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Whether your business is big or small, an unexpected burglary can set you back and hurt your success. On top of the loss of merchandise or vital equipment, there’s also the added expenses of repairing and cleaning up damage caused by the burglars. Not only that, but you also have to factor in the time you waste dealing with the aftermath of the burglary, which is valuable time during which you aren’t doing business.

To prevent catastrophic losses, it’s important to employ a comprehensive strategy to secure and protect your business from burglary. Of course, having a good insurance policy will help you after the event, and things like cameras, security lights, and alarms can deter burglars. However, having all of these systems in place won’t keep a determined individual from breaking in to your business, especially through unsecured windows.

Windows are often the most overlooked areas when it comes to securing your business against break-ins. They are also the most obvious and easiest point of entry for would-be burglars. There are various ways you can secure your windows, such as by applying security films, security screens, or bars, but one of the absolute best and most effective ways to do so is with ArmorPlast products.

What Is ArmorPlast & How Does It Prevent Burglaries?

ArmorPlast is a clear, unbreakable shield that fits over existing glass and acts as a barrier, preventing burglary and active shooter forced entry. ArmorPlast shields are composed of layers of polycarbonate laminate and are available in thicknesses from 0.25 inches to 1.250 inches thick. Each shield in the ArmorPlast product line has a different strength rating that classifies the sheet as non-ballistic, containment grade, or with a specific ballistic rating.

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For example, ArmorPlast 25 is ArmorPlast’s entry-level containment grade glazing shield, meaning that it will not stop bullets, but it will resist cracking or shattering. On the other end of the line is ArmorPlast 125MS, which is rated to withstand high-speed, multi-shot ballistic attacks. ArmorPlast products are a top-of-the-line security solution for all types of commercial facilities, including banks, specialty retailers, 24-hour convenience stores, cash transaction windows, schools, government buildings, and religious facilities.

How to Prevent Break-Ins Through Windows with ArmorPlast

Professional burglars know the weak points of your business and can easily identify vulnerable glass that they can force entry through. The only way to fully protect your business against burglary is to secure every possible point of entry. You could do this by installing gates or bars, but those detract from the appearance of your business or are simply not viable in some scenarios.

That’s where ArmorPlast comes to the rescue. All you have to do to prevent break-ins through windows is retrofit your business with ArmorPlast protective sheets. ArmorPlast shields fit right on top of your existing glass and are virtually invisible once installed. The polycarbonate and acrylic laminate composition gives the surface a glass-like hardness, but with much higher impact resistance.

Even the most basic ArmorPlast shield will withstand attempts by burglars to smash your glass with hammers, crowbars, bricks, and other tools commonly used in break-ins and smash-and-grab burglaries. In fact, even if a would-be burglar tried to shoot out a window, the ArmorPlast protective glazing would not break apart or significantly diminish in strength. Burglars won’t even be able to make a hole big enough to pass their hand through to open a door or window on the other side.

Commercial Burglary Prevention – Store Front Security Door Glass Testimonial

Invisible Window Protection from Burglars

Aside from its unbreakable strength, another huge benefit of using ArmorPlast to protect against business burglary is that it doesn’t change the appearance or structure of your existing glass. ArmorPlast sheets can be mounted right onto your existing window frames or storefront glass framing. The glazing is then locked in place with secure mechanical fasteners, which are covered by low-profile protective caps, so the overall look of your business remains the same.

In addition to being almost invisible, ArmorPlast sheets are highly resistant to yellowing, hazing, and abrasion, so they will last a long time in harsh environments. The proprietary exterior hard coat also resists marring, chemical attacks, and graffiti, and facilitates easy cleaning. You don’t have to worry about sacrificing visibility through your business’s windows.

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Protect Your Business from Burglary

Not only does ArmorPlast prevent break-ins through windows, but it also keeps your business safe in the event of civil unrest like rioting and looting. This is especially important if your business is located in an urban core that is more likely to experience protests. Unfortunately, protests can also bring along individuals who are looking to take advantage of the chaos to commit crimes like vandalism and theft.

If you have a street-facing storefront constructed with standard glass, it’s incredibly easy for these types of individuals to throw a rock through a window or smash it with a bat. They can easily gain access to your merchandise, belongings, and equipment before you even know anything happened. Imagine how devastating it would be to arrive early the next morning to open your business only to find that your windows are smashed and your store has been looted.

With ArmorPlast, you can rest easy at night, knowing that your business is secured against all forms of break-ins and theft. Even if you’re sitting at home watching the news and you see an angry mob passing down your business’s street, you don’t have to think about rushing down there to check on and protect your business. ArmorPlast products protect your business from burglary and keeps your mind at ease.

ArmorPlast Shields Are the Best Anti-Burglary Defense Mechanism

If you’re concerned about break-ins at your business, you should always employ a full range of security measures. A comprehensive burglary protection strategy includes security cameras, interior and exterior lighting, an alarm system, and safes for high-value items and merchandise. However, the best form of protection against commercial burglary is prevention, and ArmorPlast shields the weakest points of your business against forced entry, making it the best first line of defense against break-ins and burglary.

