Protecting the perimeter
Physical security describes measures that prevent or deter attackers from accessing a facility or resource. It can be as simple as a locked door or as elaborate as multiple layers of armed guard posts.
In a well designed system there are four layers of physical security:
• Environmental design
• Mechanical and electronic access control
• Intrusion detection
• Video monitoring
The initial layer uses Environmental Design to deter threats. The most common examples are barbed wire, warning signs, fencing, concrete bollards and metal barriers.
The next layer is Mechanical and includes gates, doors and locks with key or electronic access.
The third layer is Intrusion Detection systems or alarms. Intrusion detection monitors for alarms or security breaches The last layer is Video Monitoring systems, CCTV systems for incident verification and historical analysis.
This article will focus on the third layer Intrusion Detection.
Intrusion detection systems monitor sites for security breaches. In the best examples they provide a preventative measure in addition to a response trigger.
Hard perimeter fencing has no onboard intelligence by itself so to increase the level of perimeter security a complimentary intruder detection system is needed to pre-warn of any perimeter breaches.
Infrared Barriers
Active Optical Infrared Barriers offer a compelling solution. Infrared Barriers are a familiar concept to most security professionals and have been used in Australia for the past 20 years.
The concept is simple, a transmitter unit and a receiver unit equipped with infrared beams. These are installed opposite each other along the distance to protect forming an imperceptible and invisible detection zone.
The protected zones can be up to 500 metre limited to 100 metre outdoors in dense fog conditions. Each infrared barrier has a thermostat controlled heater with each infrared cell. The heater prevents condensation in extreme weather conditions.
The beams are typically configured so breaking two adjacent beams or a single beam with a time delay response will cause an alarm. This allows the detection of a running and crawling intruders while allowing debris and birds to pass through the detection zone unnoticed.
When an intruder enters a protected zone an output is triggered for example an Alarm or CCTV. You are thus pre warned of the intrusion and can respond under the best conditions possible. In a properly designed system an alarm response force should be able to reach any intruder before they gain full site access. The new generation
With an ongoing commitment and focus on research and development French manufacturer Sorhea has continued infrared barrier evolution and a new generation of High security column based protection systems has now emerged.
The new generation of Perimeter Protection barriers are highly customizable can be configured locally at the barrier or system networked and configured remotely.
The adaptability and variety of the technology allows Barriers to comply with many specific project requirements via alarm management, column size, position and number of beams.
Intrinsically safe housings are available for petroleum refineries, chemical factories and other explosive products. IP67Marine rated housings are available for use at sea, costal properties and in ports.
Infrared barriers can range from small economical solutions to maximum security applications like Coliris II & Maxiris 2000.
Barriers are available in wireless and solar versions for temporary site protection or when electrical power is not available
Power of deterrence
The power of deterrence serves mainly to differentiate modular products from column-based products. It determines the psychological impact represented by a uniform column compared to that of modular products. In effect, with modular products, it is easy to determine the position of the infrared detection beams, making it easy to pass over or below the modules.With columnbased products it is impossible to locate the position of the infrared cells and the beams and thereby avoid them.
Detection performance
Detection performance is determined by the relationship between the height of the detection zone and the height of the corresponding column. The spacing between the two adjacent detection beams represents the height of detection. This height should never be greater than 40 cm, as beyond this it becomes easy for someone to slip between the two beams undetected.
Multiplying the beams increases the density of the infrared wall by bringing the beams closer together. Concentrating the cells increases the number of beams interrupted by the passage of an intruder. The shorter the distance between detection zones the greater the possibility for detection.
Ease of installation
Sorhea infrared Barriers are supplied fully pre-wired, calibrated and customized to project requirements. Onboard integrated alignment systems allow one person installation and calibration without additional equipment.
Good perimeter protection requires robust highly reliable products capable of operating outdoors in all atmospheric conditions. Sorhea infrared barriers are a highly cost effective way to add intelligence and enhance perimeter security applications.