What School Administrators Need to Know About Ballistic Protection for Schools

Key Takeaways:

• Ballistic protection is glass rated to stop different firearm calibers.

• Some schools opt for forced-entry-resistant glass, which holds a door or window together against a physical breach to buy time for  lockdown procedures

• Ballistic glass is a targeted upgrade for your highest-risk openings, matched to the threats the district is focused on.

When researching ballistic protection for your school, your number one priority is the safety of the students and staff inside the building. The weight of that responsibility can make the decision-making process difficult to navigate. 

While ballistic protection is a viable option, it isn't always possible. Whether the limiting factors are cost, construction downtime, or not wanting to change the building's aesthetic, the district may not start at this level of protection.

What Ballistic Protection Means for a School and What It Stops

Ballistic glass for schools refers to glass built to stop a bullet at the point of impact. What it stops comes down to the standard it was tested against. For example, Clear Armor’s bullet-resistant laminate passed an independent NIJ Standard 0108.01 test, yielding a Type IIA rating, showing it stops 9mm handgun rounds. This product is a window laminate installed inside existing glass rather than a full replacement ballistic glazing product, but the concept is the same. 

Ballistic Protection vs. Forced-Entry Denial

Ballistic protection and forced-entry denial products solve different problems, and your school security plan should be clear about what you’re trying to protect against. Ballistic protection is designed to stop bullets on the glass, while forced-entry protection is designed to delay entry. Both are useful in improving your school’s overall security landscape. 

For most schools, an attacker breaching the glass is always a potential threat. What shapes an attack's outcome is how quickly an intruder gains access to an occupied space, and how long it takes the office to call 911. When it comes to targeted attacks, every second is a life. The time a forced-entry denial product buys your staff is crucial in protecting staff and students inside the building.

Ballistic glass addresses a more specific threat. In a situation where ballistic glass is used on a check-in office window or in a main entrance vestibule, the attacker is already inside the facility. This is still important because office staff need time to call first responders, but it is always best to keep intruders outside the building when possible.

Ballistic Protection and Your School Security Plan

Where ballistic protection fits into your security plan varies by district. The most common application is adding ballistic glass to the interior main entrance vestibule doors and office windows. With traditional ballistic glass, this means removing the doors entirely and installing updated hinges and heavy doors that can support the glass's weight. For a product like Clear Armor’s bullet-resistant laminate, this involves installing a layered security window laminate on the inside of the existing glass. 

Regardless of the product type used, the goal is the same: to protect the people behind the glass from incoming projectiles. Costs, calibers, and processes vary, but installing this level of protection is significantly more expensive than a product like Clear Armor’s SL-15 or 15 mil laminate. The SL-15 laminate will delay forced entry, but a bullet will pass through the glass. 

Deciding what makes the most sense for your district requires careful planning and deliberation, but no matter what your district decides, what staff does with the time the protection buys is most important. 

Training Office Staff

Whether your school has opted to install ballistic protection or an entry denial product, the office staff must be prepared for a potential attacker. If the glass has additional protection but the office staff doesn't have the training they need, the extra time does little good. Clear Armor's TruTrauma program trains school staff to control breathing, apply basic first aid, and recognize when something doesn’t feel right. From scanning your environment to applying a tourniquet, this training is critical for helping people prepare for any high-stress event. 

Designed and instructed by Navy SEAL veteran Mario Martin, businesses regularly pay upwards of $15,000 per day to have this training conducted for their people. For schools that have worked with Clear Armor and installed 2,500 square feet or more of security window laminate, this training is provided at no charge. The district can invite administrators, nurses, teachers, anyone they feel should attend. For Mario, it is always about being able to save a life.

Common Questions About Ballistic Protection for Schools

Can you make an existing classroom bullet-resistant, or does the glass have to be replaced? 

In most cases, yes. A laminate retrofit, like Clear Armor's, applies to existing glass rather than requiring full replacement, though this depends on the glass thickness and the frame holding it.

Does bullet-resistant laminate need special upkeep?

No. Your custodial staff will need to use mild chemicals like Johnson & Johnson’s baby shampoo with distilled water. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive pads to keep the surface clear over time. Outside of changing the product used, the glass can be cleaned normally.

Will bullet-resistant laminate make a classroom darker?

No.  Clear Armor’s bullet-resistant laminate is optically clear and keeps the glass's natural appearance. That being said, the laminate does block 99% of UV rays. As a result, there will be a slight haze compared to the window without the material.

How long does bullet-resistant laminate last? 

This varies by manufacturer and warranty terms. Clear Armor's laminate isn't a permanent building modification. A future owner can remove it, and it carries a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Clear Armor representatives look forward to helping you work through your building security plan. They treat your school as if their own families are inside, and always focus on educating instead of selling products. Schedule a consultation to start the conversation today.