Which type of turnstile is useful for controlling and counting pedestrian traffic, and can drop down in emergencies?

The waist-high turnstile is designed to control and count pedestrian traffic effectively while allowing for a degree of emergency response. It typically consists of a barrier that restricts access and ensures that individuals are allowed entry only when properly authorized, such as through the use of a card or a biometric scanner.

In emergencies, waist-high turnstiles can be designed to drop down or swing open, allowing for quick and unobstructed egress. This feature is crucial in situations where rapid evacuation is necessary, enhancing safety in environments like airports, corporate offices, or high-traffic public areas. Therefore, their dual functionality of managing pedestrian flow while providing emergency access makes waist-high turnstiles a practical choice in physical security settings.

Other choices, while also providing some level of access control, do not typically feature the ability to drop down in emergencies the way waist-high turnstiles do. For instance, full-height turnstiles, though they offer strong access control, are generally more rigid and do not easily facilitate emergency exits as effectively. Optical turnstiles focus on detection and can have diverse configurations but may lack the simpler mechanical function of dropping down quickly. Rotating turnstiles can control access but also tend to be less flexible in emergency situations.