Access Control Installation at The Climbing Hangar Bristol
Who Are The Climbing Hangar?
The Climbing Hangar operates indoor climbing centres across the UK, providing spaces for people to climb, train and enjoy the sport.
At its Bristol site, the team was facing an access challenge. Unauthorised individuals were entering the building and using the facilities, creating a need for greater control over who could access the site.
However, security was only part of the requirement.
As a customer-facing leisure venue, The Climbing Hangar didn’t want its entrance to feel overly restrictive or imposing. The solution needed to provide effective gym access control while maintaining the welcoming and modern environment customers expect when they arrive.
UK Turnstiles was brought in to design and deliver an access control installation that could achieve both.
What Challenge Did The Climbing Hangar Face?
The main challenge was straightforward: people who weren’t authorised to use the facilities were gaining access to the site.
The Climbing Hangar therefore needed a more effective way of controlling individual entry into the building.
Simply creating a physical barrier wasn’t enough. The entrance is one of the first parts of the venue customers interact with, so installing large or imposing security equipment could solve one problem while creating another. The new system needed to prevent unauthorised entry while still allowing legitimate users to move through the entrance efficiently. It also needed to look like it belonged there.
This meant finding the right balance between security, pedestrian flow and aesthetics, rather than treating them as separate considerations.
What Were UK Turnstiles' Goals for This Project?
Our goal was to create a secure and controlled entrance without compromising the customer experience. The new system needed to provide clearly controlled lanes through which users could enter while integrating with the site’s access control technology.
At the same time, the installation needed to complement the surrounding environment and make effective use of the available entrance space.
To achieve this, we specified a three-lane UKT-29 Speed Gate system incorporating custom lanes, a bespoke floorplate, Nortech access control and Nedap QR code readers.
The result would give The Climbing Hangar greater control over who could use the facilities while maintaining the sleek and welcoming appearance required for a busy leisure venue.
Project Breakdown
Our team installed a three-lane UKT-29 Speed Gate system at the Bristol site.
Rather than relying on a completely standard configuration, the turnstile gates were designed around the requirements of the entrance, with custom lanes and a bespoke floorplate forming an important part of the installation.
This allowed the system to fit naturally within the available environment while creating three clearly defined points of entry.
The UKT-29s provided the physical entrance control, while the wider access control technology determined who could pass through them.
By bringing these elements together, the finished installation provides a secure entrance without creating the appearance of a heavy physical security barrier.
This was particularly important for The Climbing Hangar. The purpose of the security turnstiles is to prevent unwanted access, but for authorised customers arriving to use the facility, the entrance still needs to feel straightforward and welcoming.
Integrating Nortech Access Control and Nedap QR Readers
The UKT-29 gates were installed alongside Nortech access control and Nedap QR code readers. Combining the physical access control gates with the site’s access technology means entry can be managed at the point where each person passes through the system.
This was central to solving the original problem.
Rather than relying on an open entrance through which people could gain access to the facilities, the three controlled lanes create a clear point at which entry can be managed.
The Nedap QR code readers also form part of the completed system, giving users a straightforward way of interacting with the entrance control technology.
For a busy leisure facility, the user experience remains an important consideration. Security needs to prevent unwanted access without unnecessarily slowing down the people who are authorised to enter.
The combination of access control turnstiles and integrated access technology allowed us to address both requirements as part of one coordinated system.
Creating Security Without an Imposing Entrance
Security equipment doesn’t have to dominate an entrance to be effective.
That principle was particularly important on this project.
The Climbing Hangar wanted greater control over who was entering its Bristol site, but it didn’t want the solution to make customers feel as though they were entering a highly restricted environment.
The UKT-29 Speed Gates provided a strong fit for this requirement.
Their design allowed us to create a sleek three-lane entrance while still establishing a clear physical boundary between uncontrolled and controlled access.
The custom lanes and bespoke floorplate further allowed us to tailor the installation around the site rather than expecting the site to accommodate a standard configuration.
It’s a good example of why an access control installation should consider the wider environment as well as the security problem itself.
For leisure facilities in particular, effective entrance control needs to protect the business while remaining appropriate for the people who use the venue every day.
Completing the Installation in One Day
Careful preparation also allowed our engineers to complete the installation within a single day.
The three UKT-29 Speed Gates, custom floorplate and associated access control equipment were installed to create the new controlled entrance at the Bristol site.
Completing the work efficiently helped minimise disruption to The Climbing Hangar while giving the site a complete entrance control solution designed around its requirements.
A successful speed gate installation isn’t simply about getting equipment into position. The gates, floorplate, lanes and access control technology all need to work together as one system.
Products Used
- 3-lane UKT-29 Speed Gate system
- Custom-designed lanes
- Bespoke floorplate
- Nortech access control
- Nedap QR code readers
The Results
The Climbing Hangar Bristol now has a secure, controlled entrance designed to prevent unauthorised use of its facilities while maintaining the aesthetics of the venue.
The three-lane configuration provides clearly managed points of entry, while the integrated Nortech access control and Nedap QR readers support the site’s requirements for authorised access.
Custom lanes and a bespoke floorplate allowed the system to be tailored around the entrance, helping the finished installation feel like part of the environment rather than an addition to it.
Most importantly, the solution addresses the original challenge without compromising the experience of legitimate customers.
The result is an entrance that provides the security The Climbing Hangar needed while remaining sleek, modern and appropriate for a customer-facing leisure venue.
With The Climbing Hangar operating multiple locations across the UK, there is also potential for similar entrance control solutions to be considered at other sites, particularly those in busy city-centre locations.
Planning an Access Control Installation?
Unauthorised use can create a significant challenge for gyms, leisure facilities and other membership-based venues, but improving security doesn’t have to mean creating an imposing entrance.
At UK Turnstiles, our access control installers can design entrance solutions around the way your site actually operates, combining physical entrance control with integrated access technology.
From speed gate installation and bespoke floorplates to custom lane configurations and access control integration, we can tailor the system around the security, operational and aesthetic requirements of your building.
If you’re looking to improve control over who can access your facilities, get in touch with UK Turnstiles to discuss your site.