Passage zone and appropriate facility infrastructure

PROPER FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION

The passage zone is the area covering the space where persons registering in the access control system and using entry control are expected to stay and move. The entrance zone includes the information and pedestrian flow organization area, the access authorization area for the passage section, the passage area within the gate/device, and the exit area. Circulation routes within the passage zone should be limited to those intended for persons passing through the access control system and for supervising personnel. These routes should not intersect and should be of adequate width to prevent excessive congestion.

In order to organize pedestrian traffic within the passage zone and ensure the safety of users as well as the proper use of access control systems and devices, the following should be applied:

1. Technical solutions, including information transmission means (e.g. informational pictograms, regulations, instructions, signage) as well as technical devices (e.g. fixed barriers, mobile barriers, and markings of circulation routes on the floor).
2. Direct control and supervision by appropriate personnel (e.g. security staff at the stadium).

Information transmission means should be selected depending on the target audience, i.e. the group of users utilizing the system and devices (example criteria include multilingual requirements, undefined user groups such as public facilities, and defined user groups such as workplaces).

Information that should be available in the passage zone can be divided into:

1. Instructional information on the use of the system and devices (e.g. how to present a magnetic card to the reader, information that the arms or wings of the device should not be pushed before authorization is granted, operating instructions for the device).
2. Prohibitive information regarding inappropriate user behavior (e.g. prohibition of passage, prohibition of bringing dogs or passing with luggage).
3. Mandatory information requiring appropriate user behavior (e.g. designation of bicycle passages, indication of traffic direction).
4. Warning information (e.g. markings indicating that a passage zone is temporarily out of service due to maintenance or servicing).
5. Regulatory information (e.g. regulations defining the rights, obligations, and behavior of persons within the protected area after passing through the access control system).

Within the passage zone, the only circulation routes outside the areas mentioned above should be:

• circulation route for persons approaching the passage section,
• circulation route for persons moving away from the passage section (e.g. persons who have not received authorization to pass),
• circulation route for supervising personnel (e.g. security staff at the event venue or stadium).

Circulation routes should not intersect and should be of adequate width to prevent excessive crowding. In order to properly design the passage zone within a facility and ensure suitable operating conditions for the pedestrian traffic control system and devices, the following should be considered:

1. Comply with applicable safety standards concerning building infrastructure (e.g. evacuation route width, the ability to leave the controlled area in the event of a failure of the access control system or device, and the establishment of procedures in case of system malfunction).
2. Design the infrastructure of the entrance zone according to the type of passage and the characteristics of the controlled user group (e.g. persons with luggage, children, wheelchair users, or persons using carts for transporting goods).
3. Select appropriate infrastructure supporting the operation of access control systems (e.g. guiding barriers, signage, and visual or displayed information).
4. Design an appropriate number of circulation routes along with their relationships and functionality (e.g. avoiding intersections between circulation routes).
5. Ensure proper integration with access control systems and fire protection systems.
6. Establish rules for access, assisted passage, and control of persons with disabilities and those using mobility devices or vehicles (e.g. wheelchairs).
7. Ensure adequate throughput of the designed pedestrian traffic control passage.
8. Determine and select devices and infrastructure to support the required level of control (e.g. basic, standard).
9. Supplement or, if not available, develop a facility security plan that includes procedures for situations such as system failure, congestion forming in front of devices, and evacuation in case of emergency.

INFORMATION AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION ZONE

The zone located within the entrance area covers the space where pedestrian traffic is organized through information (pictograms, device light signaling, floor markings), technical solutions (e.g. fixed barriers, portable barriers), or direct control and supervision by appropriate personnel (e.g. facility security staff).

In the case of passages where congestion is expected due to the use of pedestrian traffic control systems, all of the above methods of traffic organization should be applied, i.e. information, technical solutions, and direct control and supervision by personnel responsible for pedestrian safety.

In areas where congestion is not expected as a result of using the access control system, it is recommended to selectively apply one or two of the above-mentioned methods of organizing pedestrian traffic, depending on the risk assessment.

The zone should not be designed in a way that causes circulation routes to intersect (e.g. the route for persons who have not received authorization to pass through the device passage section and are leaving the authorization zone must not intersect with the route of persons approaching the verification zone).

The zone should be equipped with information regarding the use of the system.

It is recommended to place in this zone information regarding rights, obligations, and rules of conduct (e.g. regulations applicable at sports venues, stadiums, workplaces, etc.) for persons present in the protected area (after passing through the access control system).

ACCESS AUTHORIZATION ZONE FOR THE PASSAGE SECTION

The zone covering the area where a person becomes familiar with how to obtain authorization and how to use access control devices, as well as other information related to passing through the passage section. This zone should be located directly in front of the passage section of the access control device.

The reader/controller used to verify access authorization for entry into the passage section (e.g. card reader, ticket reader, controller) should be located in the position specified in the device documentation. If the device does not have a dedicated location, it should be placed in close proximity to the passage section in such a way that entry into the passage section during verification by two persons at the same time is not possible.

Activities related to obtaining authorization should be simple and user-friendly for all persons for whom the passage is intended (e.g. clear and concise information placed at an appropriate height, clear visual or audible signals indicating whether access has been granted or denied).

In cases where access authorization zones are located in close proximity to each other, visual signaling should be used, as non-directional audible signals may cause confusion or mislead persons in adjacent passage sections.

PASSAGE SECTION

The operational area of the device includes the range of moving elements and the detection zone of the device’s sensor system. The passage width should be adapted to the intended type of pedestrian traffic and the required level of security (e.g. traffic involving wheelchair users). The passage section must not be located in the immediate vicinity of stairs, landings, or other devices that may affect the safety and ergonomics of the passage. The circulation route should be free of thresholds and significant differences in floor level. The floor surface of the passage section should be made of anti-slip materials. The passage section should be adequately illuminated. It is recommended to use a single passage section for a single direction of pedestrian traffic (bidirectional traffic may be assigned to a single section only in cases of low pedestrian traffic volume where there is no risk of congestion forming in front of the devices).

EXIT ZONE

The area after exiting the passage section, including circulation routes and the space where information is provided for persons approaching the passage section from the entrance side.

1. Appropriate signage intended to organize pedestrian traffic after exiting the passage section (e.g. marking directions and names of circulation routes).
2. Appropriate signage for persons approaching the passage section from the exit side (e.g. in the case of bidirectional pedestrian traffic or attempts to pass through the passage section without authorization).
3. Designation of locations for performing operational duties by designated security personnel (e.g. at sports venues or stadiums).