A Guide to Perimeter Security for Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities

Keeping your business safe and secure requires implementing strong perimeter security. It’s the first defence against potential theft or threat of danger and helps to protect not only your assets but also your employees. Industrial and manufacturing facilities can be at risk due to the type of business they are in and the size of the site that needs to be protected. However, with proper security measures in place, you can feel at ease knowing your business is secure.

Here we’ll guide you through the necessary precautions and why they are essential to keep your manufacturing or industrial facility safe.

What is perimeter security?

Perimeter security is the measures taken to secure the surrounding areas of a site or property to defend against external threats from intruders. Perimeter security includes CCTV, gates, barriers, access control and turnstiles to block unwanted individuals from entering your premises without prior permission. It’s important to apply the right systems both internally and externally and use an experienced security company to install the right perimeter security. Fences and gates are a good start to ensure the safety of your site, but often, it’s important to implement more measures to create a safeguarded area. Consider what inventory and assets you have on-site that you would like to protect and how important these are to your business and profitability. Stock and equipment are vital to your business, but you should also consider the potential data breach that may occur if an intruder gains access to your site.

How do you secure a perimeter?

The success of your perimeter security depends on the decisions you make and what quality of security systems you choose to invest in. Seeking an experienced security provider will help you get the best system available and they will be able to advise you on the best course of action to protect your site. They can provide a site survey and the most up to date security options.

Things to consider:

-      What precautions have you already taken?

Consider what your site already has in place, do you already have a reliable CCTV system? Have you got intruder alarms installed?

-      What are the weak points?

Of the precautions you already have in place, think about what weak spots there may be. Are there gaps in your CCTV coverage? Does your fencing span the entire perimeter? There may be areas that are easy to climb over without being seen or there could be rips in your fencing that allow someone to gain entry unnoticed.

-      What entry points do you have?

You must be aware of all entry points on your site and what access control measures you have in place to monitor each person that comes onto the premises.

-      Draw up a plan for your perimeter security

Now you have a clear idea of what systems are already in place, it will be easier for you to plan ahead and decide the best solutions to make your site more secure.

Perimeter security solutions

There is a range of perimeter security options to choose from, so research what is available and decide what your business needs and what fits into your budget.

CCTV

Surveillance cameras offer a degree of security by working as a deterrent. If an intruder sees there are cameras installed, they will often change their mind in the fear of getting caught. Even if an intruder does still decide to enter, you will have footage of the individual or group who broke in. This is why it’s important to have a good quality system installed that won’t fail as you will need high-quality footage to hand to the police. The surveillance cameras can also work with the intruder alarms so that any motion caught on camera will set off an alarm or send an alert to you or your security team to indicate there is someone on site. If you already have CCTV installed, it’s possible to update your system to an upgraded version to give you more reliable security measures such as HD video and cloud storage.

Access control

Each access point on your site needs to be secured with an up to date access control system. The right system will help you have greater control over who enters your site and ensure only individuals with permission are able to do so. Speed lanes and turnstiles are a great option as they allow one person through at a time as long as they have the correct fob or can confirm their identity using smartphones, biometrics or key cards. Speed lanes allow employees to pass through quickly and efficiently so that people are not delayed during busy times such as the morning or afternoon rush and lunchtimes.

Car park barriers

Car park barriers and gates with proximity readers supply an effective entry solution to help monitor the traffic into your site as well as keeping a smooth flow. This also allows staff and visitors to enter without having to wait for somebody to open the gate. Only those with the correct permits will be allowed to enter, providing seamless access by emitting a signal to the reader which automatically opens the barrier. You could also choose manually operated barriers to ensure only the correct people are able to gain access. If you have a large site with a lot of traffic, it’s often worthwhile investing in barriers with automatic number plate recognition systems to ensure there is no delay when large numbers need to gain access to the car park. However, there are other options that would work well for smaller sites such as keypad entry, intercoms, remote transmitters or proximity readers.

Security gates

It’s worthwhile investing in commercial security gates that are designed to safeguard large scale premises. This also includes strong fencing and railings where needed. Professional security installation companies will not only ensure your perimeter is secure with gates and fencing, but also make your site look smart. If your property looks like it isn’t well maintained, it might attract the wrong kind of attention from people who think you’ll be an easy target. It gives them the indication that you not only have strong fencing and gates, but you also have further security measures in place around the rest of the perimeter.

Security shutter and grilles

If you have large entry points into your warehouse or industrial facility, it’s important to ensure it can be properly locked up and secured at the end of the day. Strong, durable security shutters can be used to protect commercial and industrial businesses. It’s important to find a reliable security company that can provide you with durable shutters and repair services if needed.

Alarm systems

Intruder detection and alarm systems are vital components to act as a deterrent and prevent intrusion. If an intruder sees signs for an alarm system they will likely change their mind and move on, knowing their risk of getting caught is higher. An alarm system will also alert you or a professional monitoring centre as quickly as possible. There are several different types of equipment that can be used within your alarm system from motion sensors, sensors on doors and windows and camera sensing equipment. Alarm systems will help minimise the risk of a security breach on your premises, particularly if combined with an array of other perimeter security measures.

Shuretech: Security solutions for your commercial business

Are you looking for effective perimeter security solutions for your manufacturing or industrial facility? Look no further than Shuretech. We provide a full range of security system solutions in Reading and the surrounding areas. Whether you need commercial gates, aluminium gates, shutters, grilles, automatic doors, turnstiles, speed lanes or CCTV and access control, we can do it all.

We are able to supply, install and maintain security products for commercial properties to ensure your assets, inventory, data and employees are protected. Safety on commercial premises is paramount and we believe we can supply the best possible security system to give you peace of mind. To learn more about our services, visit our website, or give us a call on 01344 307 350. A member of our team will be happy to help with any questions or queries you may have.