What’s a Mantrap?
A mantrap (sometimes called a security vestibule) is a small room with two interlocking doors:
- The outer door lets a person step in from a public or semi-public area.
- The inner door leads to a restricted space—such as a data center, cash vault, R&D lab, or airport operations zone.
Only one door can be unlocked at a time. This stops tailgaters, verifies credentials, and—for high-assurance sites—may even weigh or scan the person inside to ensure no extra objects (or people) slip through.
The Critical Design Feature: An Alarmed Emergency-Release Button
While the goal is to keep intruders out, a mantrap must never trap someone in danger. That’s why industry standards and fire codes require an emergency-exit button—sometimes called a “panic bar” or “break-glass release”—on the outer (public-side) door.
| Function | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Instant Egress | If a person inside suffers a medical event, panics, or there’s a fire, they can push the button and exit immediately. |
| Audible & Visual Alarm | The button triggers sirens, flashing lights, and alerts in the security console, so guards know the door was opened outside normal procedures. |
| Failsafe Mode | Power loss or fire-alarm activation automatically unlocks the exit to meet life-safety regulations (e.g., NFPA 101). |
How It Balances Two Priorities
- Life Safety – People must be able to leave quickly during emergencies.
- Security Assurance – Any unscheduled release is logged and alarms the security team for rapid follow-up.
Without the alarm, intruders could simply press the button and walk away undetected. Without the release, occupants might be trapped—creating liability and violating building codes.
Design Best Practices
- Clearly Mark the Button
- Use bright colors and signage: “PUSH FOR EMERGENCY EXIT – ALARM WILL SOUND.”
- Integrate With CCTV
- Cameras aimed at the mantrap record who pressed the button and what happened next.
- Regular Testing
- Include panic-button checks in monthly safety drills; verify alarms reach the monitoring station.
- Event Logging
- Security software should record time, user badge (if present), and video clip for every activation.
- Dual-Path Alerting
- Send notifications to both on-site guards and off-site monitoring in case the local console is unmanned.
Common Misconceptions
- “Let’s disable the alarm to avoid false alerts.”
Doing so defeats the security side of the balance; instead, tune sensors to reduce nuisance triggers. - “We can trust people not to misuse the button.”
Insider threats and prank pulls are real. The alarm ensures every press is investigated. - “CCTV coverage isn’t necessary.”
Video evidence shortens incident response and helps distinguish genuine emergencies from misuse.
Bottom Line
A mantrap protects sensitive areas by tightly controlling access, but human safety always comes first. An alarmed emergency-release button on the outer door provides a fast escape path and an immediate alert, striking the essential balance between keeping threats out and letting people out—safely—when it truly counts.
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