Bulletproof Glass

For high security installations and buildings such as embassies, high-profile homes and government buildings, Bulletproof glass panels might be required.

Bulletproof glass panels have two functions: to stop the projectile from entering a space ensuring the safety of occupants inside and to stop or reduce the amount of ‘spawl’ from the impacted glass. Spawl is the small glass fragments projected from the glass panel under impact. These sharp glass shards can be expelled from the internal surface of the glass under impact and fly into the internal spaces causing damage.

The composition of a bullet-resistant glass panel will depend on the resistance required. Classes of bullet resistance are detailed by European testing standard EN 1063, which categorises the bullet resistance nature of glass by the type of weapon and ammunition protection needed.

The Construction of Bulletproof Glass

Bulletproof glass is constructed of various layers of glass with strengthening interlayers, such as PVB or SentryGlas Interlayers. 

This method allows the glass to maintain its transparent appearance even though thick units of glass will be needed. The exact glass specification required will need to be tested depending on the size of the glass installation as well as the bullet resistance required.

These security ratings for Bulletproof glass only refer to the glazing element itself. You must also consider how a glass unit will be fixed as well as any frameworks associated with the security glass panel in order to understand the full bullet resistance of an installation.

Speak to a member of the London Architectural Glass team to find out how we can help you on your next project.