A Y-12 Engineer loads a microwave furnace prior to a test melt. Y-12 is considered a world leader in microwave metal and ceramic processing technologies and has more than 50 patents and disclosures in the field of microwave research.
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Physical Security

Security design, Planning, Integration
[Image: Including physical security in facility design can increase performance and save you money.]

Including physical security in facility design can increase performance and save you money. Click image for larger view.

At Y‑12, physical security is a major component of the total protection system that secures our people, processes, equipment, manufactured parts, chemicals and the nation's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and other radiological materials.

What makes Y‑12 qualified to support you? Daily, our physical security professionals protect one of the world's most secure facilities — Y‑12, the Fort Knox of Uranium. Therefore, Y‑12's physical security professionals are among the world's best. They design solutions for new facilities and also design security into existing facilities.

Y‑12 has the skills and experience to assist any organization with physical security demands.

New Construction

Within the last 3 years, Y‑12 engineers planned and designed four new facilities within the Y‑12 National Security Complex. These efforts were coordinated with physical security professionals to support varying levels of security requirements — from protecting public interface operations to protecting highly enriched uranium.

Existing Facility Retrofit

Many of Y‑12's facilities were designed and built in the 1940s and 1950s. As the world threat has changed, so has Y‑12. Our physical security professionals are masters at responding to changing threats and implementing solutions while minimizing the effect on the site's operations and budget.

Technology Experts

Y‑12 does not endorse specific technologies. We offer innovative, customized solutions — many of which are low tech. However, when high‑tech solutions are required, our trained professionals are well prepared to analyze the solutions and assist in determining the best fit. Our highly skilled personnel provide expertise in:

  • physical barrier design;
  • access controls, including biometrics;
  • alarm monitoring;
  • protective force requirements;
  • protective lighting;
  • weapon system selection/deployment;
  • insider mitigation;
  • personnel, cargo and vehicle screening;
  • explosive detection;
  • perimeter fencing;
  • key and combination control;
  • intrusion detection systems (indoor and outdoor);
  • CCTV selection/deployment; and
  • communications systems.