REKA Otomatik Yapı Teknolojileri
From residential site management to office buildings, and from factories to campuses, keeping track of who enters and leaves and when has become a basic security need in many buildings. Leading the solutions that meet this need are the access control system and turnstile applications. As REKA Automatic Building Technologies, we install access control and turnstile systems across North Cyprus and provide maintenance and repair support; in this article we explain which system is preferred for which type of building, the installation process and the points to consider.
What Is an Access Control and Turnstile System?
An access control system is the combination of hardware and software that regulates who can enter or leave a building or area, and when. It can work with different authentication methods such as card readers, fingerprint readers, PIN keypads or mobile apps. A turnstile is the mechanical barrier where this control is physically enforced, allowing only one person to pass at a time.
Compared with traditional keys or physical guard checks, an access control system offers a more consistent level of security and allows management to change access permissions centrally. For example, when an employee leaves the company, that person's card authorisation can be revoked instantly; this eliminates the security risk posed by lost or copied physical keys.
These two systems are usually used together: the access control system decides who may enter, and the turnstile physically enforces that decision. This both prevents unauthorised entry and makes it possible to keep a record of who entered and when.
Visitor Management and Record Keeping
Another important benefit of an access control system is the orderly management of visitor traffic. While card or biometric access is defined for permanent staff, temporary access permissions can be created for visitors. This way, reception or security staff can track who is being visited and at what time someone entered, without having to take notes manually.
Such a record system is also a valuable source of information when a retrospective review is needed after a security incident. For residential site management, seeing when visitor traffic to particular apartments increases can also be useful for planning common areas.
Which Buildings Are Access Control and Turnstiles Suitable For?
Access control and turnstile systems can be used in almost any type of building where security is a priority:
- Residential sites and apartment complexes, for controlled entry of residents and visitors
- Office buildings and business centres, to manage the flow of employees and visitors
- University campuses and educational institutions, to manage security across large areas
- Factories and production facilities, to keep a record of staff entries and exits
As REKA, we have also taken part in corporate and campus-scale projects in North Cyprus; we have worked on automation and access systems in large-scale facilities such as the METU Northern Cyprus Campus and the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces. This experience allows us to approach residential and corporate projects of all sizes with the same care.
Every project, from a small apartment site to a large campus, has different security needs. A single turnstile and a simple card system may be sufficient for a site with a small number of apartments, while a campus with multiple entrances may require a more comprehensive structure with different authorisation levels for different zones. That is why a project-specific assessment prevents installing a system that is either more or less than what is needed.
In corporate buildings, an access control system can also be linked to employee attendance tracking. The entry and exit times of staff passing through the card reader can be recorded automatically, which can reduce the need for a separate attendance system in HR processes. Of course, if this kind of use is planned, the requirement should be clarified from the outset during system installation.
Types of Turnstiles
Different turnstile types can be chosen depending on the scale and security needs of your business.
| Turnstile Type | Suitable Application | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Tripod turnstile | Office lobby, factory entrance | Compact design, quick installation |
| Full height turnstile | Residential site, open area, outdoor entrances | High level of physical security |
| Speed gate turnstile | Corporate buildings, campus entrances | Elegant look, smooth and fast passage |
Tip: If you are at a building entrance with heavy visitor traffic, choosing a speed gate instead of a tripod turnstile can reduce congestion at the entrance.
Turnstile selection should be compatible not only with the required security level but also with the building's architecture. For example, a speed gate that looks more aesthetically suitable may be preferred in an elegant office tower lobby, while a weather-resistant full height turnstile may make more sense at an outdoor residential site entrance.
What to Consider When Installing Access Control in North Cyprus
The climate and infrastructure conditions of North Cyprus highlight several points when choosing an access control system:
- Outdoor use: For turnstiles and card readers located outdoors, such as at site entrances, choosing materials resistant to sun and heat extends device life.
- Dust: At entrances next to main roads or in dusty areas, readers and sensors need regular cleaning.
- Coastal areas: In areas close to the coast such as Kyrenia (Girne) and Famagusta (Gazimağusa), salty air requires metal parts to be made of corrosion-resistant materials.
- Kıb-Tek power cuts: Planning whether the access control system stays safely open or closed during a power cut (fail-safe/fail-secure) should be clarified in advance for both security and access. You can check out our solutions for power cut scenarios.
Installation Process: From Site Survey to Handover
At REKA, we carry out access control and turnstile installation in the following steps:
- Free site survey: The number of entry points, daily passage intensity and security priority are assessed on site.
- System recommendation: The turnstile type and authentication method (card, fingerprint, PIN) suited to the scale of the building are determined.
- Integration plan: If needed, integration with barrier systems or existing camera infrastructure is planned.
- Installation: The turnstile body, readers and control panel are installed by our expert team.
- Testing and handover: The system is tested with different user scenarios, and management and user information is handed over to the relevant people.
For an overview of the installation process, you can visit our how it works page.
Maintenance and Warranty
Since access control and turnstile systems are in constant daily use, regular maintenance is very important. For the systems REKA installs: 3-year warranty; if periodic maintenance is carried out without interruption, the warranty can be extended to up to 5 years. Maintenance service is not free of charge, and the warranty does not cover maintenance costs.
Warning: If you notice the turnstile sticking, operating slowly or the card reader failing to detect cards, do not force the system; such symptoms may indicate a mechanical or electronic fault. The safest way is to contact our maintenance and repair service.
The safe checks that managers or security staff can carry out are limited: keeping the card reader surface clean and checking that there are no obstructing objects around the turnstile can help prevent problems in daily use.
Planning Access Control Together with Barriers
While turnstiles are preferred for pedestrian entrances, barrier systems are usually used for vehicle entrances. Especially in buildings with both pedestrian and vehicle traffic, such as residential sites and business centres, having these two systems work integrated with the same access control infrastructure makes it possible to manage both pedestrian and vehicle entry with a single card or app.
Such integrated solutions offer a practical advantage, especially for managements that want to manage security centrally in multi-entrance residential and campus projects. You can explore all our service options on our services page.
Another common need in residential site management is that the vehicle barrier and the pedestrian turnstile are used with different intensities at different times; for example, vehicle traffic may peak during morning working hours, while pedestrian entrances may become more active in the evening. By assessing these usage patterns together during the site survey, we make sure both systems operate in line with daily traffic.
In addition, managing barrier and turnstile systems through the same software infrastructure allows security staff to monitor both vehicle and pedestrian traffic from a single screen. This integrated approach significantly simplifies daily operations, especially on large, multi-entrance sites.
Conclusion: Get Professional Support for the Right Access Control System
The choice of access control and turnstile system varies depending on the scale of the building, the number of entrances, user intensity and security priorities. As REKA Automatic Building Technologies, with over 20 years of experience, we install access control and turnstile systems for residential sites, offices, campuses and factories in every region of North Cyprus - Nicosia (Lefkoşa), Kyrenia, Famagusta, Iskele, Güzelyurt and Lefke - and provide regular maintenance and 24/7 repair support.
If you would like to assess together which access control solution is most suitable for your building, you can contact us for a free site survey or request a quote directly. You can find our articles on other automation topics on our blog page.
Whether you are managing a new residential project or want to take the security of your existing building to the next level, an access control system planned to suit your needs delivers both security and ease of daily management. Whatever the scale of your project, we would be happy to assess your needs on site and offer the most suitable solution.
