Bulletproof Doesn’t Matter
Article Summary
- A window that is only bulletproof does not provide true security.
- Real security windows combine advanced engineering, forced entry resistance, and locking systems, because a bulletproof window isn’t going to stop any bullets when the shooter is already in your house.
As Americans, when we think of security doors, security windows, and safe rooms, the first thing that comes to mind is usually bulletproof. But that focus on ballistics overlooks the far greater risk and vulnerability most of us actually face: forced entry. How hard is it to actually break in through your door or window and gain access to your home?
Bulletproofing Stops a Bullet But Not The Shooter
Here’s an example we use often: we can build a great window that stops a 5.56 round from an AR-15, but if that window isn’t engineered to stop the shooter from breaking in, then it’s not going to stop any bullets once he’s inside your home.
Through the continuous laboratory testing we perform on our windows and glass doors, we’ve learned countless lessons about what makes them truly resistant to forced entry and how to stop an attacker (or teams of attackers). And because we always test our products as a complete system – not just individual components- we’ve gained incredible data on strengths and weaknesses and are constantly improving to ensure our windows and doors are the toughest on the market.
Safety Beyond the Glass
When it comes to security windows and glass doors, the weakness is rarely the glass itself. Strong glass is not that hard to find. What is more complicated is:
- How the glass is installed in the frame
- The overlaps and glass stops
- How the frame is anchored
- The type of lock
And countless other vulnerabilities that can make a bulletproof window capable of stopping a bullet but not able to stop a bad guy with a crowbar.
At Shield Security Doors, we use all American-made glass-clad polycarbonates which provide a significantly higher level of forced entry resistance than comparable European all-glass options (we’re sure about this, because we used the European P6B, P8B, BR4 and BR6 glass for over a decade). For example, our GCP1250 glass provides ULIII handgun bullet resistance as well as a 60- minute physical attack rating (WMFL Level I).
Window Frames and Installation
Window framing and installation are also critical links in the chain of forced entry resistance. A poorly designed frame with insufficient reinforcement and overlap between steel, wood, and glass results in a window that is vulnerable to attack by someone with tools and know-how.
Similarly, the way a window is installed is very important for how hard it is to break through. Our window frame design is an evolution of where our company started: doors and door frames. We’ve taken the lessons we learned from door testing and applied them to our window frames. And along the way, we’ve performed multiple rounds of forced entry testing on our security windows and glass doors and incorporated those lessons into making our windows and glass doors into the strongest and most secure American-made doors and windows.
Rethinking What Security Means
A true security window doesn’t simply mean it’s bulletproof. A bulletproof window will stop a bullet but might not stop anything else. In an era when burglaries and forced entry are the most common and widespread threat to homes, it’s important that we reorient our thinking away from equating bulletproof with true security. Because a bulletproof window isn’t going to stop any bullets when the shooter is already in your house.
Ready for windows and doors that keep attackers out, not just bullets? Get in touch with our team to learn more about your options!