Choosing the right turnstiles for your office building isn’t just about security—it’s about protecting your people, your property, and your peace of mind. Today’s corporate lobbies have come a long way from the simple reception desks of the past. Modern security checkpoints have become refined systems that serve two important functions: keeping unauthorized individuals out while ensuring employees and visitors feel welcome. Choosing the appropriate turnstile solution for your organization requires balancing security measures with creating an inviting atmosphere.
This guide covers everything from different turnstile types to selecting the ideal model for your requirements.
Why Office Buildings Need Security Turnstiles
Modern office buildings face increasing security challenges. According to Verified Market Research, the global turnstile market was valued at $1.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.66 billion by 2032, growing at 8.5% annually, driven by increasing demand for automated access control and enhanced security in corporate environments. Smarter Security alone protects over 50% of Fortune 100 companies, demonstrating how leading organizations prioritize advanced entrance control systems.
Security turnstiles prevent unauthorized access by creating physical barriers that stop tailgating and piggybacking. However, not all turnstiles offer equal protection—older “beam-break” technology can miss tailgaters by as little as 4 to 5 inches behind an authorized person.
Key benefits:
- Prevent tailgating with advanced detection
- Reduce security staffing costs through automation
- Process high traffic efficiently
- Track occupancy and monitor traffic patterns
- Enhance lobby aesthetics with modern design
Understanding Different Types of Office Turnstiles
Here’s the thing: not all turnstiles are built the same. Before selecting the best option for your office building, it’s essential to understand what’s available. Think of it like buying a car—you wouldn’t just walk onto a lot and point at the first vehicle you see, right? Each type of turnstile brings something different to the table in terms of security strength, capacity during rush hour, and aesthetic appeal for your lobby. Let’s break down your options.
Optical Turnstiles (Speed Gates)
Optical turnstiles represent the premium standard for corporate lobby security. They use advanced infrared sensor technology to create an invisible detection matrix. However, the technology varies dramatically between manufacturers.
Speed Gates: Three Barrier Options
Speed gates are the most popular choice for office buildings where security and convenience are equally important. All three types offer ADA-compliant configurations, though detection accuracy and intelligence vary significantly by manufacturer.
Swinging Glass Barriers (Most Popular)
- Available in many shapes, sizes, and glass heights
- Premium models use tempered/laminated glass with extended shafts for safety
- Avoid brands using plastic/polycarbonate that scuffs easily
Sliding Glass Barriers
- Barriers recede into wider pedestals
- Require more lobby space to accommodate internal barrier storage
Drop-Arm Barriers
- Barriers closed until authorization is granted
- Advanced models raise barriers in front of tailgaters
- Includes breakaway functionality for injury prevention
- Require adequate safety beams to prevent pedestrian contact
Best for: High-profile lobbies requiring medium to high security
Security level: Medium to high (varies significantly by manufacturer intelligence)
Throughput: 30-60 people per minute, depending on model (Fastlane: 60 people/minute)
Tripod Turnstiles
Traditional tripod turnstiles provide a cost-effective solution for access control with their rotating three-arm design. They come in both manual and motorized versions, making them suitable for industrial settings. However, they may not be ideal for professional offices due to their stadium-like appearance and noise. Additionally, they can be restrictive for larger individuals or those carrying bags and typically do not meet ADA compliance standards.
Best for: Budget applications, secondary entrances, industrial facilities
Security level: Low to medium (requires guard supervision)
Throughput: Less than 40 people per minute
Limitations: Not ADA compliant, unprofessional aesthetic for corporate lobbies
Full-Height Mechanical Turnstiles
Full-height turnstiles are security gates over 7 feet tall that create an impenetrable floor-to-ceiling barrier, preventing climbing over, crawling under, or jumping through. Built from rugged steel, they’re weather-resistant for outdoor use and serve as a strong visual deterrent for perimeter security and unguarded high-security areas. They are less appealing for interior applications and require separate ADA-compliant passgates.
Best for: Perimeter access, parking garages, outdoor applications, unguarded zones
Security level: Very high
Note: Requires a separate ADA solution
Revolving Door Security Turnstiles
Combining the aesthetics of revolving doors with full-height security, these systems revolve once per valid authorization. Floor-to-ceiling transparent barriers ensure single-person passage with automatic locking. They must be guarded to ensure one person per compartment and require separate ADA-compliant entryways.
