Resistance to ballistic attack
It is possible to manufacture window systems that are resistant to a range of ballistic threats. Each manufacturer will have their own design, but mainly they are based on multiple layers of glass that are laminated together. Some systems use polycarbonate or other types of material to work in conjunction with the glass to improve performance.
When procuring bullet resistant glass, it is very important to specify against a known standard and you should ensure that the manufacturer can provide you a test certificate demonstrating their compliance to the specified standard. Often, suppliers may buy in the glass and the window frames from different manufacturers, so you should ask to see certification for the three separate elements: the glass, the frame and the complete system.
Further information can be found in the guidance notes at the bottom of this page:
- 'Bullet resistant glass'
- 'Bullet resistant windows, doors, blinds and shutters'
- 'Protection against bullets'
Additional advice should be sought from a blast engineer from the Register of Security Engineer and Specialist (RSES) if a higher level of risk from improvised explosive devices has been identified in relation to the building you are concerned with. A more detailed blast protection strategy will be needed to bring down the higher levels of risk.