The first incident occurred in June 2011 when “David Laffer shot and killed four people before walking out with thousands of prescription drugs.” In December 2011, a suspect, as well as an off-duty federal agent, were shot and killed after a robbery at a Seaford Pharmacy.

Schumer’s plan calls for “tighter security at small drug stores, better collaboration between local police and federal authorities and increasing the punishment for pharmacy robberies in order to stem the crisis.” He “recommended that pharmacies equip their shops with silent alarms, timed safes and bullet-proof glass that separate the customer from the pharmacist.”

The agent in charge advised pharmacy owners not to confront a robber as they are usually armed. They simply want to get in, get the drugs and get back out as quickly as possible.

The Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania convenience store hasn’t been robbed in five years and the owner attributes the store’s safe reputation to the booth protecting its clerks. Catina Nahodil, the store owner, said. “I think employers who have these care about their employees a lot.”

Angelina Donvito was charged with robbery, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Nahodil hopes the failed robbery will serve as a warning to other criminals to avoid robbing her store.

An article on MyModernMet.com featured one artist’s unique tribute to Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder who recently passed away. Michael Miller is known for his multi-layer sculptures that when viewed from a certain angle look more like a painting.

His most recent piece depicts the portrait of Steve Jobs featured on Apple.com. “It’s an expanded graphic portrait of Steve Jobs rendered with bulletproof glass that I found in a dumpster,” said Miller. The layers of bulletproof glass are suspended one piece in front of another and when viewed head on, it’s a striking representation of the late Jobs.

Photos Courtesy of MyModernMet.com

TRADITIONAL BULLET RESISTANT PLASTICS

Traditionally, “bullet proof glass” has been dominated by either monolithic acrylic or laminated polycarbonate. Although both plastics stop bullets, each does so in a very different fashion, and has a very different impact on the overall feel of an interior.

Most bullet proof installations rely heavily on hard, inch-thick acrylic. Skilled craftsman can cut, route, drill, and polish this material to fit any space and blend with any decor. When a bullet strikes acrylic, it pancakes against the hard face of the plastic, and transfers an enormous amount of force to the acrylic. Instead of breaking, the acrylic absorbs this force by cracking across its surface in a dense spider web, and throwing off many small chips and shards (called “spall”). This looks ugly–and those flying shards could hurt someone–but the action saps the bullet of its driving force, and keeps everyone behind the bullet proof glass safe.

Polycarbonate, on the other hand, is a more pliable bullet resistant plastic. It’s manufactured in thinner sheets (usually 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick), which are built up into thicker layers in an industrial lamination process. Polycarbonate barriers can offer comparable bullet-resistance to acrylic at almost half the thickness and weight. When a bullet strikes the face of a polycarbonate barrier, it pushes in, like a finger into Jell-o. The dense, pliable polycarbonate sucks the bullet in, locking it up inside the layered plastic. This combination of durability and pliability means that a polycarbonate window can endure an obscene amount of physical battery–either from assailants or the elements. Subsequently, polycarbonate carries a forced-entry rating, which acrylic–despite its strength–does not.

Bullet Resistant Acrylic from Total Security Solutions

But each of these materials has its downsides: the acrylic’s tendency to spall is . . . → Read More: LP1250 vs All-Polycarbonate vs. Monolithic Acrylic]]> In most cases business owners have many options when it comes to choosing a bullet resistant plastic. Most robberies in retail and bank settings are committed using handguns, and there are a variety of transparent ballistic plastics which can ably stop these smaller-caliber bullets. This gives business owners, architects, and designers latitude to focus on creating pleasant environments for workers, customers, guests, and staff.

TRADITIONAL BULLET RESISTANT PLASTICS

Traditionally, “bullet proof glass” has been dominated by either monolithic acrylic or laminated polycarbonate. Although both plastics stop bullets, each does so in a very different fashion, and has a very different impact on the overall feel of an interior.

Most bullet proof installations rely heavily on hard, inch-thick acrylic. Skilled craftsman can cut, route, drill, and polish this material to fit any space and blend with any decor. When a bullet strikes acrylic, it pancakes against the hard face of the plastic, and transfers an enormous amount of force to the acrylic. Instead of breaking, the acrylic absorbs this force by cracking across its surface in a dense spider web, and throwing off many small chips and shards (called “spall”). This looks ugly–and those flying shards could hurt someone–but the action saps the bullet of its driving force, and keeps everyone behind the bullet proof glass safe.

Polycarbonate, on the other hand, is a more pliable bullet resistant plastic. It’s manufactured in thinner sheets (usually 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick), which are built up into thicker layers in an industrial lamination process. Polycarbonate barriers can offer comparable bullet-resistance to acrylic at almost half the thickness and weight. When a bullet strikes the face of a polycarbonate barrier, it pushes in, like a finger into Jell-o. The dense, pliable polycarbonate sucks the bullet in, locking it up inside the layered plastic. This combination of durability and pliability means that a polycarbonate window can endure an obscene amount of physical battery–either from assailants or the elements. Subsequently, polycarbonate carries a forced-entry rating, which acrylic–despite its strength–does not.

Bullet Resistant Acrylic from Total Security Solutions

But each of these materials has its downsides: the acrylic’s tendency to spall is obviously dangerous, and its lack of forced-entry durability makes it unsuitable to some settings. Meanwhile the polycarbonate, owing to its density, doesn’t transmit light very well. While acrylic absorbs less than 10 percent of the light that strikes it–ideal for bright, business-like lobbies and transaction areas–polycarbonate absorbs more than 20 percent of the light passing through it, and tends to make interiors seem a little dim.

LP1250BR: THE BEST OF BOTH BULLET RESISTANT PLASTICS

Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards has found that offering a bullet resistant plastic that combines the qualities of acrylic and polycarbonate is a perfect fit for many of his clients. This product is LP1250BR: a one-inch acrylic core with 1/8-inch polycarbonate end caps on either side. With LP1250BR, designers get the excellent light-transmission inherent to acrylic, without having to worry about spalling. Additionally, although LP1250BR does not carry a forced-entry rating, professionals in the field agree that the polycarbonate caps laminated to either side of the monolithic acrylic give LP1250BR windows a forced-entry boost.

KEEPING PRIORITIES

More so than other players in the field, Total Security Solutions is dedicated to aesthetics. Nonetheless, Jim occasionally finds people falling a bit too much in love with how a sheet of acrylic or polycarbonate looks after its been shot. Certainly, it’s impressive to see that sheet of polycarbonate with a bullet caught in it like a fly in amber, or to marvel at the flurry of cracks and shards that totally obscure a sheet of monolithic acrylic, yet still stop the bullet–but these really are details. “Sure, it looks great after its been shot,” he shrugs, “but if the acrylic stops it and the polycarbonate stops it, you’re going to have to replace it either way; who cares how it looks?” What counts is its day-to-day performance, choosing a material that balances daily needs with worst-case-scenario security.

EXOTIC BALLISTIC GLASS

As the name implies, “one-way” (or “unidirectional”) ballistic glass stops bullets heading one way, but let’s them through the other. For example, a soldier at a checkpoint is protected from a spray of small-arms fire, but able to shoot back without leaving the safety of his post.

At first brush, this seems pretty counterintuitive. After all, most structural surfaces are basically symmetrical: a cinderblock wall stops a bullet regardless of which direction it’s headed, and flying through a windshield is just as uncomfortable if you’re coming or going. As Shawn Thomas explains it, spalling is what makes one-way glass’s counter-intuitive behavior possible.

Shawn Thomas works for Protective Armored Services, a world-class laminator producing all manner of protective transparencies for government, transportation, commercial, and residential applications. According to Thomas, the secret to making one-way glass is using layering and lamination to control how the material spalls and absorbs shock. In this way the glass forces bullets heading in one direction to waste significantly more energy than those headed the other way.

“It was through trial and error that we came up with these make-ups [that] absorb energy in one direction, but don’t going the other way . . . it’s the actual combination and layering of the glass that makes this possible.” For example, Thomas might start with an exterior layer of hard, brittle acrylic, and laminate that to several thin sheets of durable, bullet-resistant polycarbonate using adhesive sheets of incredibly thin polyurethane. “What the urethan does is it . . . → Read More: One-way Ballistic Glass]]> “Spalling” is the tendency for flecks or shards to come off of the surface of a material; it’s the bane of anyone working with protective surfaces, since many of these–from concrete to ballistic glass–tend to spall under impact, and those little fast moving flecks can be dangerous. When it comes to ballistic glass, a great deal of a laminator’s art is invested in combining materials and membranes in order to get the full advantage of the strength and clarity of materials like acrylic while minimizing spall. But there’s one situation where laminators can turn spalling to their advantage, and that’s “one-way” ballistic glass.

EXOTIC BALLISTIC GLASS

As the name implies, “one-way” (or “unidirectional”) ballistic glass stops bullets heading one way, but let’s them through the other. For example, a soldier at a checkpoint is protected from a spray of small-arms fire, but able to shoot back without leaving the safety of his post.

At first brush, this seems pretty counterintuitive. After all, most structural surfaces are basically symmetrical: a cinderblock wall stops a bullet regardless of which direction it’s headed, and flying through a windshield is just as uncomfortable if you’re coming or going. As Shawn Thomas explains it, spalling is what makes one-way glass’s counter-intuitive behavior possible.

Shawn Thomas works for Protective Armored Services, a world-class laminator producing all manner of protective transparencies for government, transportation, commercial, and residential applications. According to Thomas, the secret to making one-way glass is using layering and lamination to control how the material spalls and absorbs shock. In this way the glass forces bullets heading in one direction to waste significantly more energy than those headed the other way.

“It was through trial and error that we came up with these make-ups [that] absorb energy in one direction, but don’t going the other way . . . it’s the actual combination and layering of the glass that makes this possible.” For example, Thomas might start with an exterior layer of hard, brittle acrylic, and laminate that to several thin sheets of durable, bullet-resistant polycarbonate using adhesive sheets of incredibly thin polyurethane. “What the urethan does is it allows that laminate to absorb the bullet’s energy” by holding the exterior sheet of acrylic together when it is shot, rather than allowing shards to fly out of the bullet’s path. “If you have a piece of 3/8 [acrylic] in the front, that will flatten the bullet more, and the bullet will be wider, making it easier to absorb all that energy.”

Bullets are meant to cut through a surface like a skilled high-diver, whose sharp, smooth posture allows her to cut through the surface of the water and slice to the bottom of the deep end. Contrast this to a bellyflopping goof, who makes a big slapping splash, but can’t go deep into the water. When a bullet pancakes against the hard acrylic exterior layer, it’s like that bellyflopper: It makes a big messy splash on the surface but doesn’t have the energy to go anywhere. Having spent its energy on cracking through the acrylic, the bullet can easily be caught by the thin sheets of polycarbonate.

When the people behind the barrier return fire, their bullets do not have to contend with the hard acrylic: they pop through the softer polycarbonate and burst out of the acrylic, throwing off shards and emerging largely undeterred.

ONE-WAY BALLISTIC GLASS IN ACTION

The following video, prepared by Israeli ballistic glassmaker B.P. Developments, is a great introduction to one-way ballistic glass.

As you can see at the 1:35 mark (when the announcer rubs his hand along the interior surface of the shot glass) there has been absolutely no spalling on the secure side of the barrier. There are tons of sharp shards on the exterior of the window, but the inside is perfectly smooth, with no debris to harm those within the protected area. When they flip the glass and simulate security personal returning fire, you can see how smoothly the bullet passes through the glass. Note that, for security personal, the chipping and flaking actually work to their advantage, flying like shrapnel. The shattered acrylic might make it a little harder to draw a bead for an accurate shot, but the shards certainly contribute to the physical and psycho-emotional impact of the return fire.

Ford cited economic trouble as one possible explanation for August’s increase of robberies stating that at this point, the focus of the robberies has been on the money.

One particular Shell Food Mart was the target of two armed robberies in August. As a result, the store owner, Ahmed Tharani, is looking into bulletproof glass to protect himself from future robberies. Store owners are being advised to take precautions when transporting money to the bank and keep their businesses secure at night.

The first thing you need to know is that, in modern installations, the vast bulk of “bulletproof glass” is actually “bullet resistant plastic”–usually sheets of acrylic more-than one inch thick, or laminated stacks of polycarbonate, or combinations of the two. Lots of the “bulletproof glass” you’ll see getting shot online is tempered glass–basically no different from your living room windows or a car’s passenger windows (albeit thicker). While tempered glass has its place in the history of bullet-proof living, it hasn’t been on the cutting edge since Truman was in the Oval Office.

SHOOTING BULLETPROOF GLASS IN A BARREL

Here’s one example. At first brush, this seems like impressive security: 2.5 inches of “bulletproof glass” should offer Level 8 protection and stop any pistol fire, as well as shots from a deer rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, or bursts from an M16 or AK-47. But in this video, they demolish this bulletproof window with a .50-cal rifle and a couple standard hunting rifles.

We really shouldn’t be shocked that this “bulletproof glass” doesn’t hold up. For starters, .50 caliber rifles are relatively uncommon, remarkably high-powered guns. Mostly used in the military as sniper rifles, no consumer-grade bullet-resistant system will stop a .50-cal rifle bullet, which requires Level 10 bulletproof glass (usually three or more inches of polycarbonate plastic, which equates to almost half a foot of tempered glass).

Even granting that the .50-cal was never going to stop for 2.5 inches of tempered glass, this system still should be able to stop the rifle shots, shouldn’t it? Even after its been compromised by the .50 cal bullet? Certainly it should: Some commercial bulletproof systems provide Level 8 security with just under 2.5 inches of laminated glass. The key term here is laminated; the reason that the window pane in this video doesn’t stop those .30-cal bullets is because the glass isn’t properly laminated.

LAMINATION IS THE KEY TO BULLETPROOF GLASS

For comparison, check out . . . → Read More: That Ain’t Bulletproof Glass]]> If you’re looking for examples of what happens when bulletproof glass gets shot, a quick Google or YouTube search is likely to leave you more confused than when you started.

The first thing you need to know is that, in modern installations, the vast bulk of “bulletproof glass” is actually “bullet resistant plastic”–usually sheets of acrylic more-than one inch thick, or laminated stacks of polycarbonate, or combinations of the two. Lots of the “bulletproof glass” you’ll see getting shot online is tempered glass–basically no different from your living room windows or a car’s passenger windows (albeit thicker). While tempered glass has its place in the history of bullet-proof living, it hasn’t been on the cutting edge since Truman was in the Oval Office.

SHOOTING BULLETPROOF GLASS IN A BARREL

Here’s one example. At first brush, this seems like impressive security: 2.5 inches of “bulletproof glass” should offer Level 8 protection and stop any pistol fire, as well as shots from a deer rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, or bursts from an M16 or AK-47. But in this video, they demolish this bulletproof window with a .50-cal rifle and a couple standard hunting rifles.

We really shouldn’t be shocked that this “bulletproof glass” doesn’t hold up. For starters, .50 caliber rifles are relatively uncommon, remarkably high-powered guns. Mostly used in the military as sniper rifles, no consumer-grade bullet-resistant system will stop a .50-cal rifle bullet, which requires Level 10 bulletproof glass (usually three or more inches of polycarbonate plastic, which equates to almost half a foot of tempered glass).

Even granting that the .50-cal was never going to stop for 2.5 inches of tempered glass, this system still should be able to stop the rifle shots, shouldn’t it? Even after its been compromised by the .50 cal bullet? Certainly it should: Some commercial bulletproof systems provide Level 8 security with just under 2.5 inches of laminated glass. The key term here is laminated; the reason that the window pane in this video doesn’t stop those .30-cal bullets is because the glass isn’t properly laminated.

LAMINATION IS THE KEY TO BULLETPROOF GLASS

For comparison, check out this video of a piece of properly tested, laminated bullet-resistant tempered glass being shot by the weapon for which it is rated:

Not only are the bullets stopped, but there is also no spalling–no chips or flecks of glass pop off the back, where they might injure one of the people the bulletproof glass is designed to protect. That’s because these sheets of 3/8-inch tempered glass are interspersed with super-thin layers of polyurethane. During the manufacturing process these layers are stacked like a Dagwood sandwich, then pressed together and baked. The resulting piece of glass, although composed of layers, functions as a single sheet. When a bullet strikes the first surface, it breaks the glass, but the rubbery urethane holds the pieces in places, and acts like a trampoline, flexing without tearing. This eats up the bullet’s energy.

In the first video, it’s pretty clear that the “bulletproof glass” is just a stack of unlaminated glass. The bullet hits the first sheet, shatters it, and the shards fly out, making way for the bullet to keep driving forward. It’s little wonder that these shooters popped through the barrier with a hunting rifle. With two or three shots, they probably could have broken it with a pistol, even though just an inch or so of properly laminated glass can stop such a 9mm in its tracks.

BONUS: BULLETPROOF MARRIAGE COUNSELING

No word on either the type of ballistic glass nor the caliber of the rifle in this vintage clip, but we can all agree that’s one confident lady:

MANUFACTURING BULLET RESISTANT FIBERGLASS PANELS

The pultrusion machines used to produce bullet resistant fiberglass are twice the length of a city bus and look like a cross between a mechanical loom, an industrial pizza conveyor oven, and a modern newspaper printing press. As you’ll see in the video below, roving–in this case a bullet resistant cloth woven from synthetic para-aramid fibers (such as Kevlar)–is drawn through a resin bath, and then into one or more forming dies, which shape and bake the fiberglass panel. Finally, the fiberglass is cut to appropriate lengths.

