Written By: Brad Campbell | December 23, 2025
Bulletproof glass is often thought of as impenetrable, but in reality, it’s a bullet-resistant glazing solution designed to protect people and property from ballistic threats and forced entry. From traditional laminated glass to modern hybrid materials like glass-clad polycarbonate, today’s ballistic-grade glazing balances safety, security, weight, and aesthetics for a wide range of applications.
In this guide, we’ll explore what bulletproof glass is made of, how it works, its common uses, and key considerations for installation, helping you make informed decisions for your facility or business
Welcome to Bulletproof Glass 101, your crash course on bullet-resistant window and door solutions!
Bulletproof glass is a common term for what’s more accurately known as bullet-resistant or ballistic-grade glazing, which these days includes glazing made of non-glass materials like polycarbonates and acrylics.
It’s important to understand that there’s no such thing as 100% bulletproof glass, even the thickest, most bullet-resistant glazing materials can be penetrated by bullets under certain conditions.
The specific ballistic resistance rating of the glass or non-glass glazing tells you what types of bullets it can stop and approximately how many ballistic impacts it can withstand before penetration. For example, UL 752 Level 1 bulletproof glass is rated to stop three 9mm, 124-grain handgun rounds.
Traditional bulletproof glass is made of layers of laminated glass, resulting in a thick, heavy, yet optically clear glass panel that can stop bullets. However, because of the weight and thickness, this type of ballistic-grade glass can be prohibitively complex, not to mention costly, to install.
To make bullet-resistant glass more accessible and viable for a wider range of applications, modern bulletproof glass is constructed using a wider variety of glazing materials.
For instance, bullet-resistant glazing can be 100% plastic-based, with either a full polycarbonate composition or a mix of acrylic and polycarbonate. These glazing materials can be coated to improve their surface hardness and resistance to abrasion.
An even better option for modern bulletproof glass is glass-clad polycarbonate (GCP). This hybrid system uses laminated security glass on the exterior side (attack side) and polycarbonate on the interior (safe side).
The hybrid composition of GCP glazing serves a few important purposes:
| Type | What It’s Made Of | Weight & Look | Key Benefits |
| Traditional Laminated Glass | Layers of laminated glass | Very heavy; clear like standard glass | Strong bullet resistance, but costly and hard to install |
| Polycarbonate Glazing | 100% polycarbonate or acrylic/polycarbonate mix | Far lighter than laminated glass, looks like glass | Flexible, absorbs energy, easier to install; can be coated for scratch resistance, virtually shatterproof |
| Glass-Clad Polycarbonate (GCP) | Laminated glass outside + polycarbonate inside | Moderate weight; looks like regular glass | Reduces spalling, layers hold together if outer glass is damaged, high forced entry resistance, strong ballistic protection |
Bulletproof glass works by combining multiple layers of strong glazing materials, each serving a specific purpose in stopping or slowing a projectile. When a bullet strikes the glass, its kinetic energy must be absorbed and dissipated across the layers to prevent penetration.
The outer layers, usually hardened laminated glass, are designed to deform and fracture upon impact, slowing the bullet and reducing its energy. Behind these layers, softer materials like polycarbonate absorb the remaining energy, flexing slightly to distribute the force over a larger area. This layered approach prevents the bullet from passing through and keeps the interior side intact.
The hybrid construction of modern bulletproof glass, such as glass-clad polycarbonate, also addresses secondary hazards like spalling. Without a polycarbonate backing, shattered glass fragments could fly into the protected area. The polycarbonate layer holds broken glass together, ensuring the surface remains largely intact and reducing the risk of injury.
In short, bulletproof glass doesn’t deflect bullets, but rather it manages and dissipates the energy of the ballistic impacts across its layers, preventing penetration (up to a certain point) and protecting whoever or whatever is behind it.
Bulletproof glass, which you now know is really bullet-resistant glass, serves two main purposes: protecting against active threats and preventing forced entry.
One of the primary applications of bullet-resistant glass is safeguarding people and facilities from violent attacks. It’s commonly used in government buildings, banks, and executive offices, providing protection for high-profile, high-risk facilities and individuals.
In these settings, bulletproof glass can help mitigate the risks of ballistic attacks, buying critical time for evacuation or response in the event of an attack.
Beyond active threats, bulletproof glass is increasingly used by businesses to prevent break-ins. Retailers, in particular, are turning to bullet-resistant glazing to protect storefront windows and doors from smash-and-grab thefts and burglaries.
Since ballistic-grade window and door glazing offers the highest level of forced entry resistance for glass surfaces, it helps secure assets, reduce losses, and provide peace of mind, especially important for retailers who have already experienced repeated incidents of damage and theft.
Installing bulletproof glass requires careful attention to structural support. The frame and surrounding walls must be strong enough to handle the weight of the glazing, especially for traditional laminated panels, which can be very heavy.
Modern hybrid solutions, like glass-clad polycarbonate glazing, significantly reduce both weight and thickness, making installation simpler and less costly. However, weight and thickness are still important considerations, and GCP may not be suitable for all applications.
When planning a project, consider whether you’re retrofitting an existing building or incorporating bullet-resistant glass into new construction. Retrofitting may require reinforcing frames or walls, or at least replacing the existing glass, whereas new construction allows for integrated support, optimizing both safety and aesthetics.
For a cost-effective retrofit option that works for almost any commercial facility, consider fully polycarbonate bullet-resistant glazing. This is the lightest option and can almost always be retrofitted on top of existing windows and doors using specialized framing adapters.
Bulletproof glass, bullet-resistant glass, ballistic-grade security glazing — whatever the term used is, we’re talking about glazing that combines advanced materials and layered construction to protect people, property, and assets from ballistic threats and forced entry.
Modern solutions, like those from Riot Glass, offer lighter, more cost-effective, and easier-to-install options for a wide range of applications, from government buildings to commercial storefronts. Choosing the right bullet-resistant glass and installation method ensures safety, security, and durability, making it a smart investment for high-risk environments.
Ready to harden your facility against ballistic and forced entry attacks? Contact Riot Glass today to learn more about how we can help.
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