THE ROLE OF BARRIERS IN A PHYSICAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

The role and importance of barriers in an effective physical protection system and the limited effectiveness of traditional barriers is often overlooked. This paper attempts to define the role and importance of barriers (delay) and discusses some examples of the surprisingly short penetra- tion times possible by properly equipped and determined adversaries. In addition, the on-going barrier evaluation and development program at Sandia Laboratories is briefly described with special emphasis on the Barrier Technology Handbook which documents the results of that program.