Glossary of Terms
By Michael Gips

Common ballistic terms, meanings, and applications.
1. Threat Side: this is the side of the bullet resistant barrier that the threat would come from. It is typically the lobby or public side.

2.Protected Side: this is the side of the bullet resistant barrier that is protected. It is typically the employee side or the side where the money is kept.

3.Non-Ricochet: do not allow the projectile (bullet) to ricochet thus capturing it within the bullet resistant product. This prevents injury to people or customers on the threat side of the barrier such as a bank lobby, and lowers site liability for the end user.

4.Ballistic Capture: this is the amount of holding area the material is framed in. Various products have requirements that refer to the amount of capture the glazing is held in. For example a bullet resistant UL-752 level I glass would require a minimum 1" of ballistic capture.

5.Level Of Protection: Refers to the ballistic stopping capabilities of the product. There are various levels of protection in the ballistic field and they are monitored by various testing agencies. (See Testing Agencies)

6.Spall and No Spall: "Spall" means to chip or splinter. In the ballistic industry "Spalling" occurs when the projectile (bullet) hits the threat side of a bullet resistant glass product and the chips or splinters of glass can be released into the protected side of the barrier possibly injuring someone. A product can be bullet resistant and still have possible spalling. A no spall product does not allow the chips or splinters to come off of the glass.

7.Architectural Armorer: A company that specializes in armoring buildings.

Terms and details used in Designing Systems.

8.Vertical Offset Design: This is typically a design where the bullet resistant materials are stood vertically above the counter and are staggered or offset front to back from one another. The panels overlap each other by a minimum of 2" and are offset by about 1". (See Detail #1, page 11) This design is good for radius counters and provides good sound transmission through the "offsets". The system is perpendicularly braced with baffles for stability.

9.Butted Design: this is typically a design where the bullet resistant materials are stood vertically above the counter and are butted together end to end. The seams are butted with perpendicular baffles made of the same material as the barrier. These baffles also provide stability to hold the barrier in place. (See Detail #2, page 12)

10.Baffles: a support brace used in ballistic barriers that typically sit perpendicular to the main barrier and helps laterally support the barrier. It also provides a ballistic backer at seems in a butted design. (See Detail #3, page 13)

11.Framed Design: this is when the main ballistic material is supported in a frame system. When framing ballistic materials you must follow the manufacturers recommended capture of the material. Frames can be made of Aluminum or steel. Wood frames are not recommended for bullet resistant systems. Frames that completely capture the glazing are the safest under live fire. Frames with removable stops must have minimum capture and have numerous security screws holding them into place so that the stops do not come off during live fire. (See Ballistic Capture Frame Detail, page 14)

12.Voice Ports: Voice ports allow the transfer of sound naturally through a bullet resistant barrier without the use of an electric intercom system. Voice ports are typically made of the same material as the barrier itself and can be round, rectangular, square, horizontal or vertical. They can also be closeable in exterior applications. Custom voice ports are also available. This can help the architect blend the bullet resistant barrier in with the rest of the architecture. (See Voice Ports Detail #5, page 15)

13. Modular Systems: Modular systems are typically framed systems that can be bolted together to make the entire system. They are used in storefront applications and typically bolt to the floor and span to the ceiling. Modular systems are very popular with check cashiers or financial services companies that lease their space and may want to move the barrier to a new location someday. Modular systems can be modified to fit new opening sizes with ease. (See Modular Details #6, page 16)

14 (Mantrap) Mantrap systems are used in locations where access behind the bullet resistant barrier needs to be limited to certain persons such as employees. Mantrap systems are sometimes used when employees are coming in and out of the system frequently. Typically a mantrap system has two doors to go through prior to actually getting into the protected side. The doors are configured to only open one at a time. A person enters the mantrap first door and the second door will only open when the first door is closed. This would stop an intruder from forcing his way into the protected side by following an employee through door number one. Door number two is opened by someone already in the protected side that can see who is in the mantrap. (See Detail #7, page 17)

15 (Deal Tray) Deal trays are used to transfer things (usually money and or paper) through the bullet resistant barrier. Deal trays are most commonly made of stainless steel but can be made of most solid surface materials that one would construct counter tops out of. Deal trays should be a maximum of 1 ?" deep so as to not allow a gun to be put through. Deal trays should be lined with a bullet resistant material that captures the projectile within it. (Non ricochet) (See Deal Tray Details #8, page 18)

16 (Interlocking Package Exchange) Interlocking package exchanges are used for passing larger items such as packages, sodas, retail items that will not fit through the deal tray. The interlocking package exchanges are usually made from the same material as the bullet resistant barrier. They are outfitted with an interlocking device that allows only one door at a time to be open. Clear package exchanges are the safest for security reasons. Some manufacturers make stainless steel and other opaque package exchanges and unwanted items can be placed in them without the employee seeing.