THE PULTRUSION ADVANTAGE

Pultrusion produces the strongest possible bullet resistant fiberglass for two reasons: First, because the material is kept under constant tension during the manufacturing process, the fibers will be uniformly aligned, which is ideal for a protective composite. Secondly, the pultrusion method makes it easy to add in extra layers or strands of different fibers, and to keep each strand precisely positioned. The result is a “Kevlar” panel that can contain more than just bullet-stopping Kevlar. Fibers that increase the durability of the panel, or impart other safety, aesthetic, and structural characteristics, can easily be integrated into the process. All told, when compared to traditional “hand lay up” production methods, pultruded fiberglass has a much high per-yard fiber count, which translates into greater rigidity, strength, and durability.

Additionally, the pultrusion method places few artificial constraints on the thickness or length of the panels it can produce. For practical reasons, bullet resistant fiberglass panels are produced in standard 1/4-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch-thick sheets with regular dimensions, complying with the expectations of architects, builders, and shippers. But if you need a 2-inch thick sheet of fiberglass 1,000 feet long, it could be manufactured on existing equipment with minimum delay.

EFFICIENCY AND CONSISTENCY WITH BULLET RESISTANT FIBERGLASS

The fully automated pultrusion method . . . → Read More: Making Bullet Proof Fiberglass Panels]]> The bulk of most bullet resistant systems isn’t in gleaming ballistic glass and steel, but in the inconspicuous panels of bullet resistant fiberglass backing the stud walls and wooden counters. For both quality and convenience, Total Security Solutions exclusively uses American-manufactured pultruded fiberglass panels in their bullet resistant systems.

MANUFACTURING BULLET RESISTANT FIBERGLASS PANELS

The pultrusion machines used to produce bullet resistant fiberglass are twice the length of a city bus and look like a cross between a mechanical loom, an industrial pizza conveyor oven, and a modern newspaper printing press. As you’ll see in the video below, roving–in this case a bullet resistant cloth woven from synthetic para-aramid fibers (such as Kevlar)–is drawn through a resin bath, and then into one or more forming dies, which shape and bake the fiberglass panel. Finally, the fiberglass is cut to appropriate lengths.

THE PULTRUSION ADVANTAGE

Pultrusion produces the strongest possible bullet resistant fiberglass for two reasons: First, because the material is kept under constant tension during the manufacturing process, the fibers will be uniformly aligned, which is ideal for a protective composite. Secondly, the pultrusion method makes it easy to add in extra layers or strands of different fibers, and to keep each strand precisely positioned. The result is a “Kevlar” panel that can contain more than just bullet-stopping Kevlar. Fibers that increase the durability of the panel, or impart other safety, aesthetic, and structural characteristics, can easily be integrated into the process. All told, when compared to traditional “hand lay up” production methods, pultruded fiberglass has a much high per-yard fiber count, which translates into greater rigidity, strength, and durability.

Additionally, the pultrusion method places few artificial constraints on the thickness or length of the panels it can produce. For practical reasons, bullet resistant fiberglass panels are produced in standard 1/4-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch-thick sheets with regular dimensions, complying with the expectations of architects, builders, and shippers. But if you need a 2-inch thick sheet of fiberglass 1,000 feet long, it could be manufactured on existing equipment with minimum delay.

EFFICIENCY AND CONSISTENCY WITH BULLET RESISTANT FIBERGLASS

The fully automated pultrusion method removes error–a huge concern if you’re building bullet resistant systems. Barring outrageous circumstance, a manufacturer, installer, or consumer can be positive that the first few feet of bullet resistant fiberglass produced in a day is indistinguishable from the last, and will not suffer from the quality variation introduced by a worker whose newborn kept him up the night before.

Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards points out “it’s a lot more efficient than any other process for making fiberglass . . . these machines run 24 hours a day. Our manufacturer right now has a big project with the government, and they have two machines running day-in and day-out starting in March and ending July.”

This expensive precision equipment ironically reduces the end cost of the product. Traditional fiberglass manufacturing is an intensely hands-on procedure that takes more than a little finesse to master. This doesn’t just introduce variation in the final product, but also drives up the cost of fiberglass produced using hand lay up methods. The cost of a pultruded panel is almost entirely in raw materials, with only a small percentage going to cover labor, machine upkeep, and facilities overhead.

In 1964 Stephanie Kwolek, a research chemist at DuPont laboratories, had what looked like a bad batch of polymers. Nylon, the world’s first synthetic fiber, was just a few years old at the time, and chemists like Kwolek were eagerly searching for similar fibers for industrial use. In order to do this they produced batch after batch of liquid polymers, which were then forced through the tiny perforations of a spinneret machine, spun into fibers, and tested.

Kwolek’s batch should have been a clear, thick fluid–like nylon polymer–but instead was thin and cloudy. Most researchers would have assumed the batch was tainted, poured it out, and started over. Instead, Kwolek convinced the the spinneret operator to send it through anyway. Bullet proof Kevlar was born.

AN UNLIKELY MOTHER FOR BULLET PROOF KEVLAR

Kwolek was born in 1923, and spent her childhood tromping through the Pennsylvania woods with her father. By the 1940s Kwolek’s fascination with natural science had led to her studying chemistry at the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College (the “women’s college” of what is now Carnegie-Melon University). “I really wanted to study medicine,” she’s said in several interviews, “but I didn’t have enough money to enter medical school. I joined DuPont as a temporary measure” in the hopes of earning enough to pay for med school. As men returned from WWII, women were steadily displaced from technical fields. In a move to distinguish herself and keep her job, Kwolek dove into the relatively new field of synthetic polymers like nylon.

FROM TIRE BELTS TO BULLET PROOF KEVLAR

By the 1960s America was coming to grips with the early realization that oil was a scarce resource. Since harder tires roll more smoothly, and thus waste less fuel, DuPont tasked a team (including Kwolek) with finding a more rigid material to use in tire belts. Once it was spun into fibers, Kwolek’s inauspicious batch of thin, cloudy polymer didn’t just fit that bill, but far exceeded it. Kwolek had inadvertently discovered a whole new branch of synthetics: liquid crystalline polymers.

Nylon and . . . → Read More: Stephanie Kwolek : Mother of Kevlar]]>

Stephanie Kwolek, inventor of bullet proof Kevlar

In 1964 Stephanie Kwolek, a research chemist at DuPont laboratories, had what looked like a bad batch of polymers. Nylon, the world’s first synthetic fiber, was just a few years old at the time, and chemists like Kwolek were eagerly searching for similar fibers for industrial use. In order to do this they produced batch after batch of liquid polymers, which were then forced through the tiny perforations of a spinneret machine, spun into fibers, and tested.

Kwolek’s batch should have been a clear, thick fluid–like nylon polymer–but instead was thin and cloudy. Most researchers would have assumed the batch was tainted, poured it out, and started over. Instead, Kwolek convinced the the spinneret operator to send it through anyway. Bullet proof Kevlar was born.

AN UNLIKELY MOTHER FOR BULLET PROOF KEVLAR

Kwolek was born in 1923, and spent her childhood tromping through the Pennsylvania woods with her father. By the 1940s Kwolek’s fascination with natural science had led to her studying chemistry at the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College (the “women’s college” of what is now Carnegie-Melon University). “I really wanted to study medicine,” she’s said in several interviews, “but I didn’t have enough money to enter medical school. I joined DuPont as a temporary measure” in the hopes of earning enough to pay for med school. As men returned from WWII, women were steadily displaced from technical fields. In a move to distinguish herself and keep her job, Kwolek dove into the relatively new field of synthetic polymers like nylon.

FROM TIRE BELTS TO BULLET PROOF KEVLAR

By the 1960s America was coming to grips with the early realization that oil was a scarce resource. Since harder tires roll more smoothly, and thus waste less fuel, DuPont tasked a team (including Kwolek) with finding a more rigid material to use in tire belts. Once it was spun into fibers, Kwolek’s inauspicious batch of thin, cloudy polymer didn’t just fit that bill, but far exceeded it. Kwolek had inadvertently discovered a whole new branch of synthetics: liquid crystalline polymers.

Nylon and polyester–the two synthetic polymer fibers made at that time–needed to be heated in order to be spun into fiber. This made their flexible molecules even softer, like cooked spaghetti; the molecules tended to tangle and wind around each other willy-nilly during the process, which made for a highly flexible, but weak, fiber. Kwolek’s thinner liquid crystalline polymer could be spun cool, and its molecules were like stiff little rods instead of spaghetti. As the liquid crystalline polymer is concentrated and forced through the spinnerets, these molecules align, forming long, stiff strands of unbroken molecules. The resulting fiber isn’t just good enough to make terrific tire belts; it’s good enough to stop bullets.

BULLET PROOF KEVLAR IN SPACE

“I was very hesitant about telling anyone,” Kwolek told the editors of Inventing Modern America: From the Microwave to the Mouse, “I didn’t want to be embarrassed if someone had made a mistake.” But this fiber’s remarkable characteristics were consistent, batch after batch: It was stronger than steel at 1/5th the weight. Today Kwolek’s bulletproof fiber isn’t just used for ballistic vests and bullet resistant fiberglass panels, it even protects astronauts on the International Space Station:

The recent incident involved two stray bullets. “One bullet pierced a garage door window; the other lodged in a window. On the other side of the window: a lieutenant’s desk.” Focusing on the safety of the firefighters, the city immediately approved the installation of bulletproof glass.

STEEL FRAMES FOR BALLISTIC GLASS

If the ballistic glass is destined to be mounted in an existing drywall or masonry wall, then a frame fabricated from off-the-shelf 14-gauge milled steel can work well. These aren’t aesthetically impressive frames, but they get the job done, and will naturally offer Level 3 security, stopping multiple shots from 9mm, .44 Magnum, and .357 Magnum weapons. But if you want a sharper look, or need better security, you’ll need to move up to aluminum.

A TRUE LEVEL 3 FRAME FOR BALLISTIC GLASS

As we’ve discussed in earlier posts, Total Security Solutions brought the true Level 3 ballistic framing system to the industry. Most ballistic glass installers are content to take an off-the-shelf aluminum window frame from Home Depot and “pack” it by gluing narrow strips of bullet resistant fiberglass inside the frame. Such jerry-rigged arrangements can pass Level 3 certification tests, but their long-term durability–especially as that glue ages–isn’t established. Many experts in the field, including Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards, don’t trust it. “It might stop the first bullet,” Jim offers, “but it’s going to blow off after that.”

For this reason, Total Security Solutions has designed and manufactured their own framing system from the ground up, purpose-built to be inherently bullet proof. The Total Security Solutions TSS-BL 1.75 framing system is made from aluminum extruded through Total Security Solutions’s own custom-designed dies. The resulting framing member, when viewed in cross section (as you can see at the center of this image) has a hollow rectangular interior.

Level 3 ballistic glass frame

The front and rear face of these framing pieces are abnormally thick–3/8 of an inch of . . . → Read More: The Level 4 through Level 8 Ballistic Frame]]> Ballistic glass is heavy. Conventional sheets of ballistic glass weigh around eight pounds per square foot, with high-caliber installations approaching twenty pounds per square foot. Even a relatively simple installation–like a three-by-four showroom or waiting area window–needs a robust framing system to hold it in place. It’s a little silly to go to the trouble of installing bullet resistant panels and ballistic glass using a frame that couldn’t stop a .22.

STEEL FRAMES FOR BALLISTIC GLASS

If the ballistic glass is destined to be mounted in an existing drywall or masonry wall, then a frame fabricated from off-the-shelf 14-gauge milled steel can work well. These aren’t aesthetically impressive frames, but they get the job done, and will naturally offer Level 3 security, stopping multiple shots from 9mm, .44 Magnum, and .357 Magnum weapons. But if you want a sharper look, or need better security, you’ll need to move up to aluminum.

A TRUE LEVEL 3 FRAME FOR BALLISTIC GLASS

As we’ve discussed in earlier posts, Total Security Solutions brought the true Level 3 ballistic framing system to the industry. Most ballistic glass installers are content to take an off-the-shelf aluminum window frame from Home Depot and “pack” it by gluing narrow strips of bullet resistant fiberglass inside the frame. Such jerry-rigged arrangements can pass Level 3 certification tests, but their long-term durability–especially as that glue ages–isn’t established. Many experts in the field, including Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards, don’t trust it. “It might stop the first bullet,” Jim offers, “but it’s going to blow off after that.”

For this reason, Total Security Solutions has designed and manufactured their own framing system from the ground up, purpose-built to be inherently bullet proof. The Total Security Solutions TSS-BL 1.75 framing system is made from aluminum extruded through Total Security Solutions’s own custom-designed dies. The resulting framing member, when viewed in cross section (as you can see at the center of this image) has a hollow rectangular interior.

Level 3 ballistic glass frame

The front and rear face of these framing pieces are abnormally thick–3/8 of an inch of high-quality, specially tempered aluminum–and have been independently confirmed to stop at least three 9mm, .44 Magnum, or .357 Magnum bullets. In the worst case scenario–that a bullet somehow penetrates the front 3/8 of solid metal–it will be caught within the hollow interior, maintaining the structural integrity of the installation and stopping the bullet.

LEVEL 8 FRAMING FOR BALLISTIC GLASS

In the last year Total Security Solutions went back to the drawing board and, building off what they learned designing their popular True Level 3 TSS-BL 1.75 system, came up with an all new ballistic framing system capable of offering Level 4 through 8 security–the highest level of ballistic security on the commercial market. This TSS-BL 5.5 framing system won’t just stop many rounds from common street pistols, but will also weather bursts from Uzi sub machine guns, M16s, AK-47 assault rifles, high-powered hunting rifles, and even 12-gauge shotguns.
As you can see in the picture below, the cross section of this frame is slightly different from the True Level 3 system.

Level 4 thru 8 ballistic glass frame

Total Security Solutions has evolved their reliable extruded aluminum frame. They kept the 3/8 tempered aluminum faces used in the True Level 3 system, but the interior cross section of the Level 4 through 8 system is no longer rectangular. Instead, it’s shaped like an upper-case “I” lying on its side. Half-inch strips of bullet resistant fiberglass are snugly fitted into the perpendicular jots behind each face, and locked into place by the shape of the the frame. Subsequently, either face alone could stop a high-powered bullet, and the fiberglass can’t peel away from the face.
When paired with an appropriate ballistic glass, these advanced true-rated ballistic framing systems offer a level of security second to none.

ACRYLIC TELLER WINDOW TALK THRU

Bullet proof Talk Thru for Teller Window

The simplest and most flexible teller window talk thru system is a piece of bullet resistant acrylic bolted behind the talk hole in the teller window’s ballistic glass. This backer–fabricated from the same ballistic glass as the rest of the system–has a margin of at least two inches on all sides, assuring that an assailant cannot fire through the voice portal into the secured area. Such Natural Acrylic Talk Thru systems have many advantages: They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and provide a good balance of security with only a minor impact on clarity of communication. Although voices will be somewhat muffled, this hitch is mitigated by the fact that the transparent barrier lets tellers and customers maintain eye contact and see each others’ faces unobstructed.

Commonly available in Level 1 through 3 bullet resistance, such acrylic talk thru systems are custom fabricated for each installation. They can be built in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can even be modified to provide up to full Level 8 bullet resistant security.

STAINLESS STEEL TELLER WINDOW TALK THRUS

Natural Voice Transmission Talk through for Teller Windows

The Natural Acrylic Talk Thru system isn’t appropriate to noisy environments or an exterior teller window, as wind, rain, and pests can easily slide in around the backer. The stainless steel MK2 Talk Thru is a good entry level interior-exterior communication system for teller windows in high-traffic areas, or with some exposure to the elements. These units are fabricated by Total Security Solutions in their Fowlerville, MI facility from 1/4 stainless steel. A pair of six-inch-diameter perforated screens mount on either side of the teller window’s ballistic glass, and are secured . . . → Read More: Teller Window Walk Thru Systems]]> For most customers, the entire banking experience is at the teller window. Here staff chat with customers while accepting documents, updating files, managing internal paperwork, and dispensing currency–all while keeping the line moving at a swift clip. The pleasantness of the customer’s experience hinges not on the ballistic glass, steel currency tray, or the bullet-resistant counter, but the voice transmission system.

ACRYLIC TELLER WINDOW TALK THRU

Bullet proof Talk Thru for Teller Window

The simplest and most flexible teller window talk thru system is a piece of bullet resistant acrylic bolted behind the talk hole in the teller window’s ballistic glass. This backer–fabricated from the same ballistic glass as the rest of the system–has a margin of at least two inches on all sides, assuring that an assailant cannot fire through the voice portal into the secured area. Such Natural Acrylic Talk Thru systems have many advantages: They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and provide a good balance of security with only a minor impact on clarity of communication. Although voices will be somewhat muffled, this hitch is mitigated by the fact that the transparent barrier lets tellers and customers maintain eye contact and see each others’ faces unobstructed.

Commonly available in Level 1 through 3 bullet resistance, such acrylic talk thru systems are custom fabricated for each installation. They can be built in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can even be modified to provide up to full Level 8 bullet resistant security.

STAINLESS STEEL TELLER WINDOW TALK THRUS

Natural Voice Transmission Talk through for Teller Windows

The Natural Acrylic Talk Thru system isn’t appropriate to noisy environments or an exterior teller window, as wind, rain, and pests can easily slide in around the backer. The stainless steel MK2 Talk Thru is a good entry level interior-exterior communication system for teller windows in high-traffic areas, or with some exposure to the elements. These units are fabricated by Total Security Solutions in their Fowlerville, MI facility from 1/4 stainless steel. A pair of six-inch-diameter perforated screens mount on either side of the teller window’s ballistic glass, and are secured by integrated bolts. Interior and exterior rubber grommets seated against the ballistic transparency seal out the elements and provided added security if the unit should need to absorb an impact. The small profile of the MK2 Talk Thru makes for an unobtrusive, high-security unit offering exceptional voice clarity and Level 3 security at a great price.

