Commercial armored glass is one increasingly popular option for companies and organizations in a variety of industries, from banks and jewelry stores to schools and courthouses. This type of product can enhance physical security, improve safety conditions for workers and visitors, and reduce the chance of damage and/or theft.
Today’s businesses are constantly looking for new ways to improve their security efforts. There are several considerations that businesses and commercial property owners need to make before investing in this type of upgrade. To make the most of commercial armored glass for your facility, here are some important things to think about.
Benefits of Commercial Armored Glass
Commercial armored glass is a type of reinforced material that is stronger than traditional glass. It is often made of materials like laminated glass and/or polycarbonate plastic. This makes it less likely to break or shatter when struck. Some panes are made to withstand forced entry, like when hit with a tool or thrown object. Others are made to withstand a certain amount of ballistic rounds. Bullet-resistant glass is given a rating based on what type of ballistic protection it offers.
Forced entry glass can come in several different forms. You can have it added to doors and windows on either the interior or exterior of your facility. Or you could even have it completely customized to your facility, like countertop systems to protect tellers at a bank or entryway systems for courthouses or police stations where visitors need to check in and go through security screenings before being granted entry.
In all of these forms, armored glass provides a strong physical barrier that can keep employees and visitors safe and reduce losses. No material can withstand ballistic impact indefinitely, but this material can prevent windows and doors from immediately shattering upon impact. This may ultimately give people in the area more time to get to safety or provide more time for the authorities to respond to the scene. Additionally, many perpetrators steer clear of buildings that have commercial armored glass in the first place, since they know it will be more difficult to break through the barrier quickly. So it can also serve as a deterrent in some instances.
Architectural Elements of Commercial Armored Glass
Once you determine that your commercial building could benefit from armored glass, it’s time to consider how to implement this strategy into your security plans. This means thinking about the architectural elements of your building to determine how and where armored glass can best fit into your plans. You should also consider your specific needs and potential security concerns to choose the style of protection that best fits.
For example, if you’re looking for added protection for a bank or financial institution, the area where tellers and bankers interact with the public is likely the most vulnerable location. So a countertop system that still allows team members to see and complete transactions with customers can provide extra security without hindering operations. On the other hand, a school may benefit more from an entryway system built around its existing architecture so it can implement screening procedures for visitors. Other facilities, like jewelry stores or other retail locations that want to prevent break-ins after hours may mainly want to replace their exterior windows and doors with armored glass.
What to Look for With Armored Glass Installation
From there, it’s time to think about installation. Armored glass can easily be integrated into designs as you’re working on planning a brand-new building. This is the most straightforward way to add this extra layer of security. In these instances, commercial armored glass can be added much like traditional windows and doors, as long as your installation professional can work with materials like polycarbonate and laminated glass. This strategy also allows you to easily tailor architectural elements like countertops and entryways to your security needs.
However, it is also possible to retrofit commercial armored glass to an existing facility. So don’t fret if you have a structure with traditional glass and want to add an extra layer of protection to the interior or exterior — even if your building has some unique architectural features to work around. You just need a supplier who can offer materials that are customized for your building. Then you can have the materials fabricated to the exact size and gauges needed to provide the type of protection your facility requires.
When searching for a supplier for your commercial armored glass products, look for one who can serve as a consultative partner and help you through every single step of the process. Insulgard offers a wide array of commercial armored glass products that can be installed into new construction or retrofitted to existing structures. We also work as a partner with clients to provide everything from material selection assistance to help connecting with qualified installation and retrofitting professionals.
In addition to armored glass, we offer a wide array of protective solutions, including everything from forced entry glass to doors and windows for tornado and hurricane-safe rooms. We work with top industry manufacturers to provide products that are tested and certified by UL. This means you get access to quality products that are customized to your facility and your specific security needs. To start reaping the benefits of commercial armored glass at your facility, contact our team today to start discussing your options.
