WHAT TYPE OF BULLETPROOF GLASS DO I NEED?
WHAT IS A BULLETPROOF GLASS?
Bulletproof glass is different from ordinary glass. When a bullet is fired at a standard glass, the glass cannot move nor bend to absorb the energy of the shot. The glass simply shatters, and the bullet passes through without a reduction in momentum. Standard glass is ineffective at slowing shots down. It merely does not offer any protection against weapons.
Bulletproof glass also called a bullet-resistant glass, is made from numerous layers of hardened glass with interlayers of different plastics. In some bulletproof glass, there is a last layer of polycarbonate which is a sturdy plastic to prevent dangerous plastic splinters and shards of glass following the impact of a bullet.
What Makes Bulletproof Glass Resistant to Bullets Including A High-Speed Bullet?
As explained earlier, bulletproof glass is a glass made from multiple layers of hardened glass with interlayers of different plastics and the last segment of polycarbonate plastic. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
What makes a bulletproof glass resistant to bullets is that the glass can absorb the impact and energy of a fired bullet. When a shot is fired at a bulletproof glass and contact is made, the strength of the effect is spread through the glass layers sideways. Since there are numerous layers of glass and interlayers of plastic, and a large area, the energy of the impact is absorbed quickly.
The bullet is slowed down, it loses momentum, which prevents it from piercing through or cause much damage even if it does. The glass panes will break on impact, but the layers of plastic will prevent them from shattering.
Types of Bullet Proof Glass
There are different bulletproof glass products out there, all suited for different uses. They are all referred to as bulletproof glass irrespective of what they are made of and their purpose. There are five common types of bulletproof glass. They are:
- Insulated ballistic glass
- Acrylic
- Laminated glass
- polycarbonate
- Glass-clad Polycarbonate
- INSULATED BALLISTIC GLASS
Insulated ballistic glass is a generation of bullet-resistant security glazing. It is a secure Insulated Glass Units. It was produced for schools, non-traditional and cost-conscious targets like community centers and houses of worship.
Secure Insulated Glass Units combine several kinds of glazing in the best qualities. They sport a 1-inch to 1.125-inch thickness and can carry a UL level one bullet-resistant rating and forced entry. A level one resistance can resist three jacketed 9mm bullets.
It is suited for both indoor and outdoor use and easy to maintain. It has excellent light transference, available in self-tinting varieties and has a high R-value (thermal resistance per unit area).
The above qualities make it comfortable for owners and also helps to lower cooling costs for the building without the maintenance concern of an electric window or sensor-based window treatment.
- ACRYLIC
Acrylic is the most prevalent type of bulletproof glass. It is a single piece of 1 1/4-inch to 1 3/8-inch durable plastic. It can be routed, slotted, drilled cut and formed into custom curved windows. It has rough-cut edges which are flame-polished to clarity, making it the go-to bulletproof type for secret installation preferred in public buildings. It also passes light almost entirely.
It has a UL-rated level one or two bullet resistance. A level two resistant protection can resist three bullets from a Magnum .357.
It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use but best suited for indoor use.
- LAMINATED GLASS
Laminated glass is the primary bulletproof glass. It is crafted from multiple layers of glass, similar to the way modern car windshields are stacked. It is brittle, cannot be readily cut, drilled, slotted, heavy and cannot be incorporated smoothly into an integrated bullet resistant system.
It is suitable for people who want to ensure their security and keep their windows intact. It relies on heavy thickness to meet up with a ballistic security level.
- POLYCARBONATE
Polycarbonate, just like acrylic, offers Level one to three bullet resistance. Polycarbonate is soft and laminated in layers when used as a bullet resistance system. As a result, it has a visible tint and passes less than 80% of light. The inability for light to pass through can make an interior dark.
Polycarbonate offers level one protection with 0.75-inch thickness, level two protection with a 1-inch thickness and a level three protection with 1.25-inch thickness. A level three protection is capable of resisting three shots from a Magnum .44 at a minimum.
It is popularly used for exteriors as a result of its protection against forced entry – to break through a polycarbonate sheet takes an hour of beating with a sledgehammer.
Just like laminated glass, polycarbonate is challenging to fabricate into a smooth bullet resistant system, has a noticeable tint and is sensitive to ultraviolet rays.
- GLASS-CLAD POLYCARBONATE
Glass-clad polycarbonate is an upgrade to polycarbonate bulletproof glass. Unlike polycarbonate that offers level 1, 2 and 3 protection at 0.75-inch, 1-inch and 1.25-inch respectively, a glass-clad polycarbonate glass offers the level three protection at 0.375-inch thick layer of glass, a thin coat of polyurethane and another 0.375-inch thick glass. These are then put between two coats of polyurethane with an outer cap of 0.125-inch polycarbonate. These leave the thickness at a little over an inch.
It is a high-performance bulletproof glass material and can be layered to make any size of thickness which gives it varying forced entry and bullet resistance levels which can go up to level 8. A level eight bullet resistance can resist bullets fired from an Ak-47 or AR-15 gun.
Recommended Bulletproof Glass Thickness
The bulletproof glass thickness ranges from 0.25-inches to 3.5-inches. The thickness you will be opting for will be dependent on what you are protecting against and the glass type as explained under types of bulletproof glasses.
- Level 1 Protection: Small handguns are resisted with a level one protection. It is commonly used in gas stations, pharmacies and retail outlets.
- Level 2 protection: Big caliber handguns are resisted with a level two protection and is used mainly in financial institutions.
- Level 3 protection: Superpowered handguns are resisted with a level three protection. It is commonly used for buildings with high risk and occupancy. These include government buildings and schools.
- Level 4-8 Protection: Automatic weapons and assault rifles require a resistance of level four to eight. It is used in embassies, the military and high-level government buildings.