Best for: Hotels, airports, and large retail stores
Security level: Very high
Entrance Gates and Passgates
While turnstile lanes can be configured with ADA-compliant widths, many installations add separate entrance gates for maximum accessibility and convenience. These gates are beneficial for wheelchair users, delivery personnel, or anyone carrying something too bulky to navigate through a standard lane width. The gates swing open in either direction and come in motorized or manual versions—typically controlled by your security team. The higher-end models feature built-in infrared beam technology, ensuring that only one person passes through per authorization. Standard gates lack this feature, making them more susceptible to tailgating. If you opt for a basic model, be prepared for your security staff to monitor it more closely.
Best for: Corporate lobbies, multi-tenant buildings, healthcare facilities, delivery-heavy offices
Security level: Low to medium (depends on infrared beam technology)
Dual Barrier (Mantraps)
A maximum security solution that ensures doors close behind each person and verifies single occupancy before opening the next door. These solutions may include weight sensors or weapon detection for enhanced screening.
Best for: Data centers, critical infrastructure, defense contractors
Security level: Maximum
What to Look for When Selecting Office Turnstiles
Choosing the best turnstiles for your office building requires careful evaluation of multiple factors. Here’s what security professionals should prioritize:
1. Security Requirements and Threat Assessment
Assess what you’re protecting—intellectual property, equipment, personnel—and match the solution to your threat level.
2. Traffic Volume and Throughput Capacity
Calculate your peak traffic requirements by analyzing total building occupancy, number of employees per shift, visitor frequency, and peak arrival/departure times (typically 8-9 AM and 5-6 PM).
Critical consideration: Throughput capabilities vary dramatically between manufacturers. Basic optical turnstiles may process only 30-40 people per minute. In comparison, Fastlane turnstiles achieve 60 people per minute (one person per second) through neural network intelligence that virtually eliminates false alarms and delays.
For office buildings using high-performance systems like Fastlane, plan for one lane per 50-100 employees during peak hours. Lower-performance turnstiles may require additional lanes to handle the same traffic volume. Always include at least one ADA-compliant lane for every 3-4 standard-width lanes.
3. Integration Capabilities
The best turnstiles for office buildings seamlessly integrate with your existing infrastructure. Essential integrations include access control systems (badge readers, mobile credentials, biometric scanners), building management systems controlling elevators and HVAC, and visitor management platforms.
4. Aesthetic Considerations
Your lobby entrance creates the first impression for clients, visitors, and employees, making aesthetic integration critical for modern office buildings. Today’s optical turnstiles offer extensive customization options to complement rather than compromise your architectural design.
- Finishes: Brushed stainless steel, powder-coated colors, custom metal and wood finishes
- Barriers: Clear glass, frosted glass, back-painted glass
- Pedestals: Compact elliptical, square ends, custom shapes
- Branding: Etched logos, custom artwork
5. Reliability and Total Cost of Ownership
Don’t just consider the initial purchase price. Evaluate warranty coverage, expected lifespan, maintenance requirements, including parts availability, technical support availability, and energy efficiency, since low-voltage systems reduce operating costs.
Hidden cost factor: Inferior turnstile technology generates excessive false alarms that require security staff intervention, reducing the labor savings that justify the investment. Additionally, lower throughput rates (under 40 people per minute) may require purchasing additional lanes, significantly increasing both capital and operating costs.
6. Compliance and Safety Features
Ensure your turnstiles comply with all regulatory requirements. It’s essential to adhere to ADA regulations, specifically the requirement for a minimum wheelchair-accessible width of 32 inches, though a width of 36 to 48 inches is preferred. Additionally, turnstiles must comply with fire safety codes that mandate a free egress mode during emergencies and local building codes. Furthermore, the turnstiles should meet UL 2593 standards for optical turnstiles, ensuring their safety and quality.
Fastlane Turnstile Insights for Office Buildings
Smarter Security’s Fastlane optical turnstiles represent the industry gold standard for corporate entrance control, securing more than 50% of Fortune 100 companies and iconic buildings worldwide.
