A Comprehensive Guide to Security Ratings for Glass

This guide covers the two main security ratings used for assessing the strength of glazing.

EN 356 Resistance Ratings

EN 356 classifies the resistance of glazing to manual attack. These ratings range from P1A to P8B, indicating various levels of protection against break-in attempts using different tools and force.

• P1A:

  • Description: Basic resistance against minimal impact.
  • Details: Can withstand the impact of a 1.5 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 1.5 meters. Provides minimal protection.
  • Typical Use: Low-risk residential areas.

• P2A:

  • Description: Slightly enhanced resistance.
  • Details: Resists the impact of a 1.5 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 3 meters. Offers a bit more security than P1A.
  • Typical Use: Low-risk residential buildings.

• P3A:

  • Description: Moderate resistance.
  • Details: Can withstand the impact of a 1.5 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 6 meters. Suitable for environments needing moderate security.
  • Typical Use: Residential properties and small businesses.

• P4A:

  • Description: Higher resistance against stronger impacts.
  • Details: Resists the impact of a 1.5 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 9 meters. Offers higher security than previous levels.
  • Typical Use: Residential and commercial properties in moderate-risk areas.

• P5A:

  • Description: Strong resistance against severe impacts.
  • Details: Can withstand the impact of a 4.1 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 9 meters three times. Provides robust protection.
  • Typical Use: High-risk residential and commercial areas.

• P6B:

  • Description: Protection against more determined attacks.
  • Details: Resists repeated blows from a 4.1 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 9 meters. Suitable for environments anticipating stronger attacks.
  • Typical Use: High-risk residential areas, commercial properties.

• P7B:

  • Description: Superior protection against forceful impacts.
  • Details: Withstands multiple blows from a 4.1 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 9 meters, providing significant resistance.
  • Typical Use: High-risk commercial properties, sensitive residential areas.

• P8B:

  • Description: Maximum protection against the most severe impacts.
  • Details: Can withstand repeated blows from a 4.1 kg steel ball dropped from a height of 9 meters, providing the highest level of resistance.
  • Typical Use: Banks, jewelry stores, high-security commercial and residential properties.

UL 752 Ballistic Ratings for Bullet Resistance

UL 752 is a standard for evaluating the ballistic resistance of materials, essential for environments at risk of firearm attacks. These ratings are often noted as 'BR' (Bullet Resistance) levels and range from Level 1 to Level 10.

• BR Level 1:

  • Description: Protection against small-caliber handguns.
  • Details: Can withstand shots from 9mm handguns. Provides basic bullet resistance.
  • Typical Use: Residential and commercial buildings in low-risk areas.

• BR Level 2:

  • Description: Protection against larger-caliber handguns.
  • Details: Resists .357 Magnum handgun shots. Offers a higher level of security compared to BR Level 1.
  • Typical Use: Residential homes and businesses.

• BR Level 3:

  • Description: Protection against high-powered handguns.
  • Details: Designed to resist .44 Magnum handgun shots. Suitable for environments anticipating higher threats from powerful handguns.
  • Typical Use: High-risk residential areas, small businesses.

• BR Level 4:

  • Description: Protection against rifles.
  • Details: Can withstand shots from .30-06 caliber rifles. Offers significant resistance for locations requiring protection from rifle attacks.
  • Typical Use: High-risk areas, military facilities, and sensitive commercial properties.

• BR Level 5:

  • Description: Protection against high-velocity rifles.
  • Details: Resists 7.62mm rifle shots. Suitable for very high-risk areas.
  • Typical Use: Banks, data centers, military installations.

• BR Level 6:

  • Description: Enhanced protection against high-powered rifles.
  • Details: Withstands shots from 7.62mm rifles with increased velocity. Provides robust protection in extremely high-risk environments.
  • Typical Use: Government buildings, high-security military and industrial facilities.

• BR Level 7:

  • Description: Maximum protection against high-powered rifles with greater velocity.
  • Details: Resists 5.56mm and 7.62mm rifle shots with armor-piercing capabilities.
  • Typical Use: Embassies, high-security government buildings.

• BR Levels 8-10:

  • Description: Highest level of protection against military-grade weaponry.
  • Details: Provides resistance against multiple shots from military-grade weapons, including high-velocity armor-piercing rounds.
  • Typical Use: Critical infrastructure, high-security military, and industrial facilities.

Choosing the Right Security Glass

Selecting the right security glass involves assessing the specific threats and risks associated with your property. Here’s a quick reference:

• P1A to P5A: Suitable for low to moderate risk areas where the threat is mainly from manual attacks.

• P6B to P8B: Ideal for high-risk areas requiring significant resistance to forced entry using blunt force tools.

• UL 752 Levels 1 to 3: Appropriate for environments needing protection from handguns.

• UL 752 Levels 4 to 8: Necessary for high-risk areas where the threat involves high-powered rifles and sustained ballistic attacks.

You can also combine these to create near impenetrable residences.

Conclusion

Understanding the various security ratings for glass can help you choose the right solution to protect your property effectively. Whether you need protection against manual attacks or ballistic threats, there are glass options available to meet your security needs.

At Iron Villa, we specialize in providing high-security, bulletproof windows and doors that meet these stringent standards. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help protect your property.