Surfing the internet for info about bulletproof doors? Want to know how much it costs to get bulletproof windows in your house? Never mind, you are in the right place!
Doors and windows are one of the most vulnerable parts of a building when it comes to security.
This is why we have to install bulletproof doors and windows for added protection against theft and ballistic attack.
Are Doors Bulletproof?
There is nothing like a 100 per cent bulletproof door!
When Bulletproof Door Companies advertise their products, what they ought to say is bullet-resistant doors. The reason for this is that no matter how strong a security door is, it can still be penetrated by some type or quantity of ballistic bullets.
All bulletproof doors and windows can be penetrated. All you need is a lot of bullets and time. Also, the size and shape (and the pointed end) of the bullet are factors to be considered.
This is why the correct name should be “bullet-resistant doors” or “ballistic doors”. A ballistic door is called so because all the materials used to make that door have some sort of ballistic resistance rating.
Generally, in the security industry, the approved standard for a bullet-resistant door and window is a UL 752 rating. According to laid down protocols, the rating ranges from level 1 to level 10.
As the bulletproof rating increases, the resistance of the door increases as well. Same as the price.
The Higher Levels (From 5 and Above) Indicate Higher Levels of Ballistic Resistance
Since there are 10 levels of UL 752 rating (from 1 to 10), each level has different features, strengths and reliability.
The rating of a ballistic door and window will determine:
- What type of weapon the bulletproof door can resist shots from
- What calibre, weight or type of rounds the ballistic material can withstand
- How many shots it would take for the bullet-resistant door to be penetrated
As a user, you should also note that various parts of a ballistic door have different ballistic resistance, and as well different UL 752 ratings.
For instance, let us look at a bank security door. The transparent glass can have a lower ballistic rating than the surrounding frame. It can also be the other way round, depending on the type of glass used in the manufacturing process.
What Makes a Door Bulletproof?
If you want to know how bulletproof doors are made, and what they consist of that make them bulletproof, then you are in the right place.
Bullet-resistant glass, which almost everyone calls a bulletproof door or window, is actually polycarbonate thermoplastic and laminated tempered glass.
Tempered glass is toughened glass that is over five times stronger than normal glass.
A bulletproof glass sucks the energy from the blows of the bullets, hammer, plank, metal, bat or any other object that an assailant wants to use to break the glass.
No type of bulletproof glass can withstand bullets and contact from very powerful weapons. This is why the term “bullet resistant glass” is more appropriate for security doors and windows.
A bullet-resistant door can serve various purposes in many buildings. It is used in the security vehicles for government officials, in military vehicles, banks, hospitals, government buildings, pharmacies, police stations, prisons and many other places.
A bulletproof door and window can also be installed and used in your home. Bullet resistant doors have a significant role in saving lives, as well as money, jewellery, classified documents and many other things.
How Do Bulletproof Doors and Windows Work?
A monolithic acrylic is used to manufacture lower-level bulletproof windows. It is very hard and so manufactured in thick layers (over 1.25 inches).
As a result, it will deflect almost all pistol-calibre bullets even when it’s under sustained fire.
Ballistic doors can also be made with polycarbonate thermoplastic. It’s much stronger than most materials, as it can absorb great waves and pressure without breaking.
Thanks to technology. If not for polycarbonate layers, it won’t be possible to manufacture doors that can resist bullets from high powered rifles and submachine guns.
Although polycarbonate is a soft material, it has a simple mode of operation. It swallows up bullets and then sends them ricocheting at high speed. The bullets will spring back from the door wildly in a random direction.
A bulletproof door does not stop only bullets. It can also frustrate the efforts of smash-and-grab burglars. It can also resist some degree of bomb blast to some extent.
With a ballistic door, you protect yourself and others from angry mobs, earthquake damage and tornado-tossed bricks. Since polycarbonate ballistic doors and windows are layered and tempered, it adds to their strength. But not only that.
Polycarbonate ballistic doors and windows also have “one-way ballistic features”. During an attack in which guns are involved, the attackers will not be able to penetrate the security doors.
On the other hand, you can penetrate it!
Shooting from the interior to the exterior is possible. This gives you (the owner of the building) an advantage over the armed robbers, attackers or any other assailant.
Lastly on How Ballistic Doors Work
It’s very contrary to what most people think. Thickness doesn’t matter in a bulletproof door.
It is not the thickness or thinness that makes a ballistic door resistant to bullets. It’s the surface area.
A bulletproof door has many layers of materials that will absorb the gunshots and bullets. The effect and impact of the bullet will spread (and be distributed) over a large surface area.
