Key Takeaways:
- Commercial glazing solutions must be tailored to each project’s needs, including security, design, performance, and compliance.
- Understanding protection levels, forced entry resistance, and energy efficiency are essential.
- Acrylic, polycarbonate, glass-clad polycarbonate, and insulated glass all offer different benefits based on site needs.
- TSS provides end-to-end support and U.S.-based manufacturing to deliver peace of mind, quickly.
When choosing glazing solutions for a commercial building, the standard goal is to strike a balance between performance and presentation.
In today’s world, that balance includes a third dynamic: physical security.
Bullet-resistant commercial glazing is no longer limited to banks, major venues, or government facilities.
More businesses are opting for ballistic glass to protect employees, customers, and property from rising threats without sacrificing functionality or design.
The good news is that contractors don’t have to choose between safety and aesthetics.
With the right partner, you can find a ballistic glazing solution that fits your timeline, budget, and project goals.
(If you're just getting started, our Ballistic Glazing Solutions guide is a great resource.)
Understand the Protection You Need
Before selecting any commercial glazing, determine the level of ballistic and forced-entry protection you’ll need.
UL 752 is the most common industry standard for bullet-resistant glazing and ranges from materials tested to stop bullets, from handguns to rifles.
Most commercial applications use materials tested to Levels 1 to 3, while certain types of government and military buildings may require higher levels of protection. The glazing will be thicker and heavier as the required levels of protection increase.
ASTM F1233-21 is another common standard by which materials are tested for resistance to forced entry attempts.
This standard allows evaluators to gauge solutions according to the tools, techniques and methods an attacker uses, and the time they have to potentially gain access.
If your protection standard is unspecified, our team can help you determine which is most appropriate based on the building type, location, and potential threats.
Match the Material to the Space
Each ballistic glazing material has trade-offs in weight, visibility, durability, and application. TSS offers four main categories:
Acrylic
Acrylic bulletproof glass is lightweight with high visible light transmission/clarity (above 90%), and is the most shapable of all the material choices. It is ideal for interior use. It is available in UL 752 Levels 1 and 2. As a plastic, it is scratchable; however, a scratch-resistant coating is available to make it more resistant to scratches and damage from cleaning products (although we recommend avoiding harsh chemicals when cleaning them).
Polycarbonate & Laminated Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate glass offers higher ballistic and forced-entry protection than acrylic. It is also lightweight and depending on makeup offers visible light transmission/clarity in the 75% to 85% range. Polycarbonate is also ideal for interior use and has a scratch-resistant coating as a standard feature. It is available in protection levels from 1 to 3, making it an excellent choice to defeat handgun threats.
Glass-Clad Polycarbonate (GCP)
Offering the highest levels of protection, glass-clad polycarbonate is comprised of glass panels laminated together with one or more polycarbonate panels included for spall reduction or elimination. Learn more about low spall or no spall options and which to choose depending on if it’s in a space where people are likely to be directly behind the glass. GCP is available in protection levels from 1 to 8.
The exterior-facing glass panel resists the elements well, making it ideal for exterior doors, windows, storefronts, or curtain walls. It can be used on both interiors and exteriors, and is manufactured with an air gap for insulation for exterior use.
Insulated Glass
Ballistic insulated glass is ideal for applications where both thermal performance and security matter.
It can be designed for UL 752 protection up to Level 7 and can be tested to meet forced entry standards as well. Insulated glass units (IGUs) are available in both GCP and all-glass makeups. The GCP versions offer protection to Level 7, while the all-glass makeups offer protection to Level 3.
Need more help understanding the differences and evaluating your options? Watch this short video.
Consider Glazing Weight and Thickness
Ballistic glazing is heavier and thicker than standard commercial glazing. One square foot of Level 1 glass weighs almost eight pounds, while Level 8 glass-clad polycarbonate weighs close to 25 pounds per square foot.
Without the proper infrastructure and ballistic framing to support this weight, it won’t fit the space properly or offer the right protection.
We offer aluminum, hollow metal frames, and stainless steel frames that are designed to fit the thickness and aesthetics of the glazing, whether you want a frame that offers thermal protection or your need is a high-end finish for historical or corporate buildings.
You’ll also need to consider the dimensions of the space as you evaluate your glazing options.
Because of the way glass-clad polycarbonate and laminated polycarbonate are manufactured, there are size limitations to factor in if you want to avoid visible lines. Glass-clad polycarbonate has a maximum size of 60 by 120 inches, while laminated polycarbonate and acrylic have a maximum size of 72 by 120 inches.
Consider Daylight, Display and Design
Ballistic glass is thicker than standard glass, which can affect light transmission.
Acrylic glazing offers the highest level of clarity and visible light transmission.
Polycarbonate blends offer a balance of security and visibility.
Glass-clad polycarbonate offers light transmission values between the other two, while also offering the highest-levels of protection.
You may want to consider other options such as beveling or tinting to match the glazing to architectural features.
You can also choose low-iron options to reduce greenish tints and improve brightness in GCP and all-glass products.
And if you’re working with a historical building and need to strengthen existing windows without changing the appearance or adding significant costs, backglazing can be an affordable option.
Backglazing, also sometimes called laminated-panels, involves adding a panel system to the interior of the existing window that is either permanent, semi-attached, freestanding (for floor-to-ceiling windows) or easily removable.
A Quick Reference for Finding the Right Glazing Solution
Acrylic |
Polycarbonate |
Glass-Clad Polycarbonate |
Insulated Glass |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | Interior Windows and Doors | Interior Windows and Doors | Interior or Exterior Windows and Doors | Exterior Windows and Doors |
| Thickness | 1 1/4” to 1 3/8” | 3/4” to 1 1/4” | 13/16” to 2 1/2” | 15/16” to 1 1/4” |
| Protection Level |
|
|
|
|
| Forced Entry Protection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Light Transmission | > 90% | 75-85% | 60-85% | 60-80% |
| Weatherability | Sensitive to exposure and solvents. Abrasion-resistant coating available. |
Sensitive to exposure and solvents. Abrasion-resistant coating available. |
Heightened resistance to weathering and solvent damage. | Heightened resistance to weathering and solvent damage. |
Work With a Partner Who Can Guide the Process
Even seasoned architects and contractors have questions when it comes to ballistic glazing.
There are so many factors to consider, and if you’re responsible for installing the glazing, this is only the beginning. TSS specializes in custom bullet-resistant commercial glazing solutions to fit your budget and your timeline.
We have protected more than 30,000 buildings in our more than 20-year history.
Every project is built to your specifications, and we can handle any part of the project or all of it from manufacturing to installation. This eliminates the frustrations of arriving at a site only to find something doesn’t fit the space, doesn’t look the way you or your client envisioned, or requires additional hardware that will take weeks to be delivered.
Because every system is custom-built, you should begin planning your project several months before your target completion date and engage with our team as early as possible to avoid delays.
To learn more about working with different types of glazing, download our Ballistic Glazing Solutions Guide
