Say Goodbye to Tailgating With High Security Full Height Turnstiles
High Security Turnstiles are no longer just a “security gadget” at the door. For many sites – office towers, factories, logistics hubs, schools – they are the last physical line between a controlled area and the outside world. At Turboo, we often see the same situation: advanced cameras installed, software upgraded, badges issued to everyone… and then people quietly follow each other through the entrance without being checked. That simple habit has a name: tailgating.
Turboo designs full height High Security Turnstiles specifically to stop this behaviour while keeping daily use simple and comfortable. In this article, we’ll look at why tailgating is still such a big issue, how our technology helps you eliminate it, and what a modern, future-proof entrance can look like.
The Hidden Cost of Tailgating in Modern Facilities
On paper, most organizations already “have access control.” There are card readers, QR scanners, maybe even biometric terminals. But real life is messy. People hold the door for colleagues they don’t know. Guards are distracted during peak times. Visitors arrive in groups. Cameras record what happened, but they don’t physically block anyone.
Tailgating is what happens when one or more people walk in behind an authorized user without presenting their own credentials. In a low or medium security setup, it can be as simple as someone slipping behind another person through a waist-height barrier or a swing door. During morning rush hour, it’s almost impossible for a human guard to see and stop every attempt.
The risks are easy to underestimate:
•Unauthorized visitors can reach restricted production areas or data rooms with no trace in the log.
•Safety policies – like PPE-only zones – are difficult to enforce when you don’t know who actually entered.
•Internal theft and sabotage become harder to investigate because the access trail is incomplete.
•Compliance audits become painful when you can’t prove who was in a controlled area at a given time.
This is why many facility managers are upgrading from standard waist-height gates to full height High Security Turnstiles. A full height structure turns the entrance into a clearly defined passage for one person at a time. There is nothing to jump over, squeeze around, or “share” with the next person in line. When you add smart control logic, tailgating becomes difficult, visible, and risky for anyone who tries it.
How Turboo High Security Turnstiles Stop Tailgating
At Turboo, we build our full height High Security Turnstiles to handle real-world conditions: crowds at peak times, long operating hours, emergency events, and demanding environments such as industrial plants or transport hubs. The goal is simple: strong protection on the inside, simple use on the outside.
- Smart Mechanical Design for One-Person-Per-Passage
At the heart of every Turboo unit is a reliable mechanical core combined with intelligent control. Each rotation is meant for one person. When a user presents a valid card, code, or face, the system grants a single passage. If anyone tries to follow, the gate and controller work together to respond.
Key functions include:
•Anti-tailgating and anti-reverse movement – The turnstile monitors direction and rotation. If someone pushes the arms the wrong way or tries to follow too closely, the system can stop movement, trigger an alarm, or send a signal to your security platform.
•Automatic reset – After a valid credential is recognized, there is a set time window to pass. If the person does not go through, the turnstile automatically returns to its locked position. That stops users from “pre-opening” the gate for colleagues who arrive later.
•Infrared anti-clip protection – Infrared sensors keep an eye on the passage when the arms are moving or open. If they detect a body or object in a risky position, the system reacts to avoid clipping and injury. You get stronger protection without adding risk or stress for the people using the system.
•Flexible memory modes – Configure the reader in “memory” mode when you need to handle crowds: the turnstile queues several valid swipes and processes them one by one. Switch to “no memory” mode when you need maximum control, allowing only one person to pass per transaction in sensitive areas.
Together, these features mean Turboo High Security Turnstiles do more than just block people physically – they add logic, timing and monitoring to every passage. Tailgating becomes visible, controllable and, most importantly, preventable.
- Safe, Quiet and Easy to Use Every Day
Even the strongest security system fails if people hate using it. That’s why we care as much about daily experience as we do about blocking tailgaters.
Our full height turnstiles are engineered for stable, low-noise operation. The mechanical design reduces vibration and harsh sounds, which matters a lot in lobbies, corridors or residential entrances. Movement is smooth and predictable, so users feel safe and in control when passing through. This is especially important in environments where people may use the turnstile several times a day, such as office buildings, dormitories, schools, or hospitals.
Turboo High Security Turnstiles are also built to fit into your existing access ecosystem instead of forcing you to start from zero. They can:
•Work with IC and ID cards
•Support QR and barcode scanning, as well as face recognition solutions
•Be set up for two-way or one-way card reading, depending on your traffic flows
•Run in different operation modes, for example normally open or normally closed
In practice, this means you can upgrade the physical barrier without replacing the entire access control system. You keep your current software, badges and readers, but gain a much higher level of physical protection.
Designing Future-Proof Entrances with Turboo
When we collaborate with integrators and end users, we rarely talk only about gates. The real conversation is about building an entrance that is safe, compliant and easy to run. High Security Turnstiles sit at the centre of that design, but they also need to work together with fire safety, HR rules, and visitor management.
One crucial function is the ability to open automatically in a power-off state. In the event of a power cut or a fire alarm, the turnstile can unlock to create a free passage for evacuation and emergency services. That helps your site meet fire-fighting corridor requirements and gives safety officers confidence that nobody will be trapped behind a barrier when time is critical.
At the same time, Turboo turnstiles support multiple working modes so you can adapt behaviour to your schedule instead of the other way around. For example, you can configure:
•Normal office hours where the turnstile reads cards in both directions.
•Restricted periods where entry is controlled but exit is free, or the other way around.
•Special events where the gate is kept open under supervision to handle large flows.
Because the logic is defined in software, one well-chosen full height model can cover several scenarios across your site. You don’t need a different device for every door.
From a management point of view, Turboo’s solution helps you:
✅Reduce manual supervision at entrances and exits
✅Keep consistent, time-stamped access records for compliance needs
✅Enforce stricter access rules for valuable or hazardous areas
From a user point of view, nothing really changes – except it feels more organized. They tap a card, scan a code, or use face recognition, pass through the turnstile, and continue their routine. The whole process is smooth, quiet, and predictable.
If you are upgrading from simple gates or door readers, Turboo is ready to support you with a practical design and rollout plan. Our High Security Turnstiles give you robust physical protection, effective anti-tailgating, and a user-focused experience in one product family.
Call to action: Thinking about a smarter way to secure your entrances? Talk to Turboo today and learn how our high security full height turnstiles can transform your access control.