That way, the bullet will slow down just in time before it can penetrate the door.
The Benefits of Bulletproof Doors and Windows
The glass used in a bulletproof window is made from a structured arrangement of plastic and laminated glass. After the bonding is done, it goes through a chemical process that adds to the strength of the material.
After a series of processes, the end product is a window that has a high resistance to bullets. Now, let us take a look at the advantages of bulletproof doors and windows.
Great Resistance to a Bullet
Most bulletproof glass has a thermal expansion ratio of 10:1. This implies that ballistic glass is many times tougher than other types of glass. They are manufactured from three main types of glass, which adds to their strength and effectiveness.
The elasticity of bulletproof glass adds to its effectiveness. Instead of passing through, hard objects will only exert an evenly distributed force on the glass. It can resist threats from both small tools and submachine guns.
Protection From Rifles and Handguns
Earlier on, we spoke about UL 752 rating. We also mentioned that it ranges from level 1 to level 10.
One of the common types of bullet-proof glass is a B5 level. This bulletproof glass is about 1 inch thick. It provides great protection against rifles and handguns. The polycarbonate layers of this glass are 21mm thick, while also being resistant to scratches.
If you can’t afford level 5 bulletproof doors and windows, you can go for level ones and below. One of the most common types is a 3/4-inch-thick acrylic sheet. It is under the level B4 category.
However, this type of bulletproof glass can only shield you from firearms that are not weapons of mass destruction. It can protect you from 9 mm bullets.
Access Denial
Just like an adage says, prevention is better than cure. The best way to protect your lives and properties is to prevent an assailant from getting into your building in the first place. This is known as access denial.
This can be done by installing standard alarms, door locks and CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points. However, using these things alone won’t discourage armed robbers and other criminals from forcing themselves on your building. All they need is time to study your building layout and routine.
That is the main reason why you should install an additional physical barrier. Even if an active shooter attempts to bypass your points of entry, the bulletproof doors and window panes will buy you enough time for the security and law enforcement agents to arrive.
Now, let’s assume you don’t have a ballistic door or window. An assailant in possession of a firearm will just shoot out a pane of glass on your door or window and open it from the inside.
However, such a thing is not possible when you have a ballistic door set in place. By retrofitting your doors and windows panes with ballistic security glass, you will be safe, at least for a while.
Generally, financial institutions, schools, government offices, religious places, commercial stores and any other place where people and things of value are found are all potential targets for armed assailants.
Protection From Riot-induced Looting and Smash-and-grab Thefts
Even if the chances of being attacked by armed intruders are low, you can still be a victim of burglary,
smash-and-grab robbery and riot-induced looting.
Some bad guys might just take advantage of a protest, large gatherings or any other distraction to smash your property and grab a few items of worth.
If a bulletproof door can stop bullets from reaching the interior, imagine to what extent it will prevent people from smashing their way through with a hammer, sledgehammer, crowbar, and other burglary tools.
This is why the best thing to do is to install a ballistic door and window in your building. They still offer the highest security you can ever have.
How Much Do Bulletproof Doors Cost?
Unlike windows that need to be transparent, doors don’t need to be. This means that you don’t necessarily have to buy a bulletproof door that is made of glass.
Aluminium and steel are still the best materials for bulletproof doors. The price ranges from NGN 50,000 and above.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Bulletproof Windows in Your House?
The price of a bulletproof window pane ranges from USD 150 to USD 800 per square foot. The costs depend on many factors, including:
- The type of bullets you want to be protected from
- The size of the window
- Whether you want the window to be openable and closable or not
- How beautiful and transparent the window is
For instance, a “36 x 60” bulletproof window pane with UL 752 level 1 ballistic rating can only shield 9 mm rounds. It would cost about USD 2,200.
However, this same window pane (but with UL Level 8 rating) can even shield military rifles. It can cost more than USD 10,000.
The Best Bulletproof Door Company in Nigeria
No matter how good ballistic glass is, steel doors are still the best for bullet resistance.
Swisstrade Securities Limited is the world’s number one armoured Steel Security door company. We focus on manufacturing quality bulletproof steel doors.
We have made steel ballistic doors for homes, offices, banks, hotels, government and non-governmental individuals. Our armoured steel insulated doors are of the highest grade.
Swisstrade Securities steel armoured doors are aesthetically designed to suit every taste and preference. Our products are available in a vast array of designs, finishes, colours, dimensions and features.
For more information about Swisstrade Securities and our bulletproof doors, contact us now. We are a full-service manufacturing company. For years, we have been protecting lives and property from the bad guys in Nigeria.
