Addressing Security
Communities are searching for ways to address student safety and security as a result of both severe weather events and active shooter/intruder incidents. Windows, doors, and skylights using structural aluminum framing and security glazing play a critical role in supporting safer environments for students and staff while maintaining beneficial daylight and views.
Additionally, parents and educators want to feel confident that safe, nontoxic, noncombustible materials are used in their students' schools.
Performance Levels for Security Windows & Doors
General Safety Glazing protects against accidental human impact as tested in accordance with ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201. This glass can be tempered or laminated, but only laminated will retain glass upon breakage to deter reach-and-release and entry.
Enhanced Security Glazing is a laminated glass that resists simulated weapon or hammer attack using 2x4 impact, similar to hurricane impact products. This option provides enhanced entry deterrence.
Understanding Levels
Forced Entry is a multilayer security glazing and structural framing designed to resist repeated assaults with various instruments and provide increased time for entry and to enact lock-down protocols. Forced entry security glazing is especially valuable in entry vestibules and doorways. This glazing has been tested to ASTM F2395 for the overall system, and ASTM F476, F588, and F842 for the framing.
Ballistic Protection is a specialized glazing that protects against ballistic assault using various types of ammunition with no penetration. The ballistic protection glazing can be combined with forced entry and has been tested to ASTM F1233, UL 752, and NIJ 0108.01.
In all cases, structural framing is essential to ensure glazing retainment and overall system performance.
Additional Resources
- NFPA 3000
- “Security Glazing”, Glass Technical Paper FB-43, National Glass Association, 2000. Available for free by searching here.
- “Primer to Design Safe School Projects in Case of Terrorist Attacks and School Shootings”, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2012.
- “Aluminum Extrusions: Building Occupant Health and Safety”, AEC whitepaper
- “The Non-Combustibility of Aluminum.” ICC Building Safety Journal, Aug 17, 2020
- “Fire Safety of Aluminum and its Alloys”, Aluminum Association, 2020
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