The unfortunate events of recent years have made bullet-proof protection a key concern for banks, embassies, the head offices of major companies, state institutions and even some private individuals. To protect themselves against armed attacks, more and more customers are equipping their buildings with bullet-proof protection.
With over 40 years’ experience in the design, manufacture and installation of bullet-proof protection systems, Bolloré can guide you through your project: what questions should you ask when defining your specifications? which bullet-proof glazing and which frame should you choose? how do you go about implementing such a project?
Bullet-proof protection: how do you define your specifications?
Engineering a bullet-proof system is not something that can be improvised! Many parameters need to be taken into account in order to define a safety package that meets your requirements. Drawing up precise specifications will enable you to clearly express your needs, constraints and expectations to the suppliers you approach. This way, you can be sure that their commercial proposals perfectly match your bullet-proof joinery requirements. You can start by asking yourself the following questions:
- Will the bullet-resistant glazing be installed inside or outside your building? This information will determine whether the glazing is bullet-resistant, based on thermal insulation parameters and the need to maintain its characteristics in the face of temperature variations.
- What support will the security joinery be fixed to?
- Is the structure housing the bullet-proof unit strong enough? The weights involved are considerable: up to 200 kg/m2 for the highest level of bullet-proof glazing..
- Will any work be required prior to the installation of a bullet-proof protection system?
Given the technical nature of a project to install bullet-proof glazing, it is of course essential to select an experienced supplier with a perfect command of bullet-proof engineering.
Bullet-proof glazing and frames: what are the security levels?
There are different models of bullet-proof windows and frames, from medium security to the highest level.
Conventional medium-level bullet-proof protection
FB4 and FB5 bullet-proof frames and BR4 and BR5 bullet-proof glazing provide good protection against 357 magnum handguns.
High-level bullet-proof protection
Bulletproof joinery consisting of FB6 and FB7 frames and BR6 and BR7 glazing provides good protection against weapons of war.
Bullet-proof glazing and frames: how are they installed?
1. On-site audit
Any project to install bullet-proof protective equipment requires prior analysis. Standards EN1522 and EN1063 explain which glazing and frames should be used for a typical installation. However, each building has its own specific characteristics. These standards are therefore insufficient to precisely define the bullet-proof engineering to be installed. Feedback is essential if the right decisions are to be made.
2. Preparing the structure
A château is not equipped in the same way as a new building: the preparatory work is different.
Firstly, the ballistic-resistant structure must be adapted to the structure of the building. The principle of ballistic tightness must be applied: there must be no gap between the glass and the metal part of the joinery assembly, just as there must be no gap between the anti-ballistic equipment and the building support.
What’s more, the fixings need to be studied and strengthened if necessary: joinery weighs considerably more than traditional bay windows. Under no circumstances should joinery be fixed to hollow breeze blocks or brickwork.
Bulletproof joinery made up of glazing and frames from the CARAPACE range is an excellent way of protecting the users of your buildings against the risk of armed attack.
Provided, of course, that these assemblies are installed according to the rules of the trade. So keep a close eye on your security equipment supplier’s level of expertise in bullet-proof engineering.
Do you have any questions? Don’t hesitate to share your questions with us!