ASTM F1915: Glazing for Containment-Grade Protection

Facilities that house or treat high-risk individuals—whether inmates, patients, or detainees—face a different kind of security challenge. The threat doesn’t need to breach a perimeter. It may already be in the room.

The ASTM F1915 standard was developed specifically to evaluate the performance of glazing used in window and door assemblies in detention and correctional environments. It is often referenced for behavioral health applications seeking detention-style containment performance. It sets minimum performance criteria for materials designed to contain threats.

What Is ASTM F1915?

ASTM F1915 is a standard test method used to assess the containment-grade durability and penetration resistance of security glazing used in detention and correctional facilities. It is purpose-built for environments where staff, residents, or individuals in custody share secured spaces—and where controlling movement and minimizing risk is critical.

Rather than testing against bullets or coordinated break-ins, F1915 measures how well glazing stands up to three real-world assault types:

• Blunt force impacts, such as repeated blows from a steel stool leg or heavy object
• Sharp impact attacks, using a sharp impactor with a tip similar to the end of a new fireman’s axe (not a knife or blade)
• Sustained torch and small blunt impacts, simulating a combined attack with flame and force (not flame alone)

In F1915, the primary endpoint is forcible egress: an opening large enough to pass a 5 × 8 × 8 in. rigid box with no more than 10 lbf of force. While fragmentation or material loss may be design considerations, they are not failure criteria under the standard.

ASTM F1915 Standard Test Methods for Glazing

To pass the ASTM F1915 test, materials must endure:

• A series of weighted blunt strikes from a pendulum or impactor
• Penetration attempts using a sharp-pointed impactor with axe-like sharpness
• A combined propane torch flame exposure (1800–2000°F blue flame, 60° angle, 2 in. stand-off) plus repeated small blunt impacts

The flame test is not performed in isolation. Instead, it's part of the “Torch and Small Blunt Impactor Test,” which simulates a dual-threat condition where glazing is attacked by flame and force simultaneously.

Failure is defined as the creation of an opening large enough to allow a 5 × 8 × 8 in. rigid box to pass through with 10 pounds or less of force. Any breach that does not meet this condition does not constitute failure by ASTM F1915 definitions.

Glazing materials that meet these standards are typically multi-layered systems, including laminated polycarbonate, glass-clad polycarbonate, or specialty acrylics, selected for their combination of impact resistance, containment performance, and safety.

Where ASTM F1915 Applies in Security Glazing

This standard is most relevant for window and door glazing in detention and correctional environments, especially where human behavior is unpredictable, or individuals may attempt to escape, cause harm, or tamper with secure barriers.

It is also frequently referenced in behavioral health and psychiatric environments where containment-grade protection is needed.

Typical applications include:

• Detention center cell doors and observation windows
• Behavioral health quiet rooms, nurse stations, or seclusion areas
• Psychiatric emergency intake areas
• Juvenile facility corridor glazing
• Secure hospital wards

In these environments, the goal is containment: preventing unauthorized movement, minimizing escalation, and protecting staff and individuals in crisis.

Glazing for Detention Facilities: How ASTM F1915 Fits Into a Layered Security Strategy

As the nature of institutional violence changes, so must the protective measures used to stop it.

In today’s detention and correctional facilities, individuals may not act impulsively but rather plan. They may have tools. They may have time. ASTM F1915 remains a critical part of the solution to determine resistance and deliver protection, but it’s increasingly seen as the baseline versus the finish line.

To align with current risk assessments, security professionals are now layering F1915-tested materials with other performance standards:

• ASTM F1233 covers sustained forced-entry using hand tools—ideal for situations where an attacker is working to breach a barrier over time.
• UL 752 addresses ballistic threats, evaluating how materials respond to live fire from common handguns and rifles.

Each standard speaks to a different threat: impulse, intent, and firepower. By combining them, facilities create a layered defense strategy that reflects real-world risks and affords staff more time to respond.

Bringing These Three Standards Together

Total Security Solutions offers detention glazing systems tested to meet the full spectrum of threats: ASTM F1915 for impulsive attacks, ASTM F1233 for sustained forced-entry, and UL 752 for ballistic protection.

Whether you're designing new construction or upgrading existing infrastructure, TSS glazing detention glazing performs under real-world conditions, offering protection against the kind of violence detention facilities face every day.

For more information about our detention glazing solutions, contact us.