ALL-WEATHER STAINLESS STEEL TELLER WINDOW TALK THRUS

Some teller windows can expect to absorb brutal weather, fully exposed to the searing summer sun or the wind and rain of tempestuous winters. In that case, builders who want to maintain the advantages of natural speech transmission will want a slightly heartier communication system, like the MK1 Talk Thru. As with the MK2, this is a 6” diameter talk thru security grating, but the MK1 is made from custom-cast stainless steel. The rings, which are offset on the front and back plate, are not flat, but extend at an angle into the center of the unit. These steel baffles thus both deflect bullets and prevent fragments (be they from a shattered bullet or a thrown beer bottle)from ever entering the teller area. This Level 3 bullet-resistant unit includes an integrated 1/4 perforated-stainless steel stand-off for added bullet-resistance, and a thin, free-floating internal plastic film that locks out the elements–even drafts–with little muffling of tellers’ or customers’ voices. As with the MK2, interior and exterior rubber gaskets ensure weatherability and maximum safety.

“Contractors have brought in ten huge glass plates, which weigh a half-ton each, to provide a secure barrier between visitors and the 250lb giant pandas.” The bulletproof glass install is part of a larger panda exhibit renovation that includes a swimming pool, cave, nursery and climbing area, as well as a glass walkway that surrounds the exhibit.

Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Evening News.

A masked man carrying an AK-47 assault rifle entered a Florida gas station convenience store just before 3:00am on July 23, but left empty-handed after discovering the clerk was safely protected behind bulletproof glass. No customers were harmed.

Police were able to catch a glimpse of his face, however, when he removed his mask as he walked out of the store.

Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards finds that these misconceptions fall into three categories: weight, cost, and durability.

BALLISTIC GLASS WEIGHT

Jim points out, “People really have no idea about the weight, and how significant it is.” Hearing that bulletproof glass is actually plastic (usually acrylic, polycarbonate, or a laminated combination of these and glass), folks tend to imagine something light, like a salad-bar sneeze guard. True ballistic glass is a dense high-quality thermoplastic at least eight times thicker than window glass; it starts at around 8 pounds per square foot–meaning that a smallish window will weigh more than 30 pounds by itself. Higher level ballistic glass–capable of stopping several shots from an assault rifle–can be more than 25 pounds per square foot. That can quickly become a very real structural concern, and is especially troublesome to companies that specializes in bullet-proof conversion for vehicles.

BALLISTIC GLASS COST

“And people have no idea about the cost,” Jim adds. Again, we associate “plastic” with something that’s cheap and common; most people are shocked to learn that a small, prefabricated ballistic glass transaction window costs around $900, and that custom ballistic systems for commercial banks or government buildings can easily top hundreds of thousands of dollars.

BALLISTIC GLASS DURABILITY

Finally, it’s common to think of “bullet proof” as being indestructibly durable in all situations–and thus suitable for any stressful environment, from robbery-prone liquor stores to extreme weather shelters. But that’s not the case; as mentioned before improper cleaning can badly mar an otherwise beautiful installation, and not all bullet resistant products are suitable for preventing forced entry (which exerts very different stresses on a material than a speeding bullet).

People even fundamentally misunderstand what a “bullet proof” rating means: “They see movies and think this . . . → Read More: Ballistic Glass Myths and Misconceptions]]> An endless supply of high-adrenaline summer blockbusters and dramatic prime-time cop shows has firmly established “bullet proof” as a synonym for “indestructible.” This might seem like great free publicity for ballistic glass companies and installers, but the public’s false sense that they know a lot about guns and bullet-resistant security is much more of a headache than a help.

Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards finds that these misconceptions fall into three categories: weight, cost, and durability.

BALLISTIC GLASS WEIGHT

Jim points out, “People really have no idea about the weight, and how significant it is.” Hearing that bulletproof glass is actually plastic (usually acrylic, polycarbonate, or a laminated combination of these and glass), folks tend to imagine something light, like a salad-bar sneeze guard. True ballistic glass is a dense high-quality thermoplastic at least eight times thicker than window glass; it starts at around 8 pounds per square foot–meaning that a smallish window will weigh more than 30 pounds by itself. Higher level ballistic glass–capable of stopping several shots from an assault rifle–can be more than 25 pounds per square foot. That can quickly become a very real structural concern, and is especially troublesome to companies that specializes in bullet-proof conversion for vehicles.

BALLISTIC GLASS COST

“And people have no idea about the cost,” Jim adds. Again, we associate “plastic” with something that’s cheap and common; most people are shocked to learn that a small, prefabricated ballistic glass transaction window costs around $900, and that custom ballistic systems for commercial banks or government buildings can easily top hundreds of thousands of dollars.

BALLISTIC GLASS DURABILITY

Finally, it’s common to think of “bullet proof” as being indestructibly durable in all situations–and thus suitable for any stressful environment, from robbery-prone liquor stores to extreme weather shelters. But that’s not the case; as mentioned before improper cleaning can badly mar an otherwise beautiful installation, and not all bullet resistant products are suitable for preventing forced entry (which exerts very different stresses on a material than a speeding bullet).

People even fundamentally misunderstand what a “bullet proof” rating means: “They see movies and think this material can stop hundreds of shots,” Jim sighs, “nothing can withstand that.” A UL rating of Level 3, for example, doesn’t mean a piece of plastic will stop an infinite number of shots from a .44 Magnum; it means that a third-party laboratory has independently verified that ballistic glass will stop a tight cluster of three shots form a .44 Magnum pistol (and, in practical terms, will probably stop as many as five or six shots, since few armed robbers enjoy the ideal shooting conditions of a materials testing laboratory).

Despite the occasional frustrations, Jim still finds that “it’s a good conversation starter at parties; you tell people you do bullet resistant glass work, and they clearly have all sorts of questions and ideas.”

While the idea of a $300 million yacht is beyond the reach of most people, it’s fun to see how the other half lives. A blog post on HauteLiving.com states that David Geffen, DreamWorks founder, recently purchased a yacht outfitted with “two helipads, a swimming pool, spa pool, and a lavish owner’s suite with 180-degree panoramic views and a private deck.”

If that weren’t enough, Russion billionaire Andrey Melnichenko’s yacht features “an all-white 2,583-square foot master suite encompassed by bulletproof glass, which can only be accessed through a silver-plated staircase with a fingerprint scanning security measure at the door.”

Scott Koenig, vice president of the church council, said, “We’re worried about the office manager in case someone comes in with a gun.”

This robbery was the second attempt in the last three years. The article states that churches tend to be “targets of burglars due to their open door policy and Sunday offerings.”

1) There is such a thing as “bullet proof glass” (in actuality, it’s “bullet resistant plastic,” usually acrylic, polycarbonate, or fiberglass), and

2) That “bullet proof glass” can shrug off a 9mm bullet, an RPG, raging seas, enraged dinosaurs, and an F3 tornado with equal ease.

This isn’t entirely irrational. Bullet resistant glass is one application of the “protective materials” that keep astronauts, fire fighters, soldiers, and scientists safe in the most inhospitable environments. For example, the storm-chasing “Tornado Intercept Vehicle” used by Sean Casey to film his popular television show Storm Chasers and the IMAX film Tornado Alley is armored with a number of materials familiar to bullet resistant glaziers. As TIV driver Marcus Gutierrez told a reporter with CBS11, the vehicle’s windows have been replaced with custom bullet proof glass, and the body itself is armored with layers of “Kevlar, aluminum, steel, rubber, polycarbonate, rubber, and then steel again. So, it’s a sandwich of absorbent . . . materials.”

BULLET PROOF GLASS HAS ITS LIMITS

It’s important to note that Casey’s TIV is a small, mobile target, not a building: A moving vehicle offers less of a profile to tornado-force winds; when struck by tornado-driven debris it absorbs much of the energy of that projectile by rocking, sliding, or rolling into a corn field. Hardening a Dodge Ram 3500 to survive a twister is a far cry from securing a building.

Nonetheless, manufacturers occasionally claim to offer “tornado-proof windows” made from layers of laminated tempered glass or glass-clad polycarbonate. While some polycarbonate products carry UL-verified ratings for forced entry, blasts, and even gale-force winds, these are forces an order of magnitude milder than a tornado. Read the fine print on one manufacturer’s “tornado-proof windows” and you’ll discover that these are tested with 2x4s going just 35 miles per hour. While this is indeed a mild gale-force wind, the lowest winds registered by the Fujita tornado scale are twice as fast.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency: “Testing indicated that glass windows . . . → Read More: Bullet Proof vs. Tornado Proof]]> Thanks to adrenaline-infused action films and an endless supply of urban myths, there is a general consensus that:

1) There is such a thing as “bullet proof glass” (in actuality, it’s “bullet resistant plastic,” usually acrylic, polycarbonate, or fiberglass), and

2) That “bullet proof glass” can shrug off a 9mm bullet, an RPG, raging seas, enraged dinosaurs, and an F3 tornado with equal ease.

This isn’t entirely irrational. Bullet resistant glass is one application of the “protective materials” that keep astronauts, fire fighters, soldiers, and scientists safe in the most inhospitable environments. For example, the storm-chasing “Tornado Intercept Vehicle” used by Sean Casey to film his popular television show Storm Chasers and the IMAX film Tornado Alley is armored with a number of materials familiar to bullet resistant glaziers. As TIV driver Marcus Gutierrez told a reporter with CBS11, the vehicle’s windows have been replaced with custom bullet proof glass, and the body itself is armored with layers of “Kevlar, aluminum, steel, rubber, polycarbonate, rubber, and then steel again. So, it’s a sandwich of absorbent . . . materials.”

BULLET PROOF GLASS HAS ITS LIMITS

It’s important to note that Casey’s TIV is a small, mobile target, not a building: A moving vehicle offers less of a profile to tornado-force winds; when struck by tornado-driven debris it absorbs much of the energy of that projectile by rocking, sliding, or rolling into a corn field. Hardening a Dodge Ram 3500 to survive a twister is a far cry from securing a building.

Nonetheless, manufacturers occasionally claim to offer “tornado-proof windows” made from layers of laminated tempered glass or glass-clad polycarbonate. While some polycarbonate products carry UL-verified ratings for forced entry, blasts, and even gale-force winds, these are forces an order of magnitude milder than a tornado. Read the fine print on one manufacturer’s “tornado-proof windows” and you’ll discover that these are tested with 2x4s going just 35 miles per hour. While this is indeed a mild gale-force wind, the lowest winds registered by the Fujita tornado scale are twice as fast.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency: “Testing indicated that glass windows in any configuration (even laminated or ‘bulletproof’ glass) were not acceptable for tornado shelters.” And FEMA wasn’t just making a guess; from their website:

The standard missile tested was a 15-pound, 2-foot by 4-foot piece of wood (about 12 feet long) traveling at 100 miles an hour horizontally and 67 miles an hour vertically. This is considered the representative missile for a tornado with wind speeds up to 250 miles an hour. In testing, this missile was propelled into typical building material at a 90-degree impact.

Glass-clad polycarbonate will stop a burst from an AK-47, but nothing can challenge the fury of storm-driven lumber.

In the following video you’ll see three slow-motion examples of glass being shot. The first sheet is standard plate glass (the glass used in most home windows), the second is tempered glass (used in automobile passenger windows and as part of some bullet proof systems), and the final piece is a sheet of bullet resistant acrylic (which the host refers to as “bullet proof glass.”)

SHOOTING PLATE GLASS

In terms of basic ballistics, firing a gun at a sheet of plate glass is very instructive. A 9mm bullet has a mass around 7.5 grams (about the same as a freshly minted penny and nickel; the U.S. Mint specifies that, at production, a nickel is 5 grams and a penny is 2.5 grams). These 7.5 grams of lead are moving at an average of 1,234 feet per second (i.e., 841 mph). Instead of being cast as a blob or ball, the lead is formed into a smooth cone designed to cut through a resisting fluid (in this case air) without being knocked off its path. When it comes into contact with a brittle, rigid surface–like glass–it transfers very little of its momentum to the surface, and instead pops through, like the little straw popping into a juice box.

This is precisely what we see in the video at around the 0:40 second mark (and repeated in slow-motion at 0:48). The glass doesn’t move at all, and the bullet passes straight through.

TEMPERED GLASS

Tempered glass is four or five times stronger than plate glass. Although the sheet used in the above video clearly is not bullet resistant glass, the earliest “bullet proof” windows were indeed made from stacks of laminated glass. Even today tempered glass is occasionally used in bullet resistant systems.

As you’ll see at 1:15 in the video (and at reduced speed at 1:29), tempered glass breaks very differently from plate glass. Where-as the light, fast bullet pops right . . . → Read More: How Bullet Resistant Glass Breaks]]> A modern bullet is a very small, very light, very smooth thing moving very fast. When it strikes a barrier, that barrier must absorb the bullet’s momentum or the bullet will crack straight through.

In the following video you’ll see three slow-motion examples of glass being shot. The first sheet is standard plate glass (the glass used in most home windows), the second is tempered glass (used in automobile passenger windows and as part of some bullet proof systems), and the final piece is a sheet of bullet resistant acrylic (which the host refers to as “bullet proof glass.”)

SHOOTING PLATE GLASS

In terms of basic ballistics, firing a gun at a sheet of plate glass is very instructive. A 9mm bullet has a mass around 7.5 grams (about the same as a freshly minted penny and nickel; the U.S. Mint specifies that, at production, a nickel is 5 grams and a penny is 2.5 grams). These 7.5 grams of lead are moving at an average of 1,234 feet per second (i.e., 841 mph). Instead of being cast as a blob or ball, the lead is formed into a smooth cone designed to cut through a resisting fluid (in this case air) without being knocked off its path. When it comes into contact with a brittle, rigid surface–like glass–it transfers very little of its momentum to the surface, and instead pops through, like the little straw popping into a juice box.

This is precisely what we see in the video at around the 0:40 second mark (and repeated in slow-motion at 0:48). The glass doesn’t move at all, and the bullet passes straight through.

TEMPERED GLASS

Tempered glass is four or five times stronger than plate glass. Although the sheet used in the above video clearly is not bullet resistant glass, the earliest “bullet proof” windows were indeed made from stacks of laminated glass. Even today tempered glass is occasionally used in bullet resistant systems.

As you’ll see at 1:15 in the video (and at reduced speed at 1:29), tempered glass breaks very differently from plate glass. Where-as the light, fast bullet pops right through plate glass, it utterly destroys the tempered glass, reducing it to many small cubes. This is by design: Plate glass tends to break into large dagger-like shards. In a storm, accident, or explosion, these can be more dangerous than whatever caused the window to break in the first place. Conversely, tempered glass is less likely to break to begin with, and when it does, the numerous little glass nuggets of shattered tempered glass are unlikely to cause loss of life or limb. Owing to these two characteristics–strength and shattering to particles–tempered glass is also called “safety glass,” and often used in public entryways, display windows, exterior windows on tall buildings, and in the passenger windows of cars.

THE PHYSICS OF TEMPERED BULLET RESISTANT GLASS

There is some neat physics behind this. Tempered glass begins its life as standard plate glass, which is cut to size (it can’t be cut after tempering), then precisely heated and cooled in a specialized annealing furnace. This forces the surface of the glass to cool faster, compressing the still-molten interior. As the interior cools, it pulls against this hardened compressive envelope. This balance of compressive (squeezing) and tensile (pulling) forces makes the glass very strong. But when the surface is broken, these stresses are knocked out of balance, the crystalline structure collapses, and the glass crumbles. (For a little historical tempered-glass trivia, check out this earlier blog post about Prince Rupert’s Drops).

SHOOTING TEMPERED GLASS AT ONE MILLION FRAMES PER SECOND

These balanced stresses mean that a sheet of tempered glass eats up more of a bullet’s momentum upon impact. Early WWII-era bullet resistant glass was made by laminating together layers of tempered glass; a bullet might shatter the first couple layers of this “glass sandwich,” but that shattering would slow the bullet enough to keep it from cracking through the barrier.

Here is some really striking one million frame-per-second super-slow-mo footage of bullets striking tempered glass.

SHOOTING BULLET RESISTANT ACRYLIC

At the 1:52 mark we finally see a legitimate piece of bullet resistant glass get shot. This is sheet of monolithic acrylic (the shot is repeated in slow-mo at 2:16). You’ll note that this true bullet resistant glass behaves very differently from either of the other kinds of glass. The thick, solid acrylic stops the bullet in its tracks. Sharp-eyed viewers will see the acrylic jump back a little: since the bullet slams into the acrylic–rather than popping through–the bullet resistant glass is obliged to absorb all of the bullet’s forward momentum. Because the shot is from such close range and dead on, the bullet doesn’t even ricochet. Instead, its energy is converted to heat by the impact, and the bullet melts. The boiling lead then spatters away as tiny droplets, which splash across the acrylic, marring its surface. (In this section of the one-million frame-per-second super-slow-mo footage you can see bullets actually boil and shatter as they hit lead blocks).

SHOOTING BULLET RESISTANT POLYCARBONATE

The other popular bullet resistant glass, vital to higher-level bullet proof systems, is polycarbonate. In this video, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of Mythbusters explore a number of common “bullet proof” myths (e.g., Can a deck of cards stop a .22? What about a lighter? A Bible?), including their own perception that the quarter-inch polycarbonate they use in their blast shields is bullet proof (spoiler alert: it isn’t).

Of most interest to us is the last half of the video, where they shoot at an actual Level 3 bullet resistant polycarbonate box. This starts around the 5:00 mark. At 5:35 they’ve just shot the box with a .357 Magnum. Rather than boiling away or ricocheting, the bullet is encased in the thermoplastic. This is because the polycarbonate is significantly softer than acrylic, allowing the bullet–which is designed to penetrate–to push underneath the surface of the polycarbonate. The polycarbonate behaves like a very thick fluid offering a tremendous amount of resistance, and successfully sapping the bullet of its energy.

