that’s completely contact-free. With the added feature of facial recognition, this system allows access to the building based on a person’s health, as well as their facial authorisation.

Industrial gates

Industrial gates are one of the best security solutions for preventing trespassers and potential security threats from entering your site. Not only do industrial gates keep out vehicles, they mean that unauthorised pedestrians are also unable to access places that you don’t want them to go. 

Whilst electric industrial gates primarily keep out intruders, they’re also incredibly safe for use around pedestrians - they feature infra-red protocols which can sense when there’s an object in the gate’s path, meaning they will not close on a vehicle, person or object. Plus, they are built with resistive safety edges to minimise damage and injury if an accident did occur. 

If you have an area of your commercial space that’s not open to the public, putting an industrial gate in place makes it clear that pedestrians should not attempt to enter through. This is great for keeping pedestrian flow in the areas and directions that you want it to be, along with keeping pedestrians out of out-of-bounds spaces. 

With a variety of different security gate options available, be sure to learn which one is best for your business. 

Pedestrian access gates 

To help control pedestrian flow in outdoor areas on your commercial space, like the perimeter of your site and in your car park, pedestrian access gates could be the way forward. Designed to secure your site, without the need for onsite security personnel, pedestrian traffic will flow through the gates when your automated system chooses for them to be open - allowing you full control over quickly and where visitors enter your site. 

Security bollards

Bollards are an effective way of signalling the borders or outskirts of a property, as well as marking out clear routes for pedestrians. Telescopic bollards, which can be locked in place or lowered whilst not in use, mean that you can keep vehicles away from pedestrian areas of your commercial space whilst still allowing pedestrians to have free access. Not only does this keep pedestrians safe from vehicles, but it means that potential customers know that your property is still open. 

If you choose to implement bollards in your commercial space, knowing where to place them for effective pedestrian flow management is paramount. You should be sure to read our complete guide to bollard maintenance to ensure that your bollards are properly maintained for the best use on your site. 

Access control

Furthermore, a reliable and convenient access control system will help you to control pedestrian flow in a commercial space. There are different types of access control, but they all serve the same key purpose of keeping out unauthorised pedestrians, whilst still allowing access to staff. 

Whilst there are multiple benefits of having an access control system in place, the main one is that pedestrians will remain within the areas that you want them to - all whilst employees or authorised visitors will be able to easily access the premises. With different options available to suit all different sites and needs, discover which access control system is right for your business.

Dedicated reception space

If your commercial space has a reception or other site office area, then it is best practice that pedestrians should be clearly directed here. By ensuring that pedestrians report to a specified area, they can then be directed to where they need to go, via dedicated reception staff or a visitor management system. This prevents any confusion and reduces the chances of visitors getting lost on your property. 

It might sound simple, but encouraging pedestrians to first visit your reception area will allow you to have full control over the route that visitors take on your site. And, by having a visitor management system in place, you can streamline pedestrian flow directly to where visitors need to be - without the risk of an overrun reception desk. Take a look at your site’s needs when it comes to handling visiting guests and find out how to choose the best visitor management system for your business. 

No matter the security demands of your commercial space, Expert Security UK has an array of security solutions. From anti-terrorism measures to car park management systems, you can keep your property safe and secure. Contact us today to find out more.