Article for Passenger Terminal World 2006

Due to past events that we are all painfully aware of, airport security remains a focal point for the FAA. Policies and procedures are ever-changing to meet the dynamic needs of the air traveling community. Remember that burdensome ban on liquids implemented a short time ago? As you can imagine, one of the biggest challenges is to maintain a high degree of reliable security without creating a bottleneck for passengers.

Fortunately, rapidly evolving technology, as well as new applications for existing technology, is allowing effective new products to hit the market at a time when they couldn’t be needed more. The latest and most obvious equipment is that really cool explosive residue “Puffer” at the security checkpoints. Superior technology has enabled the detection of even the smallest trace amount of chemical – and all without human decision making..

Door Control Services, Inc. of Ben Wheeler, Texas has what they feel will be the next big breakthrough in high security technology for airports and beyond. The newly launched BLASI K21 PS Passenger Security Door as manufactured by BLASI Automatic Doors, and distributed in the United States by Door Control Services, Inc.

The K21 PS is a high security automatic 2-wing revolving door that allows a high pass-through rate for pedestrians in one direction only – gate side to land side, for example. The fact that it is a 2-wing security revolver, as opposed to a 3 or 4-wing (currently being used with limitations), is in itself, unique. However, there are far greater details that will merit an immediate acceptance in the airport community.

The K21 PS utilizes state-of-the-art microprocessor technology, coupled with highly accurate and reliable sensing systems that utilize over 50 concealed infrared and laser sensors for the detection of unauthorized objects or humans, as well as providing pedestrian safety.

The sensors are the informants of the system, and can detect even the smallest objects such as guns or knives. Unwanted objects or people can be detected as they try to pass from the non-secure side to the secure side, whether they are on the floor, hanging from a rotating door panel (wing), or trying to somehow pass through near the edge of the inside diameter (drum). For example, someone decides to toss a 9mm pistol into the revolver and let the door, as it rotates, push it to the secure side. A laser sensor network hovering over the floor surface, as well as impact sensors within the floor will, upon detection of the object, force the door to stop rotation, then reverse direction to prevent passage. As the door makes another attempt to rotate, the behavior will repeat itself until the problem is corrected. Additionally, the K21 can send auxiliary signals to alert or enable other systems, such as video surveillance and recording, audible or visual alerts to warn pedestrians in the doorway. This historically is a weak point of today’s airport security. The BLASI K21 PS not only can cause alarm, but completely stops the traffic flow, thus greatly reducing the threat. All of this can occur without TSA intervention. The BLASI microprocessed controller can make intelligent decisions based upon input from its many peripheral sensing devices.