Having stopped a .22, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum, the Mythbusters pit their Level 3 bullet resistant glass box against a .30-06 at 6:32. Level 3 bullet resistant glass is rated to resist several shots from a 9mm, .357, or .44–and can often even stop bullets from an M16 or AK-47–but you need Level 4 glass to stop a high powered rifle. And as you see in the video, that .30-06 bullet pops through the Level 3 polycarbonate just as easily as the .38 popped through the plate glass in the first video. Host Jamie Hyneman marvels that the box “didn’t even jump.” This indicates that almost none of the bullet’s momentum was transferred to the bullet resistant box. Because the box couldn’t absorb the forward energy, the bullet cracked straight through. Compare this to the .44 shot at 6:08: The box easily caught the bullet, sliding back to absorb the bullet’s momentum.

Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards–despite being ahead of the pack when it comes to fabricating stainless steel–isn’t enthusiastic about these doors.  “There’s nothing aesthetic about them,” he points out, “In certain settings, certain applications, it’s a fine door, but it’s more of an industrial look. I’m not a huge fan of them.” Having installed many bullet proof systems in retail banking locations, Jim favors a more welcoming bullet resistant door, both at the entrance, and for any staff-only doors customers might see. “I like the look of a good wood door, or an aluminum and acrylic door, with all that glass.”  Such acrylic doors offer the customer a clear view, and the sense that the business is welcoming her in, not worrying about locking attackers out.

THE ATTRACTION OF THE STEEL BULLET RESISTANT DOOR

It’s not superior performance that has brought the steel door to prominence, it’s cost.  Most customers are looking for Level 1 through 3 security, which can be provided by a wide range of materials.  Any quality bullet resistant door–regardless of material or appearance–will include the same heavy-duty continuous hinge, Schlage lock sets (or better), anti-jimmy plates, electric strike-plate (the “buzz thru” mechanism), and ballistically rated jambs, lintel, and sill.

The metal sheets on the face of a steel bullet resistant door provide its bullet-stopping power.  This steel is somewhat cheaper than bullet resistant fiberglass panels (used to make wooden doors bullet resistant), and is also a more forgiving material to work with, demanding less expertise than, say, building a pretty birch security door.  When it comes right down to it, the steel bullet resistant door is a higher-margin item for bullet proof suppliers, and so many might be tempted to sing its praises a bit more loudly.

MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTIONS

There is absolutely no reason that a Level 3 bullet resistant door . . . → Read More: Bullet Resistant Doors]]> Bullet proof installations are increasingly dominated by solid steel doors.  While this may be acceptable in some locations–an exterior door in the rear of a building, for example–it’s still a foreboding sight for the customer to glimpse behind the counter, and a downright threatening front door.

Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards–despite being ahead of the pack when it comes to fabricating stainless steel–isn’t enthusiastic about these doors.  “There’s nothing aesthetic about them,” he points out, “In certain settings, certain applications, it’s a fine door, but it’s more of an industrial look. I’m not a huge fan of them.” Having installed many bullet proof systems in retail banking locations, Jim favors a more welcoming bullet resistant door, both at the entrance, and for any staff-only doors customers might see. “I like the look of a good wood door, or an aluminum and acrylic door, with all that glass.”  Such acrylic doors offer the customer a clear view, and the sense that the business is welcoming her in, not worrying about locking attackers out.

THE ATTRACTION OF THE STEEL BULLET RESISTANT DOOR

It’s not superior performance that has brought the steel door to prominence, it’s cost.  Most customers are looking for Level 1 through 3 security, which can be provided by a wide range of materials.  Any quality bullet resistant door–regardless of material or appearance–will include the same heavy-duty continuous hinge, Schlage lock sets (or better), anti-jimmy plates, electric strike-plate (the “buzz thru” mechanism), and ballistically rated jambs, lintel, and sill.

The metal sheets on the face of a steel bullet resistant door provide its bullet-stopping power.  This steel is somewhat cheaper than bullet resistant fiberglass panels (used to make wooden doors bullet resistant), and is also a more forgiving material to work with, demanding less expertise than, say, building a pretty birch security door.  When it comes right down to it, the steel bullet resistant door is a higher-margin item for bullet proof suppliers, and so many might be tempted to sing its praises a bit more loudly.

MORE ATTRACTIVE OPTIONS

There is absolutely no reason that a Level 3 bullet resistant door needs to look any different from any door in your home.  Large windows, raised cherry panels, birch veneer; all can be made to stop a bullet without making a business look like a maximum security prison. These bullet resistant doors derive their stopping power not from the surface wood, but from layers of bullet resistant fiberglass panels sandwiched between the wood veneers.  Such doors can even include integrated transaction windows with built-in steel, wood, Corian, or quartz countertops.   The expertise and craftsmanship that goes into these attractive doors epitomizes the Total Security Solutions approach to bullet proof security: balancing function, aesthetics, and value.

An Associated Press article reports that “armed robberies at pharmacies rose 81 percent between 2006 and 2010, from 380 to 686, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says.” There have been several fatal robberies throughout the U.S. as individuals resort to theft to get their hands on prescription painkillers.

One Montana pharmacy was protected by the bulletproof drive-through window as a woman attempted to smash through the glass with a crowbar and break-in. Others have equipped their workers with wireless “panic buttons” that alert the police. As the occurrence of robberies continues to increase, more pharmacies are considering bullet proof windows to protect their employees.

The bus will be parked along the fence to the lion exhibit providing zoo visitors a safari-like experience allowing them to come “face to face with the king of the jungle.”

Watch the 40/29 TV interview of how the Fort Smith police are replacing security guards with bullet proof glass.

Emergency rooms in hospitals nationwide are experiencing an increase in violence. According to the Miami Valley Hospital administrator, “[ . . . ] people come to emergency rooms under stressful situations and included some who are intoxicated, victims of assault or are in police custody.”

As a result, more hospitals are taking precautions to protect their staff and patients. The article states, “[ . . . ] staffers receive special training to defuse heated situations and there is bullet proof glass in emergency room nursing areas.”

According to NPR‘s report, “Inside an 8-foot-tall bulletproof glass cage, the gladiators buzz, crash and generally demolish each other. The bulletproof glass is an important feature — chunks of metal fly in all directions as students drive the robots using remote control.”

The purpose of the demolition is noble: Getting kids geeked about high tech manufacturing.  According to the organizers, as reported by NPR, “Manufacturing’s not a smokestack industry anymore,” says National Tooling and Machining Association Chairman Grady Cope. “What we do is cool.”

We agree: Manufacturing is cool.

A story today from the Palladium Item in Richmond is a reminder that putting off an investment in bulletproof glass can be costly.

A Shell gas station was robbed for the second time this week.  According to the gas station owner, “the suspect got more than $1,500 in the first robbery April 18. On Monday, the suspect was able to get more than $3,000.”

The article states that, “The owner had videos of the robberies and provided them to police, who used the footage to identify… a suspect. The station manager also said he was planning to install bulletproof glass around the registers so his employees and the registers would be protected from robbers.”

Even 10 or 15 years ago bullet proof glass was still a relatively rare sight, reserved for high-profile targets and high-risk areas. But in the last decade–especially following the September 11 terrorists attacks–the market has shifted: Homeland Security money has funded the installation of bullet proof systems in local government buildings. Customers and clients have grown to expect to see bullet proof glass in many business settings. Subsequently, bullet proof companies have themselves changed, expanding and deepening their product lines to accommodate new needs.

These new markets are extremely diverse, and have come to include pain clinics, medical cannabis dispensaries, college campuses, quick-serve restaurants, dentists’ offices, lawyers’ offices, utility payment offices, emergency rooms, hospitals, and even libraries.

Perhaps this seems like overkill for your local library branch, but the central libraries in large cities now offer a broad range of services in addition to lending out books, music, and movies. These large new facilities function more like community centers, where coaches and teachers offer classes, tutoring, and other academic, language, employment, and counseling services. Patrons regularly pay for copies, computer use, and overdue items at the circulation desk. None of these bring in obscene amounts of money, but a conspicuous, steady flow of small bills can attract someone desperate for quick cash. Additionally, some libraries use bullet proof glass to protect especially valuable portions of their collections, such as the the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, whose rare book room includes first-editions by Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, and a 17th century copy of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius (i.e., The Starry Messenger). Total Security Solutions secured the transaction area of a Southern California library situated in a high-risk area. They also replaced the . . . → Read More: Bullet Proof Glass: Going Beyond Banks]]> When you think of bullet proof glass, you likely picture a bank. According to Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards, “Even people within the industry have gotten too wrapped up in bank work.” Small clients are ignored as companies pursue relationships with Chase or Bank of America, even though such friendships–ruled by the bottom line–are notoriously fickle.

BULLET PROOF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS WORLD

Even 10 or 15 years ago bullet proof glass was still a relatively rare sight, reserved for high-profile targets and high-risk areas. But in the last decade–especially following the September 11 terrorists attacks–the market has shifted: Homeland Security money has funded the installation of bullet proof systems in local government buildings. Customers and clients have grown to expect to see bullet proof glass in many business settings. Subsequently, bullet proof companies have themselves changed, expanding and deepening their product lines to accommodate new needs.

These new markets are extremely diverse, and have come to include pain clinics, medical cannabis dispensaries, college campuses, quick-serve restaurants, dentists’ offices, lawyers’ offices, utility payment offices, emergency rooms, hospitals, and even libraries.

BULLET PROOF GLASS AT THE LIBRARY

Perhaps this seems like overkill for your local library branch, but the central libraries in large cities now offer a broad range of services in addition to lending out books, music, and movies. These large new facilities function more like community centers, where coaches and teachers offer classes, tutoring, and other academic, language, employment, and counseling services. Patrons regularly pay for copies, computer use, and overdue items at the circulation desk. None of these bring in obscene amounts of money, but a conspicuous, steady flow of small bills can attract someone desperate for quick cash. Additionally, some libraries use bullet proof glass to protect especially valuable portions of their collections, such as the the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, whose rare book room includes first-editions by Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, and a 17th century copy of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius (i.e., The Starry Messenger). Total Security Solutions secured the transaction area of a Southern California library situated in a high-risk area. They also replaced the exterior doors and windows with bullet proof glass, thus protecting patrons from wayward bullets.

BULLET PROOF GLASS AT THE CHICKEN SHACK

Quick-serve restaurants are another oft-ignored market for bullet proof glass. As largely cash businesses–often open for extended hours in order to accommodate first and third shift workers–these are increasingly targeted by armed robbers. Retrofitting these eateries can be especially tricky, as installers must be careful to take into account the ventilation, airflow, and fire-suppression needs created when friers and grills are sealed behind a wall of bullet proof glass. In these situations, it’s vital that the bullet resistant barrier respond to the realities of the business model. As Jim points out, “They’ve got to be able to do their business, and it’s fast food, so the bullet proof system can’t be slowing them down.” This often means building custom package passers with the capacity to transfer a given restaurant’s tray or chicken bucket smoothly enough to avoid knocking over the super-sized beverage.

Total Security Solutions works with 500 to 1000 clients each year, mostly small businesses: individual restaurants, gas stations, and offices. Instead of fruitlessly chasing after huge multinational banks Total Security Solutions aims to satisfy and serve each client, without sacrificing little to big.

James Bond's Bulletproof Ashton Martin

A recent article on the top five movie cars questions, “What makes a car cool?”

Not surprisingly, bulletproof glass is one answer to that question.

Of the top five cars, two are bulletproof: James Bond’s Aston Martin and Batman’s custom Batmobile.

Batmobile from the 1989 Batman film

Bond’s Aston Martin has appeared in 23 films.  Although we think it being bulletproof makes this car cool, other features helped it make the lit, including ejector seats and headlight rockets

Just like Bond’s bulletproof ride, Batman’s boasts an impressive list of additional features, including  machine guns, oil slicks emitters and smoke screens.

Total Security Solutions was in the midst of installing bullet proof glass in the reception area at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston when the hospital realized they’d entirely overlooked a vital operation: This reception area primarily handled payments, medicine, and medical records, and had thus been outfitted with both deal trays and a large package exchange passer. But it was the area where the hospital received blood and organ deliveries. These are transported in large, rigid styrofoam coolers (similar to what you might have at a picnic or tailgate party). These coolers most often carry 150ml to 500ml bags of blood or plasma for transfusions, or occasionally fresh organs. For medical reasons, these coolers need to be transferred quickly, handled by as few staff members as possible, and kept sealed.

A styrofoam cooler is roughly three times as big as the largest available pre-fabricated bullet resistant package passer. But that isn’t to say that such a passer couldn’t be custom-crafted from bullet proof glass, Kevlar panels, and UL-rated bullet resistant framing and hardware. According to Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards, “We looked at it as something we could do that hadn’t been done before.” Thus the Blood Box was born.

The final design for the Texas Blood Box was a hybrid of a standard large package passer and an airport luggage chute. Total Security Solutions started with a two-foot-wide, two-foot-long stainless steel base covered with 25 rolling casters. These “transfer balls” look like large ball bearings, and allow the cooler to smoothly slide the length of the blood box without jostling. Mounted around this base was a three foot tall opaque wooden box backed with bullet resistant fiberglass panels. The open ends of the box were closed off by bullet proof glass doors equipped with special handles and hinges that formed . . . → Read More: Bullet Proof Glass Design Challenge: The Texas Blood Box]]> Few bullet proof glass installations are just a matter of bolting up some milled sheets of acrylic and anchoring Kevlar panels to the walls. Every job has its tricky moments, and a few demand entirely novel solutions.

UNIQUE PROBLEMS, CUSTOM BULLET PROOF GLASS SOLUTIONS

Total Security Solutions was in the midst of installing bullet proof glass in the reception area at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston when the hospital realized they’d entirely overlooked a vital operation: This reception area primarily handled payments, medicine, and medical records, and had thus been outfitted with both deal trays and a large package exchange passer. But it was the area where the hospital received blood and organ deliveries. These are transported in large, rigid styrofoam coolers (similar to what you might have at a picnic or tailgate party). These coolers most often carry 150ml to 500ml bags of blood or plasma for transfusions, or occasionally fresh organs. For medical reasons, these coolers need to be transferred quickly, handled by as few staff members as possible, and kept sealed.

A styrofoam cooler is roughly three times as big as the largest available pre-fabricated bullet resistant package passer. But that isn’t to say that such a passer couldn’t be custom-crafted from bullet proof glass, Kevlar panels, and UL-rated bullet resistant framing and hardware. According to Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards, “We looked at it as something we could do that hadn’t been done before.” Thus the Blood Box was born.

ANATOMY OF A BULLET PROOF BLOOD BOX

The final design for the Texas Blood Box was a hybrid of a standard large package passer and an airport luggage chute. Total Security Solutions started with a two-foot-wide, two-foot-long stainless steel base covered with 25 rolling casters. These “transfer balls” look like large ball bearings, and allow the cooler to smoothly slide the length of the blood box without jostling. Mounted around this base was a three foot tall opaque wooden box backed with bullet resistant fiberglass panels. The open ends of the box were closed off by bullet proof glass doors equipped with special handles and hinges that formed an interlocking mechanism, so that only one door could be opened at a time. The entire unit was counter-mounted through a two-foot by three-foot hole in the bullet proof glass shielding the reception area.

Couriers arriving with temperature-sensitive blood or organ deliveries open the blood box’s exterior bullet proof glass door, glide the cooler in, then latch the door shut. A medical technician on the other side of the bullet proof barrier can then open the internal door–which automatically locks the exterior door–retrieve the biological materials, and rush them to the children awaiting transfusions or operations.

Jim explains: “It was something that we hadn’t done before, but we knew we had the design and manufacturing capabilities, and it was something we could provide for them. It’s not going to be a product that we ever market more widely, but situations like this are where we shine: We can design custom installations. Give us what you’re trying to achieve, and what the limitation are, and we can work within those confines.”

Catherine Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, arrived at her wedding to Prince William in Queen Elizabeth’s custom Rolls Royce.  The 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI was given to the Queen in 1978 for the Silver Jubilee of her reign by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.  The custom-built limousine includes a raised roof and other special features.

In December, the car carried Prince Charles through a riot, where protesters, angry at cuts to public employee pay, scratched the vehicle and cracked its windows.  Following the incident, the Rolls was restored with new safety precautions, including — and most notably — bulletproof glass window.

Those who can’t get over their dislike of funeral homes don’t even have to get out of the cars in LA’s Compton suburb.  The Robert L. Adams Mortuary features a drive-thru window for those who want to pay their respects from the comfort of their vehicle.

As reported by the LA Times: “It’s a unique feature that sets us aside from other funeral parlors,” said Peggy Scott Adams, owner, Robert L. Adams Mortuary.  ““You can come by after work, you don’t need to deal with parking, you can sign the book outside and the family knows that you paid your respects.”

The funeral home’s drive-thru window is made of bulletproof glass.

With the upcoming release of Water for Elephants, a movie based on the best-selling book of the same name, interest in all things under the big top is at an all time high.   The timing is perfect for this weekend’s 80th edition of Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus.

The Gamma Phi Circus is the oldest collegiate circus in the U.S.  Founded in 1929, the Gamma Phi Circus delivers an impressive annual spring show that features gymastics and other amazing acts.

According to an article from Pentagraph.com, “the new attraction at this year’s Gamma Phi Circus is a custom-built, Cirque du Soleil-style wall trampoline.”  Featuring amazing acrobatics, circus performers will use bulletproof glass to add a dimension of excitement and surprise to their show this weekend.

The 80th Gamma Phi Circus spring show will be at the Illinois State University’s Redbird Area on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, at 7 p.m.  Tickets are available by calling 309-438-5444 or visiting Ticketmaster.

In Berlin, “Facing Justice — Adolf Eichmann on Trial” opened this week.  The exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of the infamous trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann.  Eichmann’s trial is credited with shining a public light on stories of the Holocaust and World War II.