What sets Fastlane apart: While many manufacturers offer optical turnstiles, Fastlane systems deliver unmatched performance through three critical advantages that competitors cannot match:
- 1/4 inch tailgate detection – Industry-leading accuracy that catches intrusions other systems miss
- 60 people per minute throughput – One person per second processing speed without false alarms
- Neural network intelligence – Distinguishes between humans and carried objects to virtually eliminate nuisance alarms
These capabilities translate directly to better security, lower staffing costs, and superior user experience compared to basic optical turnstiles.
For Class A Office Buildings: Fastlane Glassgate 150 Plus 
Our newly launched Glassgate 150 Plus combines elegant design with advanced intelligent neural network technology. This mid-height optical turnstile delivers exceptional security while maintaining a sleek, welcoming appearance to meet the demands of Class A lobbies.
Perfect for corporate headquarters main lobbies, multi-tenant commercial high-rises, professional service firms, and technology campuses, the Glassgate 150 Plus features concealed optical sensors for streamlined contemporary design and extra-wide lane options up to 39.4 inches for enhanced ADA accessibility. With Fastlane’s signature 1/4-inch tailgate detection, throughput of 60 people per minute, and neural network technology that virtually eliminates false alarms, it strikes the perfect balance between security effectiveness, aesthetic appeal, and cost efficiency.
For Higher Security Requirements: Fastlane Glassgate 300 
When security needs are heightened, the Glassgate 300 delivers maximum security through a strikingly minimalist design. Perfect for data centers, pharmaceutical companies, government contractors, financial institutions, and other facilities that require more stringent measures, the Glassgate 300 features an ultra-slim 9.4” pedestal with glass sides that create an exceptionally open, airy feel in your lobby. Despite its lightweight aesthetic, the Glassgate 300 offers powerful deterrence with high-security barrier options reaching 59.1”, 66.9”, and 70.9” heights—nearly 6 feet of transparent protection that effectively eliminates climb-over risks.
For Wide Lane and ADA Applications: Fastlane Glassgate 155
Healthcare facilities, research laboratories, and buildings with extensive ADA requirements benefit from the Glassgate 155’s extra-wide lane configuration, accommodating widths up to 47.25 inches. With dual-entry collusion technology (side-by-side detection) and sensors on the tops of the turnstile pedestals that can detect climb-over attempts, it accommodates wheelchairs, medical equipment, rolling luggage, and delivery carts without compromising security.
For Maximum Security: Fastlane Interlock
For facilities requiring mantrap-level security, the Fastlane Interlock dual barrier system creates an airlock environment that eliminates collusion and guarantees single-person passage. Perfect for secure data centers, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure facilities, it features dual independent barrier sets that interlock—only one opens at a time. When zero unauthorized access is the requirement, the Fastlane Interlock delivers absolute certainty.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Office Turnstiles
Don’t assume all optical turnstiles are equivalent. Insist on 1/4 inch tailgate detection, 60+ people per minute throughput, and intelligence that distinguishes humans from objects.
Don’t prioritize price over TCO. Cheap turnstiles generate false alarms requiring staff intervention. Calculate the 10-year total cost of ownership.
Avoid insufficient capacity. Low-throughput turnstiles (under 40 people per minute) may require twice as many lanes as high-performance systems.
Don’t ignore integration. Verify compatibility with your access control system before purchase.
Never overlook ADA compliance. Plan for the installation of appropriate wide lanes or gates.
Ready to Secure Your Office Building?
The most critical factor is choosing technology that works—not all turnstiles deliver equal performance.
Next Steps:
- Schedule a Security Assessment – Complimentary facility evaluation
- Visit Our New HQ Showroom – coming soon
- Request a Custom Quote – Tailored solution for your needs
- Download Technical Resources – BIM files, CAD drawings, specifications
Contact Smarter Security:
- Phone: 1.800.943.0043
- 24/7 Technical Support Available
- Corporate Headquarters: 9390 Research Blvd, Suite II-110, Austin, Texas 78759
This article was reviewed for accuracy by Executive VP of Smarter Security, Clayton Brown
Clayton Brown serves as Executive Vice President at Smarter Security, the leading provider of hand-crafted optical turnstiles, and is a co-founder of ReconaSense, the only FICAM-certified risk-adaptive physical access control solution (RAdPACS) using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. As a member of SIA’s Government Relations Committee and Data Privacy Board, Clayton proudly represents a next generation of practitioners dedicated to bringing data-driven ideas to existing physical security challenges.
