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, fabglassandmirror bulletproof glass is a glass made from multiple layers of hardened glass with interlayers of different plastics and the last segment of polycarbonate plastic.
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 causes 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 lots of bulletproof glass suited for different uses. They are all referred to as bulletproof glass irrespective of the material used in making them and their purpose. There are five standard bulletproof glass types:
- Insulated bulletproof glass
- Acrylic bullet proof glass
- Laminated bulletproof glass
- Polycarbonate bulletproof glass
- Polycarbonate glass-clad bulletproof glass
- INSULATED BULLETPROOF GLASS
Insulated bulletproof glass is a type of security glass that is bullet-resistant. It is a secure Insulated Glass Units. It was produced for schools, non-traditional and cost-conscious targets like community centers and religious houses.
Secure Insulated Glass Units combine several kinds of glass layers with the best qualities. They sport a 1-inch thickness to 1.125-inch thickness and they can carry a UL level one resistance to bullets and to the forced entry. A level one resistance can resist three jacketed 9mm bullets.
It is suited for both indoor and outdoor use and is easy to maintain. It reflects light excellently, available in varieties of tints and has a high R-value (thermal resistance per unit area).
The above qualities make it comfortable for owners and helps to lower cooling costs for the building without the maintenance concern of an electric window or sensor-based window treatment.
- ACRYLIC BULLETPROOF GLASS
Acrylic is the most prevalent bulletproof glass type. It is a sheet with 1 1/4-inch to 1 3/8-inch thickness durable plastic. It can be routed, slotted, drilled cut and molded into arched windows. Its rough edges are flame-polished to clarity, making it the perfect bulletproof glass type for secret installation preferred in public buildings. It also passes light almost entirely.
It can sport a level one to level three resistance to the bullet. 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 BULLETPROOF 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, and 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 BULLETPROOF GLASS
Polycarbonate bulletproof glass, 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 displays a visible tint and reflects light at a rating that is below 80%. 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 because of its protection against forced entry – it would take an hour to break through a polycarbonate sheet using a sledgehammer.
Just like laminated bulletproof glass, polycarbonate glass is difficult to integrate into a bullet resistant setup, has a visible tint and is sensitive to ultraviolet rays.
- POLYCARBONATE GLASS-CLAD BULLETPROOF GLASS
Polycarbonate glass-clad bulletproof glass is an upgrade to polycarbonate bulletproof glass. Unlike polycarbonate bulletproof glass that offers level 1, 2 and 3 protection at 0.75-inch, 1-inch and 1.25-inch respectively, a polycarbonate glass-clad bulletproof glass offers level three protection at 0.375-inch thickness, a light layer of polyurethane and a layer of 0.375-inch thick glass. The combined layers are then put between two layers of polyurethane with an outer cap of 0.125-inch thick polycarbonate glass. The overall thickness just a little above one inch is lesser than that of polycarbonate bulletproof glass.
It is a high-performance bulletproof glass material and can be layered to make any size of thickness which gives it varying forced entry ratings and resistance to bullet rating levels which can reach a 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 are used mainly in financial institutions.
- Level 3 protection: Super-powered 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 levels four to eight. It is used in embassies, the military and high-level government buildings.