An article published by Jweekly explained the historical significance of the trial as “a milestone in re-examining Germany’s World War II history, coming on the heels of the 1950s, when neither the victims nor the ex-Nazis spoke of the suffering they had borne or inflicted.”

What does an exhibit examining a trial from 1961 have to do with bulletproof glass? It includes hours of film footage of Eichmann sitting inside a bulletproof glass booth, listening to the testimonies of Holocaust survivors.

After suffering through the pitfalls of working with a subpar bulletproof glass partner, Bill Sewell of Sewell Construction knew that finding a new supplier was a critical imperative.  Sewell’s business was built on a reputation for quality, and not meeting customer expectations is a threat to that reputation.

Sewell’s work on the Knoxville Police Station has been ongoing for last several years.  Initially, his team installed bulletproof glass along a main entrance to the facility.  This initial install was a disaster.

“I didn’t use Total Security Solutions for that initial bulletproof project and suffered the consequences,” Sewell explained.  “The product was late, poorly packaged and of poor quality.  There was a one-month lag time between when I needed the bulletproof glass and when it arrived, even though the supplier knew of my deadline.  When the product finally arrived, it was so poorly packaged the speakers in the glass were broken and the glass itself was scratched.”

“The poor quality cost me time, money, and prestige,” Sewell added.

Sewell waited another full month before getting replacement glass from his supplier.  “The packaging on the replacement product was still poor and the glass was scratched,” he said.  “To add insult to injury, despite my complaints and hassles, that contractor never followed up to rectify the problem.”

To finish the work at the police station, Sewell turned to Total Security Solutions.

“I sent Total Security Solutions very specific instructions and dimensions,” Sewell said.  “Even though this was a complicated job, I received the product in less than two weeks.  It was the exact size that I ordered and packaged so that my team could easily install it the day that it arrived.”

Sewell’s business depends on word of mouth referrals.  “Quality is very important to my business,” he said.  “I have a reputation for providing top quality specs and quality on every single project.  My reputation depends on my suppliers: They need to be able to do what the client asks and get it right, every time.”

“Total Security Solutions may not be the biggest name in bulletproof glass, but they are definitely the leader in . . . → Read More: Business Built on Reputation for Quality, Service Trusts Total Security Solutions]]>

After suffering through the pitfalls of working with a subpar bulletproof glass partner, Bill Sewell of Sewell Construction knew that finding a new supplier was a critical imperative.  Sewell’s business was built on a reputation for quality, and not meeting customer expectations is a threat to that reputation.

Sewell’s work on the Knoxville Police Station has been ongoing for last several years.  Initially, his team installed bulletproof glass along a main entrance to the facility.  This initial install was a disaster.

“I didn’t use Total Security Solutions for that initial bulletproof project and suffered the consequences,” Sewell explained.  “The product was late, poorly packaged and of poor quality.  There was a one-month lag time between when I needed the bulletproof glass and when it arrived, even though the supplier knew of my deadline.  When the product finally arrived, it was so poorly packaged the speakers in the glass were broken and the glass itself was scratched.”

“The poor quality cost me time, money, and prestige,” Sewell added.

Sewell waited another full month before getting replacement glass from his supplier.  “The packaging on the replacement product was still poor and the glass was scratched,” he said.  “To add insult to injury, despite my complaints and hassles, that contractor never followed up to rectify the problem.”

To finish the work at the police station, Sewell turned to Total Security Solutions.

“I sent Total Security Solutions very specific instructions and dimensions,” Sewell said.  “Even though this was a complicated job, I received the product in less than two weeks.  It was the exact size that I ordered and packaged so that my team could easily install it the day that it arrived.”

Sewell’s business depends on word of mouth referrals.  “Quality is very important to my business,” he said.  “I have a reputation for providing top quality specs and quality on every single project.  My reputation depends on my suppliers: They need to be able to do what the client asks and get it right, every time.”

“Total Security Solutions may not be the biggest name in bulletproof glass, but they are definitely the leader in quality and customer service,” Sewell said.  “There’s no other supplier that I’ll use for bulletproof glass now that I’ve found Total Security Solutions.”

A recent article on luxury travel cites bulletproof glass as an amenity that’s on the short list for the world’s richest travelers.

A yacht owned by a Russian billionaire boasts bulletproof glass… as well as helipads, a missile defense system and an anti-piracy submarine.  Yes, this boat has its own escape pod.

For those of us who don’t need a nine story yacht and a crew of 70 to enjoy some R&R, Luxury Travel magazine offers some great day dream fodder.

The Discovery Channel‘s resident storm chaser, Sean Casey, has spent 12 years chasing tornadoes.  His dream: To film the inside of one of these killer storms.

How do you film a storm that’s swirling at hundreds of miles per hour, debris flying and visibility next to nothing?  According to his official bio, “Sean built the TIV, or Tornado Intercept Vehicle. This 16,000-pound armored tank is outfitted with wind-resistant flaps and anchor spikes to keep him safe while filming inside a twister.”  The TIV is also reinforced with bulletproof glass.

After eight years of filming, Sean’s IMAX film opens this weekend.

We often think of banks, pharmacies, municipal buildings and convenience stores as the most likely places to find bulletproof glass, but cars, museums and other places can be bulletproof, too.  We’ve previously mused on the Mona Lisa’s vacation from her bulletproof case and bulletproof tech devices.

As music lovers, we appreciate that Eric Clapton’s famous guitar, Brownie, is also housed in bulletproof glass.  Owned by billionaire Paul Allen, Brownie is part of the Experience Music Project, a Seattle organization where “music meets science fiction.”

What’s different about Brownie versus any other guitar that the rock legend touches?  It was the axe Clapton used on his utterly amazing Layla album.  (Another fun Layla fact?  It’s based on a 12th century poem, “Leyli and Majnun”.)

On Saturday, Clapton will be a mere stone’s throw from Brownie when he plays a concert at KeyArena.  Reportedly, no reunion between man and guitar is planned.

Luxury car company Audi recently announced plans to release its classic A8 sedan as an armored vehicle.  The car is complete with bulletproof glass and armored plating.

This hardcore car earned the German VR 7 Ballistic certification.  The certification means that the car is bulletproof, including fire from an assault rifle, and can also withstand anti-tank mines.

In an article published on MyDesert.com, the store owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he would be installing bulletproof glass to “partition off employees from others in the store.”

The store owner went on to say that although no one was injured, he’s not willing to take the risk going forward.  He planned to have the glass enclosures installed as soon as possible.

Anyone with info on the robbery should call The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (760) 863-8990.

British Columbia, Canada, recently passed a law making bulletproof glass in automobiles illegal.  The move targets gangs and organized crime in the province.

The law also covers secret compartments and armored vehicle plating.

In a quote included in an article on the news site Metro, Solicitor General Rich Coleman explained, “The only reason … to add (these things) is to evade police or other criminals, or to hide guns, drugs or money.  This law establishes significant penalties and will work to discourage gang activity and organized crime.”

The penalty for breaking this new law?  Fines of up to $10,000 and up to six months in jail.

The Role of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Stroll through your house and take a look at any gadget that could conceivable hurt you–the toaster, the TV, even the light sockets–and you’ll find a UL certification sticker indicating that the manufacturer submitted samples to Underwriters Laboratories, the nation’s leading third-party product safety certification agency. UL tests products to confirm that they fit within established safety specifications.  In the case of bullet resistant barriers, that standard is UL 752, “The Standard of Safety for Bullet-Resisting Equipment.”

Bullet Proof Glass Rating Quirks

The chart is self-explanatory–provided that you know that “7.62mm” ammunition is used in an AK-47, “5.56mm” ammo in an M16, and that “.30 calibre rifle lead core soft point” basically means a hunting rifle–but it has its quirks.  Levels 1 through 3 follow a reasonable sequence: A Level 1 system will stop three shots from a 9mm (arguably the world’s most common sidearm).  Level 2 barriers stop three shots from a .357 Magnum–heavier ammunition moving at higher velocity.  Level 3 barriers stop three .44 Magnum bullets (each of which is twice as heavy as a 9mm and moves significantly faster).

The Level 4 Challenge

To pass the Level 4 test, bullet proof glass must stop a shot from a .30-06 hunting rifle.  This might seem easier than the Level 3 test, since it’s just a single bullet that’s lighter than the .44 Magnum. But, the .30 calibre is designed for penetration (important to hunters) and travels 1200 feet per second faster than the .44 Mag.  The Level 4 test is actually harder to pass than Levels 5, 6, or 7.  As Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards explains, that .30-06 bullet “is 180 grains of led moving at 2540 feet per second–you have a tremendous amount of velocity there with a big old piece of lead. Level 5 can be difficult, but still, it’s one shot of a 7.62 [just a touch heavier than a 9mm]; so it’s moving faster, but . . . → Read More: The Bullet Proof Glass Rating System Explained]]> If you’re looking to install bullet proof glass, your first question is going to be “How do I know this will stop a bullet?”

The Role of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Stroll through your house and take a look at any gadget that could conceivable hurt you–the toaster, the TV, even the light sockets–and you’ll find a UL certification sticker indicating that the manufacturer submitted samples to Underwriters Laboratories, the nation’s leading third-party product safety certification agency. UL tests products to confirm that they fit within established safety specifications.  In the case of bullet resistant barriers, that standard is UL 752, “The Standard of Safety for Bullet-Resisting Equipment.”

Bullet Proof Glass Rating Quirks

The chart is self-explanatory–provided that you know that “7.62mm” ammunition is used in an AK-47, “5.56mm” ammo in an M16, and that “.30 calibre rifle lead core soft point” basically means a hunting rifle–but it has its quirks.  Levels 1 through 3 follow a reasonable sequence: A Level 1 system will stop three shots from a 9mm (arguably the world’s most common sidearm).  Level 2 barriers stop three shots from a .357 Magnum–heavier ammunition moving at higher velocity.  Level 3 barriers stop three .44 Magnum bullets (each of which is twice as heavy as a 9mm and moves significantly faster).

The Level 4 Challenge

To pass the Level 4 test, bullet proof glass must stop a shot from a .30-06 hunting rifle.  This might seem easier than the Level 3 test, since it’s just a single bullet that’s lighter than the .44 Magnum. But, the .30 calibre is designed for penetration (important to hunters) and travels 1200 feet per second faster than the .44 Mag.  The Level 4 test is actually harder to pass than Levels 5, 6, or 7.  As Total Security Solutions vice president Jim Richards explains, that .30-06 bullet “is 180 grains of led moving at 2540 feet per second–you have a tremendous amount of velocity there with a big old piece of lead. Level 5 can be difficult, but still, it’s one shot of a 7.62 [just a touch heavier than a 9mm]; so it’s moving faster, but it’s a lot lighter.”  A good Level 4 system can often pass the tests for Levels 5, 6, and 7 with little or no modification.  That Level 4 system might even pass the Level 8 test (a five-shot burst from an AK-47).  “It’s not guaranteed,” Jim is quick to point out, “but it’s pretty well established that if you can stop a .30-06, you’re set.”

The Curiously Organized Bullet Proof Ratings

Like many people in the bullet proof industry, Jim is genially perplexed by UL’s system.  Practically speaking, Level 1 bullet proof glass–which will survive three shots form a 9mm–can often provide Level 6 and 7 protection, since Level 6 (the “Uzi test”) is a five-shot burst of that same 9mm ammunition, and most Level 1 systems will withstand more than the minimum three shots required to pass the Level 1 test.  And, although the Level 7 (“M16″) test uses bullets traveling more than twice as fast as the Level 1 and Level 6 tests, those bullets are less than half the weight–M16 bullets are only slightly bigger than the .22s in a boy’s squirrel rifle.  It’s the extremely high speed of these 5.56mm bullets that causes damage in the battlefield, largely through hydrostatic shock, an effect limited to living creatures.

This is the underlying rationale in the seemingly disorganized UL rating system:  It’s not ordered according to the threat to materials, but rather the threat to the humans standing behind those materials.  In practice, M16s and Uzis–with their fast, light rounds–aren’t very dangerous to a piece of bullet proof glass.  But their fully automatic firing capacity is deadly: Battlefield and emergency room records confirm that when humans start shooting at humans, the propensity is to empty the clip.  Conversely, the deer hunting rifle–despite its acrylic-shattering power–is an uncommon personal weapon: It’s a long-barreled rifle designed for accuracy over distance, and difficult to use in the close confines of a gas station or bank.  And semi-automatic .30-06 rifles are rare, while the Uzis, M16s, and AK-47s used for the Level 5 through 8 tests are notorious for their lethal full-auto fire.

A California-based company has introduced an iPad folio that’s made of polycarbonate plastic, a material most commonly associated with bulletproof glass.  Lapworks‘ new, clear iPad accessory promises to be a durable, shatterproof way to protect the device.

It stands to reason that the folio will indeed protect your iPad from scratches and dents.  No word on whether it’ll actually stop a bullet.

One thing’s certain: Our inner geek loves this latest use of a bulletproof material!

Every day, Phil needs replacements for the broken, chipped, and scratched glass that will come from suppliers as near as five miles down the road from his Tampa, Fla. facility. 

To say he was anxious about the level three bulletproof glass that he ordered from Total Security Solutions is an understatement. The ballistics resistant glass, needed for six different courthouses where Phil was a sub-contractor, was a critical element to Phil’ s work.

“ The bullet resistant glass that was required for the courthouse project was unique,” Moreland explained. “ The design and install was potentially tricky, since the glass would be installed around a guard desk as well as a metal detector at the courthouse entrance. Adding to the challenge is that we were working on six different courthouses at the same time. The margin for error was pretty high.”

From the first call that Moreland made to Total Security Solutions, his experience was refreshingly different. “ It’ s not unusual to call a vendor for a quote and not get what you need,” he said. “ It was nearly impossible for me to get the three quotes I needed to bid on this work. I expected Total Security Solutions to be just like everyone else and was surprised to not only get a call back immediately, but to get all of the information I needed for the bid within hours.”

From that initial contact with Total Security Solutions to delivery of the product, Moreland continued to be impressed with his experience. “ When the glass arrived from Total Security Solutions, I was surprised that it was packaged according to location, simplifying the process for my install team,” he said. “ I could sleep easy that night because I knew that everything I needed for the job was in the box from Total Security Solutions. Not one chip, missing part . . . → Read More: Courthouse Bulletproof Project Vendor Wins More Jobs with Total Security Solutions]]> It’ s a good thing that Phil Moreland of Ashe Glass & Mirror, an installer of numerous types of glass, isn’ t the superstitious type. He encounters more broken mirrors and glass daily than most of us will see in our lifetime.

Every day, Phil needs replacements for the broken, chipped, and scratched glass that will come from suppliers as near as five miles down the road from his Tampa, Fla. facility. 

To say he was anxious about the level three bulletproof glass that he ordered from Total Security Solutions is an understatement. The ballistics resistant glass, needed for six different courthouses where Phil was a sub-contractor, was a critical element to Phil’ s work.

“ The bullet resistant glass that was required for the courthouse project was unique,” Moreland explained. “ The design and install was potentially tricky, since the glass would be installed around a guard desk as well as a metal detector at the courthouse entrance. Adding to the challenge is that we were working on six different courthouses at the same time. The margin for error was pretty high.”

From the first call that Moreland made to Total Security Solutions, his experience was refreshingly different. “ It’ s not unusual to call a vendor for a quote and not get what you need,” he said. “ It was nearly impossible for me to get the three quotes I needed to bid on this work. I expected Total Security Solutions to be just like everyone else and was surprised to not only get a call back immediately, but to get all of the information I needed for the bid within hours.”

From that initial contact with Total Security Solutions to delivery of the product, Moreland continued to be impressed with his experience. “ When the glass arrived from Total Security Solutions, I was surprised that it was packaged according to location, simplifying the process for my install team,” he said. “ I could sleep easy that night because I knew that everything I needed for the job was in the box from Total Security Solutions. Not one chip, missing part or any complications got in the way of me delivering a quality product to my customer.”

“I didn’ t have to cut anything or do any alterations whatsoever to the bullet resistant glass that Total Security Solutions sent,” Moreland said. “ Every piece of glass was impeccable.”

“I wish I could order a cup of coffee that would come together as well as the bulletproof glass from Total Security Solutions,” he added. “ I would trust them to send my personal belongings to the moon.”

Moreland is now able to use the courthouse project to sell new contracts. “Having a quality partner on board gives me the confidence to bid on complex projects,” he said. “ Working with Total Security Solutions has improved my business and created new opportunities.”

The bomb-proof vehicle, valued at $235,000, is outfitted with bulletproof glass.  According to published reports, the car also includes GPS tracking and armor plating.

What’s interesting is that the bullet resistant glass used in vehicles like the Prince’s Bentley might be one way, meaning it will stop a bullet from coming into the car, but not stop a bullet from being shot from within the vehicle.

It’s not unusual for dignitaries to ride in vehicles protected by bulletproof glass.  In fact, The Presidential State Car of the United States is outfitted with bulletproof glass.

Founded in 1980 and privately owned, Evans Consoles is the world leader in   the design and manufacturing of custom control room solutions for mission critical and other technology-intensive environments.  Specializing in custom console, millwork and audio-visual enclosure solutions, Evans has built the reputation over the last 30 years of providing quality and service that continues to lead the industry.

About a year ago, Evans Consoles began working with Total Security Solutions.

“Initially, we were doing business with a Total Security Solutions’ competitor,” said Enzo Serpentini, a procurement specialist with Evans Consoles.  “We were dissatisfied by the customer service.”

Evans turned to Total Security Solutions for help with bulletproof glass for new shopping mall-based financial facilities. 

“The first quote came back exceptionally lower than what the competitor was charging, so we gave Total Security Solutions a shot,” Serpentini explained.

