Wouldn't they be a cool item for SS13? Want to delay baddies (or goodies) from passing through a given airlock? Slap one of these guys on it, and they'll either have to beat the tar out of the clamp or have a wrench on-hand to disengage it. If they're stocked on weapons but not spare time or tools, they might just opt to destroy the airlock completely.
A pneumatic clamp would take a few seconds to set up, making it difficult to use in a chase unless you have a good head start. It is best used to fortify an area. Whether you're a hapless CMO barricading yourself in your office until help arrives or an evildoer who wants a few extra seconds warning in case security comes down at your door, a pneumatic clamp might be just what you need.
You need to weigh your decision to clamp carefully. You may prevent a foe from passing through, but you also might just be cutting off your escape route, giving you a nasty surprise if your foe can travel through vents or an environmental hazard arises. If you're a stealthy antag, you may just be leaving incriminating evidence behind.
Summary of How Pneumatic Clamps Function:
- They stop a given airlock from being opened until disengaged or destroyed.
- They can be disengaged with a wrench. This takes several seconds.
- They are sturdy, but can be broken with enough damage (more damage than a standard airlock).
- They can be printed at the security and engineering protolathes. Not common, but not so precious that they can't be used to lock down a department.