Custom BULLETPROOF Safe Rooms
While you hope it never happens, there may come a time when your business or office building faces an in-person threat from someone attempting to steal from you, or cause damage, or harm people. As interpersonal conflict is often the source of workplace violence, there is an unfortunate likelihood that potential attackers may be known to your staff and easily be able to enter secured areas of your building.
Do you have a plan for how you’ll protect your property and people from such an attacker? One increasingly common method for incorporating a “just in case” secure space into your business is to create a bulletproof safe room.
What is a safe room?
A safe room, sometimes called a "safehaven" is an enclosed space within your building that can be locked and secured against armed or dangerous assailants. Retail stores, corporate or government offices, schools, and similar facilities find that this solution provides the extra layer of protection they need to feel prepared to respond to any potential threats.
Depending on your business, secure rooms may be used to:
- Create a space for personnel to shelter during an emergency
- Store a physical safe, servers, or other valuable assets
- Provide dual protection for property and people
Building a Secure Room With Bullet-Resistant Solutions
We can subtly integrate safe rooms into your existing office plan or design new builds around their ideal placement. Existing storage rooms, offices, or conference rooms offer excellent opportunities to incorporate ballistic protection into your safety plan. If your building includes workspaces on multiple floors, we often recommend adding a safe space to each floor so employees can avoid hazardous stairways or elevators during an emergency.
When designing a custom safe room, we help you select the right materials for walls, windows, and doors, depending on the room’s location in your facility. As with every custom project we complete, we’re dedicated to creating a solution that provides safety when you need it and an aesthetically pleasing look for everyday operations.
Safe Rooms and Workplace Violence
Watch as the TSS team explains how safe rooms can address new trends in workplace violence.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Bulletproof Safe Rooms
Can you add bullet-resistant panels to an existing room?
Yes. Nearly any enclosed space in your facility can be converted into a bulletproof safe room. At TSS, we commonly retrofit existing spaces by upgrading the doors, walls, and windows with UL 752-rated ballistic materials.
What’s the difference between a safe room and a panic room?
Safe room generally refers to a secure space designed to protect people from external threats—such as an intruder, active shooter, or severe weather—using ballistic and forced-entry resistant materials. “Panic room” often implies a hidden or quickly accessible space that provides a family, adult, or child with temporary shelter in a house.
In commercial or school environments, the term safe room is more accurate, as it includes protection, accessibility, and communication features necessary during extended emergencies.
Do bulletproof safe rooms also protect against severe storms?
Yes, bulletproof safe rooms can also be designed to meet standards for tornado and hurricane shelters. Dual-purpose ballistic protection and storm shelter make them a smart investment in areas vulnerable to both natural disasters and violence.
Can bulletproof safe rooms be used in schools and classrooms?
Schools across the country use bulletproof safe rooms to protect students, teachers, and staff from active shooter threats. Parents have peace of mind knowing their kids have a designated, secure space inside the school, and teachers value having a protective area within reach. These safe rooms can be integrated into libraries, gyms, or classrooms, and double as tutoring or reading spaces during the day.
Are bulletproof safe rooms visible, or can they be hidden?
Bulletproof safe rooms can be visible or discreet. In corporate settings, they are often integrated into conference or huddle rooms with minimal visual disruption. In schools, they’re often integrated into classrooms, bathrooms, or in common areas where they blend with everyday architecture. Whether visible or hidden, they need to be easily accessible in an emergency.
Can a bulletproof safe room also be fireproof?
While bulletproof materials like ballistic fiberglass and steel offer some inherent fire resistance, fireproofing and bulletproofing are separate design considerations. A truly fireproof safe room requires specialized materials and construction methods tested to meet fire safety codes. If you’re concerned about ballistic threats and fire, our team can help you select and layer materials to provide appropriate protection based on your risk profile.