The product price was only the beginning of Evans Consoles’ satisfaction with Total Security Solutions.  Even though Evans Consoles delivery timeline were very time sensitive, Total Security Solutions had no problem in meeting project deadline.  Delivering remarkable turn around time, within two weeks, Total Security Solutions had shipped the product.

“Total Security Solutions made Evans Consoles look pretty good because our customer was happy,” Serpentini said.  “We’ve used Total Security Solutions as our bulletproof glass provider since that initial experience.”

“I know that I don’t have to worry when Total Security Solutions is on board,” Serpentini added.  “Once I give Total Security Solutions a purchase order, I can cross it off of my list because I’m confident the job will get done right, on time.  I wouldn’t consider shopping elsewhere.”

A study released Monday by MIT suggests that adding a bulletproof face shield to soldier helmets could reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injuries in combat troops. According to the paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “adding a face shield to the standard-issue helmet worn by the vast majority of U.S. ground troops could significantly reduce traumatic brain injury. The extra protection offered by such a shield is critical because the face is the main pathway through which pressure waves from an explosion are transmitted to the brain.”

MIT reports that “more than half of all combat-related injuries sustained by U.S. troops are the result of explosions, and many of those involve injuries to the head. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, about 130,000 U.S. service members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained traumatic brain injuries — ranging from concussion to long-term brain damage and death — as a result of an explosion.”

Other notable G-20 security included six goldfish. The fish were housed in an underground aquarium and were monitored for signs of poisoning.

The G-20, also know as the Group of 20, is comprised of finance ministers and central bank governors from around the world. Economically powerful countries, including the U.S. and Canada, met at the summit to discuss key issues in the global economy.

“The two most powerful things in existence: A kind word and a thoughtful gesture.”

Langone used that philosophy to build his business from the ground up. Today, according to its investor relations information, The Home Depot “is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer and the fourth largest retailer in the United States with fiscal 2009 retail sales of $66.2 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $2.6 billion.”

With results like that, Langone is obviously on to something.

At Total Security Solutions, we share Langone’s belief that a kind word and a thoughtful gesture are incredibly powerful. We treat every customer like they’re our only customer.

The result of our customer care? Contrary to so many businesses, ours is growing. When Total Security Solutions opened its facility in Michigan five years ago, we employed nine people. Today, we employ over 30 people who are committed to manufacturing a quality product.

So, why blog about customer service versus bulletproof glass news? Because in a market where other manufacturers can deliver a similar product, we like to think it’s how we’re treating our customers, through the quality and service we provide, that’s making our business — and our theirs — grow. And, although we’re all about the power of bulletproof glass, we’re just fine with including kindness and care on our list of powerful things, too.

According to an article published by the SyFy Channel:

Not only is this new super-material stronger than both Kevlar and steel, as far as is known it’s the hardest organic material in existence, ever. It also happens to be completely transparent, printable, easy to manipulate and just as easy (i.e. cheap) to manufacture.

Researchers think there’s a potential for the material to be used in existing materials, including bulletproof glass.

A would-be bank robber in Smyna, Georgia was thwarted by bulletproof glass yesterday. The robbery attempt occurred at a BB&T Bank at around 11 a.m.

According to police, the man was caught on camera handing a bank teller a note demanding money. Fortunately, the area is protected by bulletproof glass.

The man left the bank empty handed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3945.

According to an article in the Canberra Times, the vehicles will be capable of withstanding M16 fire and a blast from some smaller explosions, too.

The London Daily Mirror reports that, “the Popemobile vehicle was first made famous by Pope John Paul II, who used a modified truck on his first papal visit to his Polish homeland. The current Popemobile is a Mercedes equipped with the latest security measures. The side panels and undercarriage are armored, and a bulletproof glass enclosure has been built on top of an M-class chassis.”

Bulletproof glass and other security measures were put into place after a failed May 1981 assassination attempt by sniper Mehmet Ali Agca on Pope John Paul II, who was shot four times.

A downside to polycarbonates is that they are prone to scratches. This scratch potential is why you’ll get a cleaning cloth with eyeglasses or sunglasses you purchase, and why computer and TV screens have special cleaning products, too.

A great article on eHow.com explains how to clean bulletproof glass. Our suggestion: Use a soft cloth (not paper towel!) and a mild soap.

KGTV San Diego reported that bulletproof glass thwarted an armed man’s attempt to rob a Bank of America branch last week. Read the recap of the story here. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the robbery attempt and the would-be robber walked away empty handed.

The San Diego Police Department and FBI released photos of the robber and are asking for assistance in his capture. Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI at (858) 565-1255.

Photo courtesy of NPR/ Jason Beaubien

According to NPR’s report, there are 14 armoring companies certified by Mexico’s federal government. A plant engineer at one of the armoring companies explains that armor protection can range from level 1, or basic, to level 5, or advanced:

“Armoring a car, particularly a large SUV, can mean adding more than a ton of steel, thick sheets of Kevlar and 3-inch-thick glass windows. Once you get to Level 4 and Level 5, we upgrade the suspension and in some cases the motor to compensate for the added weight.”

The report also includes reference to lives saved by bulletproof glass: “There have been… recent incidents in which bulletproofing saved lives. In April, gunmen ambushed the state security secretary for Michoacan, Minerva Bautista Gomez. The attackers fired 2,700 rounds into her convoy and ripped apart her Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to investigators. But the car had been bulletproofed and Bautista Gomez survived, though two of her bodyguards and two passing motorists were killed in the ambush.”

A transcript of the original report can be found here.

Check out the video of a man trying to escape through a bulletproof window

Courthouses are secure! And, although Total Security Solutions can’t confirm that it’s our bullet resistant glass that stopped this would-be escapee, we have installed our product in a few courthouses in the U.S.

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Housed at The Louvre in Paris, DaVinci’s masterpiece has been the subject of admiration and awe for centuries. Painted in 1503, The Mona Lisa is rumored to be valued at more than $700 million.

For those of us not lucky enough to have a stop in Paris on our summer vacation itinerary, The Louvre offers a great multimedia slideshow that will allow you to get up close (virtually) to The Mona Lisa.

Image courtesy of HowStuffWorks

Keep your eyes peeled for the “Keep Out” episode of Modern Marvels, too. We were featured on this History Channel program’s look at the manufacturing of bulletproof glass and the episode is replayed periodically.

Bulletproof glass ensures max rocking out

Not only are these speakers a really artistic addition to your sound system, you can rest assured that the glass won’t shatter, no matter how loudly you rock out.

We weren’t surprised at all to read a recent article about the Secret Service museum’s bullet proof glass protection.  Unwanted visitors to this invite-only facility are kept out by numerous security measures, including a bullet proof reception area.

Leave it to those who know a thing or two about security to trust bullet proof glass to keep their valuables safe!

The Linda Hall Library in Kansas City uses bulletproof glass to protect its collection of 10,000 rare books, including some as old as the 1470s.

Bulletproof glass keeps rare books safe at the Linda Hall Library

In a recent article from the Kansas City Free Press, Emily Ghertner reported: “The biggest “wow” factor at the Linda Hall Library is probably its History of Science Collection, which includes the Rare Book Room, home to first-edition works by the likes of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, as well as some of Einstein’s first publications. Inside the temperature-controlled, bulletproof glass encased vault, are printed books dating from the 15th century-19th century on a variety of topics from zoology and botany to physics and mathematics. There are landmark works by Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Copernicus, and a copy of Galileo’s The Starry Messenger (Sidereus Nuncius), first printed in 1610 with the first published images of the moon as an imperfect body. The spines of old books bare such exotic titles as A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, Natural Magick, and Harmonica Macrocosmica.”

Pretty amazing collection, kept safe by bulletproof glass!

Bulletproof glass is awarded for certain jobs in Mafia Wars. You can check out this link to the Mafia Wars Wiki for more info.

Photo by Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times

A 20-foot-by-30-foot clear box, Glassphemy! is made of steel and bulletproof glass.  At the art installation, people stand on a high platform and throw recyclable bottles into the glass box.  Observers, who view from platforms circling Glassphemy!, are protected from the flying debris by the box’s bulletproof glass walls.

Glassphemy! is an all-around satisfying experience, according to the New York Times.

“The bottles smash fantastically, artfully designed lights flash, and no one is harmed.”

Bullet Resistant Acrylic from Total Security Solutions

Acrylic: Bulletproof acrylic is the most commonly used material for transaction windows and ballistic resistant barrier systems.  The acrylic material is available in UL ballistic protection levels one and two. The acrylic also has the option to have an abrasion resistant (AR) coating or be standard acrylic. The abrasion resistant coating comes standard on our level two acrylic and provides protection against cleaning solvents and weather, as well as an increased resistance to the effects of ultra violet light.

Polycarbonate: Bulletproof polycarbonate materials are normally composed of an acrylic core with two polycarbonate caps each side of the secure surface. Polycarbonate materials are available in UL ballistic protection levels one thru three and all three come standard with an abrasion resistant coating. All of the polycarbonate materials that Total Security Solutions offers also have a forced entry rating.

Glass Clad Polycarbonate: Glass Clad Polycarbonate (GCP) materials are composed of inter layers of glass and polyurethane with exterior caps of glass and abrasion resistant polycarbonate.  GCP comes in UL ballistic protection levels one thru five and level eight as well. All of the GCP materials that Total Security Solutions offers carry a forced entry level in addition to their ballistic rating.

Now when someone is talking about bulletproof glass you can ask them, “what type of ‘glass’ are you talking about”…if it’s even glass at all! For more information on ballistic materials such as bulletproof glass please visit our website or call us at 866-930-7807

More info, and a poll where you can vote in support of Bay City utilities department employees, can be found on the Connect Mid Michigan site.  Click through and vote yes!

While we would love to be able to install every transaction window ourselves, it’s just not economical for either party. Instead Total Security Solutions has came up with a simple three step process for customers to “do it yourself”:

Transaction Window Install Instructions

Bullet proof transaction windows come in UL protection levels 1-3 and several different types (such as the baffle and arched voice port). All of Total Security Solutions transaction windows come with a full installation packet which includes the instructions, hardware, caulk, glass cleaner and towels to clean the glass. For more information on transaction windows visit our website or call 866-930-7807.

As the robots spun at bone crushing 2,500 rotations per minute and rammed each other with razor sharp fenders, observers were safely protected from flying debris, including glass, metal and other hazards, by bulletproof glass.

More than 500 individuals stayed safe behind the glass while 67 teams of high school and middle school students battled it out, robot style.

Video of the competition, shot from behind the bulletproof glass, of course, can be viewed here: Bots IQ 2010 National Competition

Bullet Resistant Barriers

The would be robber was flustered and didn’t know what to do, so burglar took the honorable route (if that’s possible for a bank robber) and turned around then walked out the door. The lawbreaker was found a few hours later after being identified from a missing hubcap on the getaway vehicle. The crook didn’t put up any fight (just like in the bank) and admitted to the crimes immediately. 

This just goes to show that bullet resistant systems can prevent crooks and robbers from turning violent in an environment that has a high volume of customers. Systems such as the secure sound bullet resistant system are available from Total Security Solutions to help employees and customers feel safer in a high risk environment.   

For more information on systems like the secure sound system follow this link for all of your needs.

Read more installation stories from Total Security Solutions.

Like the PE Package Passer (See last week’s blog) the Rotary Package Processor is a great option for convenience stores. However, unlike the PE, the Rotary Package Processor is the perfect option for fast food operations, restaurants and gas stations. This type of Package Processor allows many different (and larger) sized items to be passed back and forth between customers and employees. Like the PE, the Rotary Package Processor is only accessible from one side at a time, meaning that there is not breech possibility   

The Rotary Package Processor has many features that are available as well, things such as additional locking mechanisms, integral cash tray protective barriers and three different levels of protection. The Rotary Package Passer comes in one standard size (Box OD 18″ W x 20″ H x 14″ D) as well as custom sizes per customer request and is available in three levels of protection.

For more information on Rotary Package Passers including available sizes and levels of protection click here.

Banks researching the installation of bullet resistant barriers or bandit barriers have several options that can be retrofitted into their current facility. The Arch Window System is the most common bullet-resistant barrier, but the Baffle Window System offers unobstructed views and maximum voice transmission. Read more about available bullet-resistant barrier systems.

Read “Bank Officials Discuss Safety After At Least Six Bank Robberies,” http://www.statejournal.com.

 “PUT THE MONEY IN THE BAG!” is what the thief abruptly told the bank teller through the bullet resistant barrier separating him and her. The teller (while behind the bullet resistant enclosure) noticed that the crook had no weapon on him at all, making the decision to tell the crook that ““We don’t do that here” and turn him away a lot easier on her and her co-workers.

The man, Brian Patrick Marlin, left the bank in anger with no money and no chance of being a free man after this stunt. The police found him later that day just a couple blocks away from the attempted heist, he was charged with attempted bank robbery.

Read: Portland bank employees, confronted by robber, just say no by Bryan Denson clicking by on the title.

“Ahmad told the robbers they had to step away so he could close the door to the enclosure around the register or the drawer would not open. When they stepped outside, he shut the door and locked it, putting himself behind the bullet-proof glass, police said.”

Read “Police: Pair attempting robbery weren’t very smart” by Chip Osowski, http://www2.tbo.com.

Image taken from http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/22/police-pair-attempting-robbery-werent-very-smart/.

Read “Businesses Branch Out From Banks” by Casey Wooten, http://houston.bizjournals.com.

Your bulletproof products will be carefully packaged and shipped to your facility by truck.  Total Security Solutions can begin working shortly after your business closes for the evening or on Saturday so as to minimize the inconvenience to you and your customers. For many installations, we can be in and out within a single night. And we’ll have your facility cleaned up and ready for normal business hours.

Recently, Total Security Solutions launched a channel on YouTube.com to enable customers to watch the bullet resistant barrier installation process firsthand. Currently, we have featured installation videos for our Secure Sound Bulletproof Barrier System and our Vertical Slider.

Read more about our installation process or contact us at info@demandtss.com or 1-800-513-1468.

Read “Inmate who tried to escape pleads guilty” on abclocal.go.com.

Read Total Security Solutions January 2010 newsletter online now.

The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (MPCA) recently reported an increasing threat from “smash and grab” robberies for local convenience stores. The MPCA issued a list of security tips to help convenience stores prevent this type of robbery. To “help protect your employees and provide security for your property,” convenience stores should consider:

Read additional tips on protecting your convenience store from “smash and grab robberies.”

View an installation video for our newest bulletproof barrier, the Secure Sound System, as well as an installation video of our Vertical Slider System. You can also read more about our planning, production and installation process.

So what does it take to be truly bulletproof? In researching this topic, we found several people asking just that question. Six inches of lead sheathing or one foot of solid concrete could be called “bulletproof,” but the bullet-resistant products available through Total Security Solutions provide excellent stopping power against most common handguns, shotguns or rifles and can be employed in ways that are almost invisible to the undiscerning eye.

So now that we know the correct term is “bullet-resistant,” let’s analyze the phrase “bullet-resistant glass.”

Bullet-resistant glass isn’t really glass, well not completely. There are three types of “bullet-resistant glass,” but only one is actually made with regular glass. Glass-Clad Polycarbonate is made from a piece of polycarbonate that is sandwiched between two pieces of regular glass. The other forms of “bullet-resistant glass” are actually made from a solid sheet of acrylic or laminated polycarbonate.

Image taken from www.technical-discovery.com.

Read “In down times, bank robbers sticking up” by Martin C. Daks, www.njbiz.com.

View the complete 2009 FBI bank crime statistics for first quarter or second quarter.

Read “City/County: 1-Stop Domestic Violence Center” by Matt Davis, http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com,

Image taken from http://www.bornrich.org/entry/solitaire-deluxe-watch-winder-another-feather-on-bubenzorweg-s-cap/.

Read “Military wants bulletproof, dimmable windows to protect VIPs” by Mark Rutherford, http://news.cnet.com.

Our California offices provide the same sales and engineering support available in our main headquarters, but are conveniently located to provide onsite assistance. Total Security Solutions employs a full-time installation crew exclusively servicing the California market. Our crew is fully trained and proficient in meeting California building and earthquake requirements.

Total Security Solutions’ full lineup of bullet resistant products, from custom bulletproof glass barriers to quick ship products such as package passers and currency trays, are available to all businesses nationally.

If you are interested in learning more about our bullet resistant barrier installation capabilities in the California market, please contact us at 1-800-513-1468 or info@demandtss.com.

Image taken from bankofamerica.com.

Read “Battle Over Bandit Barriers“  by Michael Wilson, nytimes.com/

A recent article on nytimes.com stated, “Relaxed bank security — often driven by an attempt to create a friendly atmosphere, without barriers between tellers and customers — can attract robbers.” Connecticut can attest to this statement as it has been the target of a series of bank robberies in which the robbers casually entered a bank and handed over a note demanding money to the teller.

The article also comments on a trend toward robberies in the suburbs as opposed to the major cities stating, “Many [. . .] officials point to the casual, open layout of many suburban banks — like the TD Bank branch in Westport — as a possible factor in the trend.”

Read “In Suburbs, Bank Robbers Like the Layout” by Michael Wilson, nytimes.com.

Read “Alleged Robber Trapped in Bank Doors,” myfoxphilly.com

Image taken from myfoxphilly.com.

If you have additional questions on what products UL tests, what they test for, or what UL “standards” mean, read an interview with UL’s Director of Consumer Safety.

Read “Speaking with UL consumer safety director John Drengenberg” by Claude Solnik, http://libn.com.

All sizes come in UL Level 1-3 protection and are available uncoated or abrasion resistant coated. The edges of the bullet resistant acrylic are flame-polished providing a water clear edge ensuring maximum clarity and light transmission.

