A Next Wave for Security Glass in Schools and Beyond

There is one realm where protective glazing trends are leading the pack: school security. School districts increasingly ask architects to develop design solutions that better protect students in the event of threats, from fires to intruders or active shooters.

The first wave of security glass for schools involved thick, heavy laminated glass assemblies. These assemblies were used to fill existing openings in the structure and served as a sort of stop-gap in response to immediate concerns for safety. Such assemblies are cost prohibitive, however, and the systems were not as efficient as they could be. Now that architects have had time to examine school security objectives, they have come up with better building designs that are more selective in where they are applied.

Here is where it is clear that glass can and should serve multiple purposes. The current wave of security glass solutions hits several goals at once. For the glass industry, the call for safer schools translates to requests for intruder-resistant products in addition to the already code-required fire-protection solutions. Designers incorporate these solutions while still meeting stringent energy codes and maximizing daylighting and views. The system is tailored to the building itself too by providing high-performance security glazing in a few select spots and standard fire-rated glazing in others, which keeps costs in check.

However, glazing suppliers say that the market requires additional education and specification assistance when it comes to building safer schools. What is needed? Should they use ballistic glass or hurricane glass or forced-entry glass?

What happens in school security glass systems can provide insight into how to approach other security and safety glass systems as well. Collateral damage from social unrest can affect building facades in major downtown cities. Government buildings, churches, financial institutions, and any other space that has dealt with threats from forced entry, weapons, or other destructive elements can look to security and safety glass trends being used in schools for solutions. Following is a checklist of factors to consider when evaluating protective glazing in schools and other buildings with similar security and safety needs.

The Threat

Many school districts are looking to add intruder resistance to their school buildings, according to glass industry sources. Traditional bulletproof or bullet-resistant solutions offer a level of protection beyond what is needed for intruder resistance. The goal for intruder resistance is to deter access, delay access, and allow time for first responders to arrive.

Time

How long will a system be required to stand up to a given threat? It often depends on location. A police station across the street can respond quicker to a school, but a rural school might need a higher level of resistance to wait for help to arrive.

The Weak Link

When considering the protective properties of a glazing system, look first for the weak link. Glass will often be the weakest link in a system until some type of safety glazing is employed. Once the glass is taken care of, consider the locks and hardware.

Budget

How you balance performance demand and budget should be a key discussion early in the project process. The glass industry offers a wide range of security solutions depending on the project budget.

Safe Zones

Suppliers recommend that architects consider using a range of protection levels for different areas of the building. For example, certain safe zones will require higher levels of protection. Key points of entry should also be a focus for a higher level of protection.

Alternate Points of Entry

Front entrances are not the only locations for security glazing. Ground-level windows and back and side doors also should be considered.

Interior Openings

Exterior solutions are a focus of intruder resistance. However, interior protections also should be considered, such as protective glass in doors to classrooms.

Fire Protections

The addition of intruder-resistance products must act in concert with requirements for fire protection. An aftermarket film applied to a fire-rated glazing system will affect the product’s ability to perform in a fire. The fire marshal can help a project team determine if the assemblies fully comply with fire-code requirements.

Glass as a Permanent Protective Barrier against Pathogens

Medical, educational, and manufacturing facilities are implementing personal protective barriers due the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, the respiratory illness spread primarily by droplets from coughs or sneezes of infected persons to those nearby. Some of these barriers are temporary, but many of them will be permanent since the pandemic has caused the world to think about pathogens in a more calculated, preventative way.

Temporary barriers during the pandemic typically have been plastic. However, glass is a good material for more permanent installations. It may be preferred over plastic for aesthetic reasons, but it also has better transparency attributes and is easier to clean.

Cleaning Physical Barriers

It is important to routinely clean physical barriers using U.S. EPA-approved and CDC-recommended disinfectants, such as solutions with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. Glass has an excellent service life, and consideration should be given to frequency of replacement of the chosen barrier material. With a smooth, nonporous surface that resists contamination, uncoated glass surfaces can withstand repeated cleaning by most cleaning agents without discoloration or surface degradation. Anti-glare and antimicrobial coatings can be applied to glass for barrier applications requiring additional considerations.

Recommended Glass Types

The types of glass recommended for physical barriers are laminated or fully tempered glass. These types meet safety and performance standards for this application. Laminated glass is composed of two or more lites of glass permanently bonded together with one or more interlayers. The benefit of laminated glass is that if broken, the glass will stay adhered to the interlayer contained in the opening until it can be removed and replaced.

Fully tempered glass involves uniformly heating glass close to its softening temperature and then rapidly and uniformly cooling it. This process results in the development of surface-compressive stresses, thus increasing the strength of the glass. When this fully tempered glass breaks, it will shatter into many small pieces rather than large shards, which reduces the risk of cut injuries.

Installation Considerations

Glass is installed as part of an overall finished physical barrier product. It is important that the hardware and components, including the glass itself, are designed with the system in mind so that the finished product works as intended. Edge clamps and adhesives are examples of simple and efficient ways to mount glass panels without designing and drilling holes into the glass. An alternative mounting technique involves point-supported glazing, where glass panels are supported by through-hole or patch/clamp fittings.

Material Considerations of Glass for Personal Protective Barriers

• Meets safety glazing requirements when properly fully tempered or laminated
• Clear, transparent, non-yellowing, non-aging
• Smooth, nonporous surface is resistant to contamination
• Easy to clean and sanitize
• Durable; resists hazing or discoloration from most disinfectants
• If broken, tends to remain in the frame until removed (laminated and surface-applied film)
• Sleek, professional, sanitary, and welcoming feel for consumer