Article Summary
- Learn how fiberglass wall panels are professionally made and engineered to pass UL 752 testing to deliver cost-effective bullet resistance.
- Take an in-depth look at the UL 752 Levels to understand what level you need to protect your home, family, or business.
- Discover the long-term value that fiberglass wall panels can add to your property through real peace of mind, low maintenance, and reliable security.
If you’re looking for ballistic protection, fiberglass wall panels are a smart choice for both your safety and your budget. Fiberglass combines lightweight strength and protection with cost-effectiveness, which is perfect for your home security needs and is capable of stopping a range of bullets. In this article, we’ll cover everything from how fiberglass panels are constructed to how they are tested against a variety of ballistic threats.
What Are Fiberglass Wall Panels Made Of?
Fiberglass wall panels are made with professional woven roving fiberglass and resin compounds. These walls are ideal for residential applications such as safe rooms, as they’re generally less expensive and easier to install than other options. Manufactured for strength, these fiberglass wall panels are preferred over steel for many different reasons, depending on their use. These include:
- Lighter weight
- Easier to install (very similar to installing drywall)
- Non-conductive
- Aesthetics
- Does not block cellular signals like materials such as steel
Additionally, fiberglass panels for walls are different than traditional ballistic-grade panels. Fiberglass walls are built for more general applications and focus on both insulation and aesthetics, as well as safety. Fiberglass panels are designed only to stop the types of bullets for which they are properly tested. This helps lower costs while still protecting against a variety of safety risks involved with forced break-ins.
How Bullet Resistance is Rated (UL 752 Levels Explained)
The UL standard was developed to evaluate how bullet-resistant certain building components are, from bullet-resistant fiberglass panels to bullet-resistant steel and more. Bullet-resistance refers to how well a material can prevent a bullet from penetrating it. Shield Security Doors has all our bullet-resistant products tested against the standard to ensure that our products meet the uniform expectation for protection against ballistic threats.
In general, the test includes striking materials with bullets of a defined caliber and measures the level of penetration and shattering. The ratings are determined by the type of gun and the number of rounds that the material can withstand. We sell levels 3 and 8, defined as:
- UL 752 Level 3 Rated Fiberglass Wall Panels protect against handguns, ideal for most homeowners and residential properties.
- UL 752 Level 8 Rated Fiberglass Panels protect against rifles, used in situations such as business and government buildings where there is a higher risk of ballistic threats.
It’s essential to pick the right level of bullet resistance for the threats you will face. Not only will this simplify installation and make smart use of your security budget, but the right level of ballistic threat protection provides peace of mind that is irreplaceable. In the next section, we’ll dive deep into what UL 752 Listed Bullet and Blast Protection means and how materials are tested to ensure they meet this standard of protection.
Can Fiberglass Stop a Bullet? Here’s What the Tests Say
When you ask, “Can you make walls bulletproof?” what you should focus on is the level of protection you need. The number one purpose of bullet-resistance fiberglass panels for home security is to buy you and your family time in the case of an emergency. Bulletproofing techniques are designed to stop as much penetration as possible while also keeping other factors in mind, such as maintenance, overall cost, and the structural integrity of the materials.
While many security features are marketed as bulletproof, in truth, what fiberglass wall panels do is provide bullet-resistance. Even with the best design and manufacturing, bullet-resistant wall panels are the best that you can aim for. They provide a high level of protection from firearms for their overall cost.
Each type of bullet-resistant fiberglass panels for home security will be rated to stop different types of firearms and rounds. The testing process is rigorous to ensure that each material tested is effective at preventing bullets from penetrating. When testing for bullet-resistance, the general procedure is as follows:
- The product tested for bullet-resistance is shot with a particular type of gun and caliber of bullet (ex: Level 3 bullet-resistant fiberglass panels protect against handguns with .44 Magnum rounds.)
- The standard test involves firing 3 rounds into the material.
- The material is checked for the amount of penetration, shattering, the risk of ricochet and debris, and the ability to withstand all 3 rounds.
- The process is repeated for each level of security. Note that the levels are not cumulative – UL 752 level 3 fiberglass panels will not necessarily meet the qualifications for lower or higher levels.
Ballistic wall panels have a wide variety of applications, from safe rooms in residential properties to enhancing security in schools, banks, and high-end retail stores. When used in schools, for example, fiberglass ballistic walls can create a barrier of protection in the front entryway that is difficult to breach, providing valuable time in an emergency for first responders to arrive. No matter what you’re looking to protect, these wall panels provide excellent intrusion protection for their cost.
Benefits of Fiberglass Panels for Walls
The top-rated fiberglass bullet-resistant wall panels provide real long-term value to your property. The sense of security provided by these panels, combined with the lack of maintenance required, makes it a simple solution to many security risks. Whether you are worried about specific ballistic threats or want an extra layer of intrusion protection, fiberglass panels for interior walls are a budget-wise option.
When you choose fiberglass as your bullet-resistant material for walls, you gain a wide variety of other benefits, including resistance to forced entry, a higher resistance to fire, and moisture protection. From retrofitting your existing safe room with ballistic wall panels to looking for options for new construction, Shield Security Doors offers top-of-the-line fiberglass that protects you from threats. And just like all of Shield Security Door’s doors and windows, our fiberglass wall panels are proudly made in America.
Should You Choose Fiberglass for Bullet Resistance?
Overall, bullet-resistant fiberglass wall panels make an excellent choice for both home security and commercial applications. They are the most cost-effective and versatile product in the field, and properly rated reinforced fiberglass security panels provide a high level of protection against ballistic threats. For preventing tragedies, the time that our bullet-resistant wall panels for sale can buy your family to get to safety and contact authorities is priceless. When looking to use your security budget to its fullest potential, fiberglass bullet-resistant walls are one of the best long-term investments you can make.
At Shield Security Doors, we use made in America, top-rated fiberglass bullet-resistant wall panels to meet your unique needs for safety. We all face different threats depending on where we live, how we work, and what we’re protecting. Our team of experts is here to help guide you through the process of selecting the right bullet-resistant material for walls that meet your needs. Reach out today for a quote or to have your questions answered by our team of professionals.