Evonik CYRO has been manufacturing ACRYLITE® and advancing the plastics industry for the past 75 years. ACRYLITE is UV-stable, won’t yellow over time, has one of the highest light transmission rates of any plastic, and is known for its superior impact strength. ACRYLITE also offers ease of fabrication as it is easily “sawed, routed, drilled, cemented, thermoformed, painted or silkscreened.”

Read “Check Cashing Stores: Urban Blight or Convenience?” wtop.com

The oldest bulletproof barrier is the Baffle Window System. Dating back nearly forty years, this system provides unobstructed views through the use of staggered pieces of bullet-resistant glass and also offers natural voice transmission. The Arch Window System was designed approximately 15 years ago to update the Baffle Window concept and improve voice communication.  The Secure Sound System wasn’t developed until four or five years ago and enhances voice communication even further.

Ultimately, a bank or credit union’s bullet resistant barrier selection is based on personal preference. Each barrier system offers a slightly different architectural appeal enabling financial institutions to customize their facility.

View a slideshow of Cadillac Presidential Limousines dating back to Taft’s presidency and read “Cadillac presidential limousines from Taft to Obama – history and review” by Craig Hover, Kansas City Automotive Examiner.

Bentley is getting in on the security vehicle business with their Continental Flying Spur. For $500,000, it “features military-grade B6-level protection and is fitted with ballistic steel, [ . . . ] bulletproof glass, run flat tires, an explosion-proof gas tank and kevlar flooring.”

Read “Bulletproof Bentley Flying Spur on sale for $500,000,” 4WheelsNews.com.

“It happens all the time. It’s not something that happens once in a blue moon,” Ali Zaidi said of the trend in robberies at stores such as his.

Some convenience stores, however, are taking steps to safeguard their employees by installing bullet resistant barriers. The most commonly used barriers for convenience stores are horizontal or vertical sliders. Providing UL Level 1-3 security, these bulletproof barrier systems can be customized to provide different levels of security at different times of day.

Read “Too Often, Convenience Store Clerks in Danger” by Carl Lewis, www.macon.com.

The government used its first armored car in 1941 with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After fear of a presidential assassination following Roosevelt’s “Infamy Speech,” the Secret Service used Al Capone’s recently confiscated 1928 Cadillac to transport the president. Capone had outfit the vehicle with “3,000 pounds of bulletproof armor beneath the standard body” and painted it to replicate the existing government vehicles. Read more about Al Capone’s bulletproof car and why the government couldn’t afford to purchase its own. (Image on right taken from FederalTimes.com)

How does one-way bulletproof glass work?

One-way bulletproof glass is composed of two layers. The outside layer – on the threat side – is made of a brittle glass and the inside layer is a flexible polycarbonate. A bullet that strikes the brittle external layer first causes the glass to break inward toward the polycarbonate layer. The glass breaking absorbs some of the bullet’s energy by spreading the force over a larger area and the flexible polycarbonate stops the bullet.

Bullets shot from the inside of an armored car are able to penetrate the bulletproof glass because they strike the polycarbonate layer first with more focused energy. The brittle glass layer then breaks outward allowing the bullet to pass through with minor energy loss.

The author stated, “‘Why wouldn’t shipping companies do more to protect themselves against Somali pirates?’ [ . . . ] it was cheaper for the companies to pay the ransom than to take precautions against kidnapping.” He went on to say, however, that just as the pirates will keep pirating, bank robberies will continue to occur until banks do something to prevent them.

The shipping companies may not be taking precautions to protect against pirates, but some wealthy yacht owners certainly are. As fears rise over the potential for pirate attacks, “hidden chambers, escape pods, tracking devices and ex-marines employed as security guards have all risen in popularity.”

Read the full article on how “Wealthy Arm Their Yachts with Military-Level Security” by Anouk Lorie, CNN.com.

The idea of tempered glass was first discovered by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, when he dropped hot molten glass into cold water. The glass rapidly cools but only on the surface, creating a shell for the hotter glass contained inside. As the inside cools, it contracts against the already hardened exterior creating a compressed chamber and making the glass substantially more durable. This lends itself to high impact resistance.

The idea of laminated glass evolved from another accident. This time, by the French chemist Edouard Benedictus in 1903. While working in his lab, Benedictus accidentally dropped a beaker that was coated in plastic cellulose nitrate. He noticed when the beaker hit the ground it cracked, but did not split apart in pieces.

Benedictus went on to register the first safety glass patent in 1909 after bonding a piece of plastic cellulose between two sheets of glass. Using Prince Rupert’s method of immediately chilling the glass, the safety glass becomes much stronger and if it does crack, it will not shatter.

Today, there are two types of bullet resistant glass: solid acrylic or laminated polycarbonate. Solid acrylic is just as its name suggests – a solid sheet of acrylic either 1-1/4” or 1-3/8” thick depending on the level of protection required. Laminated polycarbonate is made by layering polycarbonate, a heavy-duty clear plastic, between two sheets of glass and laminating it all together. It can be ¾”, 1” or 1-1/4” thick depending on the level of protection. While a bullet will pierce the exterior glass layer of laminated polycarbonate, the inner layers absorb the bullet’s energy stopping it from penetrating through the entire piece of glass.

Read “Rogers Man Admits to Robberies” by John Henley Jr., NWAOnline.net.

Read more interesting facts about the Declaration of Independence and enjoy your holiday weekend!

“Bulletproof fortifications around tellers in banks — known as “bandit barriers” [. . .] — have pitted banks and the police against each other in a policy argument over safety, expense and businesses’ rights to manage their own security.”

Read “Banks and Police Clash Over Proposal for Bulletproof Barriers” by Dominick Tao, The New York Times.

By Frank Lombardi

Bank stickups will be the talk of City Hall on Monday.

With the backing of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the City Council is moving ahead with a bill to mandate that all 1,698 bank branches in the city erect “bandit barriers” around their tellers.

The bill specifies that bullet resistant barriers or partitions be installed to prevent individuals from getting access “to the protected area where the tellers transact business.”

Failure to erect such barriers will carry a fine of up to $1,500 for each violation, plus an additional fine of as much as $1,500 if the violation isn’t corrected and a $1,000 fine for each day the violation goes uncorrected.

Many banks do have such barriers, but the tougher ballistic standards required in the bill might force them to build new ones.

Banking industry officials will get a chance to sound off at a public hearing this morning being held at City Hall by the Council’s Public Safety Committee.

The bill was prompted by a 26% spike in bank robberies during the first quarter of this year, on top of the 57% increase in robberies last year over the prior year.

However, industry officials report that the robbery rate has fallen since March. A total of 135 robberies were reported through June 23, compared with 192 for the same period last year – a drop of 30%.

In the past, Kelly has expressed special concern about the bank branches now owned by TD Bank, which acquired Commerce Bank last year. The 73 TD/Commerce Bank branches around the city were hit by robbers 46 times last year.

None of the TD Bank branches have bandit barriers; the lack of them is intended to give customers a more inviting atmosphere.

Lawrence Sherman, a criminologist who is a consultant for TD Bank, said, “Not one customer or employee has been injured in the course of a robbery” at any TD/Commerce branch in the city since they began operating in 2001.

But the bill’s main sponsor, Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), blasted TD Bank’s lack of barriers, saying: “Chase branches all have . . . → Read More: Banking on bandit barriers: Bill would make them mandatory in city]]> Taken from nydailynews.com.

By Frank Lombardi

Bank stickups will be the talk of City Hall on Monday.

With the backing of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the City Council is moving ahead with a bill to mandate that all 1,698 bank branches in the city erect “bandit barriers” around their tellers.

The bill specifies that bullet resistant barriers or partitions be installed to prevent individuals from getting access “to the protected area where the tellers transact business.”

Failure to erect such barriers will carry a fine of up to $1,500 for each violation, plus an additional fine of as much as $1,500 if the violation isn’t corrected and a $1,000 fine for each day the violation goes uncorrected.

Many banks do have such barriers, but the tougher ballistic standards required in the bill might force them to build new ones.

Banking industry officials will get a chance to sound off at a public hearing this morning being held at City Hall by the Council’s Public Safety Committee.

The bill was prompted by a 26% spike in bank robberies during the first quarter of this year, on top of the 57% increase in robberies last year over the prior year.

However, industry officials report that the robbery rate has fallen since March. A total of 135 robberies were reported through June 23, compared with 192 for the same period last year – a drop of 30%.

In the past, Kelly has expressed special concern about the bank branches now owned by TD Bank, which acquired Commerce Bank last year. The 73 TD/Commerce Bank branches around the city were hit by robbers 46 times last year.

None of the TD Bank branches have bandit barriers; the lack of them is intended to give customers a more inviting atmosphere.

Lawrence Sherman, a criminologist who is a consultant for TD Bank, said, “Not one customer or employee has been injured in the course of a robbery” at any TD/Commerce branch in the city since they began operating in 2001.

But the bill’s main sponsor, Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), blasted TD Bank’s lack of barriers, saying: “Chase branches all have the barriers; so do Citibank’s. It’s crazy they are so adamant” about not having them.

Taken from LansingCityPulse.com.

By Angela Vasquez-Giroux; published Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

An East Lansing prosecutor has declined to press assault charges against a Lansing City Council gadfly after an altercation with a Councilwoman last month, but efforts to beef up security at Lansing City Council meetings are ongoing.

Third Ward Councilwoman A’Lynne Robinson was involved in an altercation with Charlene Decker, one of Robinson’s constituents, after a May 28 Council Committee of the Whole meeting. Robinson sought an assault charge claiming that what started as an argument over public comment rights ended in a physical altercation.

“After reading the police report and conferring with the victim, I did not issue assault or assault and battery charges, simply because the touching did not appear to be intentional,” Tom Yeadon, an East Lansing prosecutor, said.

Robinson had accused Decker of grabbing her finger, which allegedly happened as Robinson swatted Decker´s finger away as Decker pointed it in her face. Lansing City Attorney Brig Smith was a witness to the incident, which is why Yeadon was given jurisdiction over the case.

While Yeadon was determining whether to file charges, Robinson held a meeting with City Clerk Chris Swope, Lansing Police Department Capt. Edward Forrest, Council administrative assistant Therese Horn and Smith.

The outcome was a list of suggestions, like locking doors and holding all meetings in Council chambers.

But loftier suggestions would have the saloon-style doors that separate Council from the audience fitted with electronic locks controlled by the Council president. Earlier this year, Lansing resident Barry Schiffer kicked open those doors and angrily approached Council after a profane tirade — including talking about is AK-47 — that ended with him being subdued by police.

Other ideas include adding bulletproof glass to the barrier separating the audience from the Council and installing cameras in stairwells and other areas around Council chambers.

First Ward Councilman Eric Hewitt says that he doesn´t think safety is an issue and wondered aloud about the cost of the safety measures.

Robinson, however, feels the security . . . → Read More: Bullet proof]]> New security measures discussed for City Hall following a scrap between a Councilwoman and a Council “regular.”

Taken from LansingCityPulse.com.

By Angela Vasquez-Giroux; published Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

An East Lansing prosecutor has declined to press assault charges against a Lansing City Council gadfly after an altercation with a Councilwoman last month, but efforts to beef up security at Lansing City Council meetings are ongoing.

Third Ward Councilwoman A’Lynne Robinson was involved in an altercation with Charlene Decker, one of Robinson’s constituents, after a May 28 Council Committee of the Whole meeting. Robinson sought an assault charge claiming that what started as an argument over public comment rights ended in a physical altercation.

“After reading the police report and conferring with the victim, I did not issue assault or assault and battery charges, simply because the touching did not appear to be intentional,” Tom Yeadon, an East Lansing prosecutor, said.

Robinson had accused Decker of grabbing her finger, which allegedly happened as Robinson swatted Decker´s finger away as Decker pointed it in her face. Lansing City Attorney Brig Smith was a witness to the incident, which is why Yeadon was given jurisdiction over the case.

While Yeadon was determining whether to file charges, Robinson held a meeting with City Clerk Chris Swope, Lansing Police Department Capt. Edward Forrest, Council administrative assistant Therese Horn and Smith.

The outcome was a list of suggestions, like locking doors and holding all meetings in Council chambers.

But loftier suggestions would have the saloon-style doors that separate Council from the audience fitted with electronic locks controlled by the Council president. Earlier this year, Lansing resident Barry Schiffer kicked open those doors and angrily approached Council after a profane tirade — including talking about is AK-47 — that ended with him being subdued by police.

Other ideas include adding bulletproof glass to the barrier separating the audience from the Council and installing cameras in stairwells and other areas around Council chambers.

First Ward Councilman Eric Hewitt says that he doesn´t think safety is an issue and wondered aloud about the cost of the safety measures.

Robinson, however, feels the security is necessary. For Robinson, the direct access to Council by the public is a concern. Rules were changed recently so that members of the public are no longer able to access the hallways behind Council chambers.

The escalation in incidents over the past six months has shown a need for increased safety measures, Robinson said.

“I don´t know that state legislators have been threatened with AK-47s, or called racial epithets,” she said after being informed that there is less security in some state buildings. “We have.”

A U.S. House subcommittee has approved $3.5 million for security improvements at Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 7 entrance on Martin Road, according to U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith.

The money – included in the Pentagon’s 2010 construction budget – will be used to build a guard house, canopy, guard booths and a covered vehicle inspection station. Anti-terrorist protections measures, including security lighting, bullet resistant glass at the guard house and booths, among other upgrades, are also included in the cost.

The project must now be approved by the House Appropriations Committee for Military Construction and the full House and signed by the president.

In addition, we provided bulletproof wood doors, which are made of plastic laminate or wood veneer over fiberglass bullet-resistant sheathing, with or without vision windows.

By Julie Landry Laviolette; published Friday, June 12, 2009.

One year ago today, a 58-year-old man called 911 from the parking lot of Davie police headquarters on Nob Hill Road. He told the operator he had a 38-caliber gun and was going to shoot himself.

Officers were dispatched to the scene. They secured the parking lot and tried to talk the man out of it as he stood next to his vehicle, the gun to his head. But they were unsuccessful.

That suicide was one of the catalysts that prompted the Davie Police Department to plan a lobby renovation to increase security. Construction will begin later this summer and is scheduled to be completed by the fall, said the city’s public information officer, Maj. Craig Richards.

”The world is becoming more violent and police are becoming more of a target,” Richards said. “At our front desk are volunteers, civilians, light-duty officers — people who are not used to being in confrontations and are not armed. Why not take steps to protect your people?”

The $250,000 project will add bullet-proof glass to the reception area, where citizens can file police reports and request records. A portion of the lobby hallway will be sealed off with a desk and bulletproof glass and the old records room will be used as a juvenile holding area and for other needs. The number of video surveillance cameras already has been increased from 19 to 41.

An interactive computer kiosk also will be added to the lobby to allow residents to file police reports online that don’t require immediate attention, eliminating the need for an officer to come off the street to take every report, Richards said.

The project will be paid for with impact fees the town allots to the police department to improve its services.

The renovations will put the Davie headquarters on par with many other police departments, which typically use bulletproof glass and other security methods to protect personnel, Richards said.

Police Chief Patrick Lynn, who wasn’t with the Davie Police Department when its headquarters were completed in 1999, . . . → Read More: Police to beef up security at headquarters]]>

Taken from The Miami Herald.

By Julie Landry Laviolette; published Friday, June 12, 2009.

One year ago today, a 58-year-old man called 911 from the parking lot of Davie police headquarters on Nob Hill Road. He told the operator he had a 38-caliber gun and was going to shoot himself.

Officers were dispatched to the scene. They secured the parking lot and tried to talk the man out of it as he stood next to his vehicle, the gun to his head. But they were unsuccessful.

That suicide was one of the catalysts that prompted the Davie Police Department to plan a lobby renovation to increase security. Construction will begin later this summer and is scheduled to be completed by the fall, said the city’s public information officer, Maj. Craig Richards.

”The world is becoming more violent and police are becoming more of a target,” Richards said. “At our front desk are volunteers, civilians, light-duty officers — people who are not used to being in confrontations and are not armed. Why not take steps to protect your people?”

The $250,000 project will add bullet-proof glass to the reception area, where citizens can file police reports and request records. A portion of the lobby hallway will be sealed off with a desk and bulletproof glass and the old records room will be used as a juvenile holding area and for other needs. The number of video surveillance cameras already has been increased from 19 to 41.

An interactive computer kiosk also will be added to the lobby to allow residents to file police reports online that don’t require immediate attention, eliminating the need for an officer to come off the street to take every report, Richards said.

The project will be paid for with impact fees the town allots to the police department to improve its services.

The renovations will put the Davie headquarters on par with many other police departments, which typically use bulletproof glass and other security methods to protect personnel, Richards said.

Police Chief Patrick Lynn, who wasn’t with the Davie Police Department when its headquarters were completed in 1999, said he doesn’t know why the additional security measures weren’t in the initial plans.

”I don’t know, but times have changed” in the post-Sept. 11 world, he said. “We have managed it and we are managing it.”

Richards speculates the idea of community policing and a community-friendly look was more popular before Sept. 11. ”Unfortunately, some people want to make a statement and take the police with them,” Richards said. “We arm our people and put them in bulletproof vests. Why not arm our building?”

Other developments at the Davie Police Department include:

• A partnership with www.nixle.com, where residents can register to receive updates about neighborhood crime, school lockdowns and other Davie Police Department news by e-mail, text or through a website. Residents can complete a free registration at www.nixle.com.

• The Police to Citizen program, which will allow residents to search and retrieve any police reports that are public record and online. This system should be up this summer, Richards said.

• A 7,648-square-foot indoor shooting range is being planned at the headquarters. The $2.6 million project will be paid for with funds seized from drug arrests, Richards said. Officers now train at Markham Park’s shooting range in Sunrise.

”This will actually save taxpayers money,” said Chief Lynn. “We pay $12,000 a year to use the Markham Park range. We won’t have to do that anymore.”

