Service counters and reception desks are the place where employees most frequently interact with the public. These can include lobby reception desks, customer service counters, cashier’s stations, information booths, and other similar public contact points. Within this article, we will use the term “service counter” to describe these public contact points, with the understanding that the information given can be equally applied to all similar locations.

Service counters play an important role in a facility’s overall physical security program. In many cases, the employees who work at service counters serve as the first line of defense against intruders entering the facility and often bear the brunt of abuse from angry or disgruntled people.

The way that a service counter is designed can determine how vulnerable the employees at these locations are to physical attack and the degree to which intruders can make their way further into the building. In many cases, service counters have been designed based strictly on operational efficiency or architectural appearance with little or no thought given to security. As a result, many service counters provide only a minimal amount of protection against physical attack.

There is a balancing act between maintaining an open, welcoming environment and providing good physical security. At one end of the spectrum, a completely open facility that offers no physical protection can be provided. This creates a welcoming environment but may place employees and other assets at

risk. At the other end of the spectrum, a highly-secured facility that offers excellent physical protection can be provided. This is good for security but may create an environment that seems unfriendly or unwelcoming.

The point on the security spectrum that any one facility should be at should be based on the level of security risk that the facility faces. Facilities with little or no security risk can generally get by with security measures at the lower end of the spectrum, while facilities with higher security risks generally need to deploy security measures at the higher end of the spectrum. The best way to determine where you should be at on the spectrum is to conduct a thorough Physical Security Assessment.

Four different design concepts for service counter design are presented below, each which provides a different grade of security. While these designs are conceptual in nature, the principles outlined can generally be applied to the service counters at any facility. Please note that it is sometimes appropriate to use different design concepts in different parts of a facility; for example, a cashier’s desk in a public lobby that handles cash could be designed differently from a receptionist’s desk in an interior area of the building.

Description of Security Grade 2

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Service counters designed at Security Grade 2 are similar to counters designed at Security Grade 1 except that pillars have been added above the counter-top. These pillars are installed to create defined service windows along the counter. In the drawing above, three service windows are provided. The pillars increase the effective height of the counter at locations other than where there are windows. This limits the locations where an intruder can climb over the counter and provides a psychological barrier that can serve to deter attackers.

The recommended minimum height for the top of the pillar is 5’ above the floor. The width of the service windows (dimension “A” in the drawing above) can vary depending on the grade of security desired. Wider windows (32” to 40”) provide a more open environment, while narrower windows (18” to 24”) provide better protection. The height of the pedestrian doors is increased to match the height of the top of the pillars, typically 5’ above the floor. This makes it much more difficult for an intruder to reach over the door to open it from the inside.

Options

• Doors can be added at each of the service windows. These doors can be closed and locked when the window is closed or to provide additional protection when a suspicious person is in the lobby.

• A lever guard can be added to the inside of each door to provide additional protection against a person reaching over the door.

Advantages

• Provides psychological barrier that can serve to deter attackers.

• Reduces number of places where an intruder can climb over the counter.

• Makes it much more difficult for an intruder to reach over a door and open it.

Disadvantages

• More expensive than Security Grade 1.

• Slightly less open and welcoming in appearance than Security Grade 1.

• Not bullet-resistant.

• Can still be compromised by a motivated intruder.