DUSTING: Dust bullet resistant acrylic with a soft cloth or chamois, wiping gently. NO paper towels.

WASHING: Wash bullet resistant glass with a mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water solution. Use a clean soft cloth or natural sponge and as much solution as possible. Rinse well. Dry by blotting with a damp cloth or chamois. Grease and oil are best with hexans, kerosene or aliphatic naptha. AROMATIC COMPOUNDS MUST NOT BE USED.

ANTI-STATIC COATING:  The anti-static coating on bullet proof acrylic successfully prevents the accumulation of electrostatic charge. Between applications of the anti-static coating, bullet resistant glass only needs to be dusted with a soft damp cloth or chamois. Mild detergents (for example 1% Joy in water) provide good anti–static properties while serving as excellent cleaners for bullet proof acrylic.

POLISHING: After cleaning and polishing, the bullet resistant acrylic may be waxed with a good grade of commercial wax. Waxing will improve the appearance of the bullet proof glass by filling in minor scratches. The wax should be applied in a thin even coat and brought to high gloss by rubbing lightly with a soft dry cloth.

SCRATCH REMOVAL (for uncoated bullet proof glass): Most minor scratches can be removed by hand polishing. The polish should be applied with damp pads of soft cotton flannel and rubbed parallel to the scratch in a straight back and forth motion. Excessive rubbing at one point should be avoided. Electric buffers should not be used; they will form depressions in the surface of the bullet resistant acrylic causing optical distortions.

DO NOT USE:

Published Monday, June 8, . . . → Read More: ‘Red Line Robber’ strikes again in River North]]> Taken from STNG Wire Reports.

Published Monday, June 8, 2009.

A bank branch in the River North area was robbed Monday afternoon and the FBI suspects the “Red Line Robber,” who is believed to have struck at least eight banks.

The robbery happened about 2:25 p.m. at the Charter One Bank branch at 33 W. Grand Ave., according to police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor.

The robber — who unconfirmed sources said was wearing sunglasses — displayed a weapon, though he did not fire it, and no one was injured, Taylor said. He got away with an undetermined amount of cash, and there was a dye pack included, Taylor said.

Investigators believe the robber is the “Red Line Robber,”who is a serial bank robber now suspected n eight thefts from Chicago banks dating to January, FBI spokesman Ross Rice said. He earned his name because all of the branches are located near CTA Red Line stations.

Further details about Monday’s incident were not yet available and FBI agents remained at the scene as of about 4 p.m., he said.

The most recent robbery Red Line bank robbery occurred May 12 at the MB Financial Bank branch at 1 E. Wacker Dr. The day before, the same robber entered the Chase Bank branch in the 6400 block of North Sheridan Road but left without attempting a robbery after he apparently noticed the teller’s area was encased in bulletproof glass.

He is described as a black male with medium build, 30 to 35, 6 feet to 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He has worn sunglasses, a dark-colored baseball cap and a black colored bomber jacket during most robberies.

He is considered armed and dangerous because he carries a handgun, and the FBI believes he rides the CTA to and from the robberies.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the identification of the suspect. Anyone with information should call the FBI at (312) 421-6700.

The TSS-MK1 Talk Thru can be integrated into a variety of bullet proof barriers in which voice communication is important, such as bullet resistant transaction windows or bullet proof walk-up windows commonly found in banks or convenience stores.

Due to Total Security Solutions’ in-house manufacturing capabilities, the TSS-MK1 Talk Thru is available at a siginificantly reduced cost in comparison to other similar bullet proof products. To order the TSS-MK1 Talk Thru, call 1-800-513-1468 or email info@demandtss.com.

By Tierney Plumb; published Wednesday, May 27, 2009.

The Four Seasons Hotel unveiled its 4,000-square-foot royal suite — the biggest in D.C. — just in time for Inauguration Day, and it has steadily accommodated royalty and celebrities in its first few months of existence.

It is the Georgetown hotel’s sixth suite, and its amenities include a wooden private patio, gym, library, Bang & Olufsen systems and bullet-resistant glass.

Designed by Anderson/Miller Ltd., the suite is accented by wool and silk blend rugs, rich woods and iridescent shell detail.

The foyer welcomes guests with a Swarovski crystal ceiling shining down on sparkling stone mosaic tiling. The dining room, which fits 10, sits adjacent to a 1,000 square-foot outdoor patio with a fire pit that overlooks Georgetown.

Complimentary perks at the $12,500-per-night suite include car service and a personalized shopper. While the 222-room hotel remains mum about guest lists, the first to stay during Inauguration — reportedly Oprah Winfrey — did a “happy dance” when she entered the suite, said a spokeswoman. The suite is currently booked for the first half of June with many tentative bookings for the coming months, she added.

For guests traveling with entourages, the entire wing the suite lives in can be closed off to include eight bedrooms totalling nearly 9,000 square feet.

Jim Richards, the Vice President of Total Security Solutions, spent Monday, May 18th showing the Modern Marvels crew around their facility and walking them through the bullet proof glass barrier manufacturing process. Jim discussed the most common bullet resistant barriers, including arch window and baffle window systems.

Total Security Solutions also demonstrated how a bullet resistant barrier system goes from a single sheet of bullet resistant transparency – either acrylic, polycarbonate, glass-clad polycarbonate or bullet proof glass – to a complete bullet resistant barrier. Using a computer-driven manufacturing process, Total Security Solutions is able to take a precise architectural CAD drawing and output all the required system components to their exact specifications.

Modern Marvels focuses on technology, the history behind it, and how it is used in today’s society. The bank security episode is scheduled to air in October/November 2009.

By: The Editors, Dolores and Dave Barr

Just 10 days after it was robbed earlier this month, the Wachovia Bank in the Towne Center shopping area at 12310 Seal Beach Blvd. was robbed again this past Friday. This is the third robbery of a Seal Beach Wachovia Bank and the fifth West Orange County bank robbery this year. Unlike the other 2 Wachovia robberies, this time, the suspect did not use a bicycle to escape.

In addition to the 3 robberies at Wachovia Banks, there has been one at the Bank Of America in Los Alamitos, and one at the Washington Mutual in Seal Beach. The FBI arrested Brian Keith Robinson, 49, of Los Angeles, in connection with the January 10 robbery of the Seal Beach Washington Mutual bank. The other suspects remain at large.

On Friday, May 15, 2009 the Seal Beach Police Department received a call via the emergency 911 system which indicated the Wachovia Bank located in the Towne Center shopping area had just been robbed. Responding Officers contacted employees of the bank and found that a male subject had entered the bank and walked to a teller window, presented a note and demanded money. The suspect then ran southbound through the parking lot, out of sight.

The robbery suspect is described as a male black in his 30’s with a medium complexion, a bushy moustache, 5-8 in height, having a muscular build. The suspect was wearing a light “hoodie” sweat shirt, a dark golfer’s type of cap, with dark knee length pants and dark shoes.

There was no weapon seen and the suspect was last seen on foot. The loss was an undetermined amount of cash. Anyone that may have additional information is requested to contact Detective Gary Krogman at the Seal Beach Police Department (562) 799-4100 extension 1108.

The following are a few new features to check out:

Easily request additional information on any bullet resistant product featured on the Total Security Solutions web site by clicking the Order Now button under the product image. You will also be able to select other products that you are interested in on the same request form. Your submitted request will be forwarded to our sales team for immediate attention.

We have also enhanced our Resources and Planning Tools section enabling architects, contractors, and other industries interested in bullet resistant barriers easy access to view and download product images, detailed spec information, and CAD drawings.

For quick reference, use the Protection Level rating system affiliated with each bullet resistant product to select the appropriate product for your security needs. Read more about the UL Protection Level Ratings.

By: Al Baker

One bank robber is aggressive. He always waves a black or silver pistol. He often pulls a scarf over his face and shouts orders to the tellers.

Robbing a bank with partial “bandit barriers,” the thief passed a note and got cash, the police say.

Five days later, at a bank without barriers, the police say, the thief again used a note and got cash.

The other is more passive. He passes notes across the counter and walks away if rebuffed. He wears a hat and glasses and strikes mostly late in the day.

The police say these two men have hit bank branches 24 times in New York City this year, and are largely why the number of bank robberies, after surging last year, is on track to be even higher in 2009.

“We’ll get them,” said Deputy Inspector Charles P. Neacy, sitting at 1 Police Plaza with files on the two robbers in his hands. “As they keep doing them, we are able to pick up additional evidence, whatever it might be.”

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly has expressed concern over the frequency of bank robberies and the seeming ease in carrying them out, particularly at certain branches. He met in January with executives of major banks to push a set of “best practices” for security that were developed in 2003, during the last wave of robberies. Inspector Neacy, who commands the Major Case Squad, has followed up with branch managers.

Now, in the face of a surge, Mr. Kelly said he might push for a city law first contemplated six years ago to require dividers of reinforced glass between customers and tellers, along with other measures he believes would help deter the crimes and lead to more arrests.

He said that he was happy with the cooperation he was getting from most banks, but that he had met some resistance from TD Bank, which detectives say is vulnerable because of an environment bank officials see as more inviting than daunting, with open counters and no partitions. “I am not satisfied with their response,” the commissioner . . . → Read More: Police Stress Deterrence Measures as Bank Robberies Surge in the City]]> Taken from NYTimes.com.

By: Al Baker

One bank robber is aggressive. He always waves a black or silver pistol. He often pulls a scarf over his face and shouts orders to the tellers.

Robbing a bank with partial “bandit barriers,” the thief passed a note and got cash, the police say.

Five days later, at a bank without barriers, the police say, the thief again used a note and got cash.

The other is more passive. He passes notes across the counter and walks away if rebuffed. He wears a hat and glasses and strikes mostly late in the day.

The police say these two men have hit bank branches 24 times in New York City this year, and are largely why the number of bank robberies, after surging last year, is on track to be even higher in 2009.

“We’ll get them,” said Deputy Inspector Charles P. Neacy, sitting at 1 Police Plaza with files on the two robbers in his hands. “As they keep doing them, we are able to pick up additional evidence, whatever it might be.”

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly has expressed concern over the frequency of bank robberies and the seeming ease in carrying them out, particularly at certain branches. He met in January with executives of major banks to push a set of “best practices” for security that were developed in 2003, during the last wave of robberies. Inspector Neacy, who commands the Major Case Squad, has followed up with branch managers.

Now, in the face of a surge, Mr. Kelly said he might push for a city law first contemplated six years ago to require dividers of reinforced glass between customers and tellers, along with other measures he believes would help deter the crimes and lead to more arrests.

He said that he was happy with the cooperation he was getting from most banks, but that he had met some resistance from TD Bank, which detectives say is vulnerable because of an environment bank officials see as more inviting than daunting, with open counters and no partitions. “I am not satisfied with their response,” the commissioner said of his talks with TD, which bought Commerce Bank last year.

Rebecca Acevedo, a bank spokeswoman, said TD followed most safety recommendations but eschewed “bandit barriers” because studies showed that they heightened chances for danger.

“We believe the bandit barriers place customers and employees at risk because they cannot all be behind the barriers,” she said. “So that means it increases the likelihood that a customer or employee could be subject to violence or used as a hostage.”

Besides barriers, the police want banks to use guards or greeters — TD branches do this — who might deter would-be criminals by their presence. They also want banks to use dye packs when filling bags with cash, to put height markers by doorways to determine heights of suspects, and to have countertops on which a robber can leave fingerprints.

Michael P. Smith, the president of the New York Bankers Association, a group that represents commercial banks and thrift institutions in the state, including 1,600 branches in the city, said he would prefer that banks tailor their own security plans rather than have blanket directives foisted upon them by law.

“There is a difference of opinion in security, from a consumption standpoint and a law enforcement standpoint, about whether bandit barriers provide a deterrent,” he said. “Our view is that every possible security procedure should be explored, and I know that the individual banks that have been mentioned, that don’t have bandit barriers, are having conversations with the department to either put in bandit barriers or make other security enhancements.”

The police say that banks with barriers do get robbed, but that their data shows it happens less often than at banks with no barriers. For instance, TD Bank has one of the highest instances of being robbed: This year, there have been 11 robberies among its 69 branches, while there have been 6 among Chase’s 275 branches.

To make the point, Inspector Neacy said that the note-passing thief tried to hit three Chase branches on March 2, before giving up because at each branch a teller — behind bullet-resistant glass — walked away. The suspect then went to a TD Bank with no bandit barriers. “He passes a note and gets cash,” he said.

Last year, banks were robbed 444 times in the city, more than one robbery for each day — and a 57 percent increase over 2007. The police figures reflect all holdups, regardless of whether a suspect left with cash.

This year, bank robberies through March 11 increased to 80 from 54 in the same period last year. More often than not, the thief is caught; since Jan. 1, the police have made arrests in 65 cases, though some were for robberies that occurred before 2009.

Surveillance video and other clues have led officers to believe that the same gun-wielding man has robbed bank branches 11 times and the note-passer 13. All but one of those robberies were in Manhattan.

The note-passer has struck between 4 and 5:30 p.m., entering a bank and producing a note that states he has a gun and wants money. Twice, he hit the same HSBC branch at Eighth Avenue and 14th Street.

Once, in an apparent slip-up, he passed a blank piece of paper, prompting the teller to say, “What’s this?” He left. The police described him as white, about 25 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet, and 160 to 190 pounds.

The second suspect is intimidating and persistent. “If one teller refuses, he’ll go to another,” said David Caskey, the bank robbery coordinator for the F.B.I. and Police Department’s Joint Bank Robbery Task Force, formed in 1979.

That man usually walks in wearing a hat and gloves, pulls a scarf over his face and waves a gun. He is black, in his mid-30s, 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-4, and 195 to 225 pounds.

When the police arrest suspects, detectives ask them about their methods and why they pick the banks they do.

“What they tell us is they’re looking for the easy hits,” Inspector Neacy said.

Bank robbery suspects trade information in jail about easy marks, he said, and jail guards at Rikers Island have even found notes that inmates wrote to teach other inmates how to do it.

“They were practicing,” Inspector Neacy said.

By: Alison Gendar

Bandits have hit TD Bank branches 11 times this year – prompting the NYPD to send management a warning letter saying its banks are the most vulnerable in the city.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly wanted TD, which took over Commerce Bank, to beef up security.

“It is simply unacceptable to put business decisions before public safety,” Kelly wrote.

As if to prove Kelly’s point, a prolific thief successfully robbed $1,000 from a TD branch on Ninth Ave. Monday – after being rebuffed at three Chase branches.

The difference between the two banks: Chase tellers work behind protective barriers; TD’s transactions are in the open.

This same thief is wanted in 12 bank robberies in Manhattan since Jan. 26, police said.

Such repeat offenders are why heists at all banks jumped 57% last year and are up 26% through March 1 this year. TD, which has 69 city branches, accounted for 17% of the robberies this year.

Arrests are also up – 88% – but Kelly and the NYPD’s major case squad have launched a campaign to deter holdups by getting banks to redesign branches that look more like living rooms than places to safeguard cash.

The NYPD wants barriers in front of teller’s windows, eye-level cameras and countertops designed to leave clear fingerprints – and sources said Kelly might ask the City Council to mandate some security measures.

If banks don’t comply, the NYPD will push legislation requiring bandit barriers, high-ranking police sources said.

JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Capital One have started retooling security. TD has made no promises.

“We don’t believe saying that we have a disproportionate amount of robberies is a fair portrayal of us,” TD spokeswoman Rebecca Acevedo said.

Chase installed imposing teller barriers, new counters and eye-level cameras at its bandit-prone 355 Lexington Ave. branch. Similar changes are planned for its other WaMu branches.

In 2008, 21 of Wachovia’s 24 branches were robbed. Wachovia’s new owners, Wells Fargo, lost no time this year to revamp two branches. Capital One has put in bid to install so-called bandit barriers.

Anyone with information in regard . . . → Read More: Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly tells TD Bank to put public safety first after heists]]> Taken from nydailynews.com.

By: Alison Gendar

Bandits have hit TD Bank branches 11 times this year – prompting the NYPD to send management a warning letter saying its banks are the most vulnerable in the city.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly wanted TD, which took over Commerce Bank, to beef up security.

“It is simply unacceptable to put business decisions before public safety,” Kelly wrote.

As if to prove Kelly’s point, a prolific thief successfully robbed $1,000 from a TD branch on Ninth Ave. Monday – after being rebuffed at three Chase branches.

The difference between the two banks: Chase tellers work behind protective barriers; TD’s transactions are in the open.

This same thief is wanted in 12 bank robberies in Manhattan since Jan. 26, police said.

Such repeat offenders are why heists at all banks jumped 57% last year and are up 26% through March 1 this year. TD, which has 69 city branches, accounted for 17% of the robberies this year.

Arrests are also up – 88% – but Kelly and the NYPD’s major case squad have launched a campaign to deter holdups by getting banks to redesign branches that look more like living rooms than places to safeguard cash.

The NYPD wants barriers in front of teller’s windows, eye-level cameras and countertops designed to leave clear fingerprints – and sources said Kelly might ask the City Council to mandate some security measures.

If banks don’t comply, the NYPD will push legislation requiring bandit barriers, high-ranking police sources said.

JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Capital One have started retooling security. TD has made no promises.

“We don’t believe saying that we have a disproportionate amount of robberies is a fair portrayal of us,” TD spokeswoman Rebecca Acevedo said.

Chase installed imposing teller barriers, new counters and eye-level cameras at its bandit-prone 355 Lexington Ave. branch. Similar changes are planned for its other WaMu branches.

In 2008, 21 of Wachovia’s 24 branches were robbed. Wachovia’s new owners, Wells Fargo, lost no time this year to revamp two branches. Capital One has put in bid to install so-called bandit barriers.

Anyone with information in regard to these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).