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In the first 46 weeks of 2019, there were 45 school shootings at elementary, middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Of those, 32 were at campuses serving Kindergarten through 12th grade, leaving parents, teachers, students, and communities unsure of what steps to take to guarantee the safety and security of students and faculty while attending school. 

As anxiety increases around this sensitive subject, schools are holding active shooter drills, parents are purchasing bulletproof backpacks, and educators are arming themselves. 

But one question remains: How do you keep an active shooter out of your school today? The answer is: hardening your school to keep those meaning to cause harm out. 

But what is hardening? 

Hardening is a term often used by security professionals, military personnel, and police officers that refers to the process of strengthening a facility’s security to protect occupants in the event of an attack. 

Every building has unprotected entry points that intruders can use to their advantage. The process behind hardening a school is identifying and addressing these physical locations and implementing solutions so that they are not left undefended. 

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Two of the most vulnerable points of entry for any building are windows and doors that can be easily broken or kicked in. If these areas contain large amounts of unprotected glass, they are especially at risk.

Riot Glass, Your Best Option

After years of frustration with the security glass and framing options on the market, the diverse suite of Riot Glass products was born. 

But how is Riot Glass different from tempered or annealed glass? Riot Glass is glass that has been reinforced to provide protection from active-shooters and forced-entry. Once installed, it is nearly indistinguishable from unreinforced glass. 

Riot Glass blocks determined intruders leaving them baffled and unnerved, providing precious time for those inside to react and law enforcement to arrive. The Riot Glass line of highly fortified laminated glass uses a thermoplastic interlayer that is up to 5 times stronger and 100 times stiffer than regular laminated glass. 

While some Riot Glass products are bullet-resistant, other options will not stop live rounds but are intended to maintain their structural integrity, continuing to keep intruders out even when riddled with bullets. 

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When an Intruder Breaks in

When doors and windows are locked, those inside may feel a false sense of security. While installing products such as deadbolts, alarms, and cameras can help, often ignoring windows and glass doors is a fatal flaw in many active shooter protection strategies. 

When we want to enter a building, our brains are programmed to look for a door. The same thinking can be applied to an armed intruder seeking access to a building. If they find the door locked, it usually creates a sense of urgency, causing them to immediately seek the closet point of entry. 

If the door is partly or completely comprised of glass or has a nearby window, it becomes extremely likely the intruder will simply break or shoot the glass to make their way inside of the building instead of searching for an alternate entry point. 

Once inside, it can take a matter of minutes for damage to be done and lives to be lost. Upon the realization that an active shooter has penetrated a school, panic can set in causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, trembling, dizziness, or even an out of body experience. 

Those panicking may be unsure of what to do to protect themselves and need assistance. Active shooters count on the element of surprise.  As a result, every second matters. Time is needed to focus and plan effective action. Quick decisions must be made to either exit the premises or barricade yourself in a room. 

What studies have learned is that deterring or slowing an intruder is the key to increasing the chance of survival. 

Conclusion

Keeping an active shooter out of your school is directly related to saving lives. An FBI study between 2000 and 2013 determined 64% of active shooter events are over within 5 minutes. 

Typical police response times for an active shooter situation is 6 -10 minutes, which is not an effective option when lives are at stake. What we have learned from the events of the past is that time is of the essence. 

We must empower our staff and students by giving them the tools to protect themselves. 

Riot Glass has created viable solutions for anti-intrusion and ballistic resistance that won’t break your budget. A recent independent laboratory test of our ArmorPlast 25, which is the thinnest and most affordable of its product line, ended after 8 minutes of the lab tech using everything from a sledgehammer to bullets without gaining entry. 

Our products work when it matters most, creating a physical barrier between those that mean to cause harm and those that need protection.

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After 30 years in the glass protection business, I’ve seen some very inventive techniques on surveillance videos.

Searching the internet for CCTV footage of forced entry crimes, including burglaries, robberies, and active shooter events, has become a regular part of my week. Police will often upload videos showing these crimes in an effort to get information from anyone that may have knowledge to help them in catching the criminals. In the thousands of hours of video I’ve watched, one thing is certain; bad actors will continue to evolve as we continue to bolster our defenses. We are in a war of wills. Our desire to keep them out versus their desire to get in.

To get insights into the magnitude of this challenge, one need only reflect on cybercrime as an example. We are well-aware of the need to update our malware and anti-virus constantly to thwart an ever-evolving effort on the part of hackers, yet in the physical world we rely on the same security products we have been using for decades. The “jig is up”. Bad guys know how to get past locked doors and are no longer deterred by security cameras or alarm systems. They’re still successfully forcing their way in.

Lets look at some existing security measures, that alone are no longer “cutting the mustard”. These need to be paired with other technology to create a more robust system for preventing forced entry crimes.

Security cameras are an excellent tool for documenting events as they unfold, which helps investigators solve crimes. Using facial, vehicle, and even behavioral recognition, new software can detect an individual who has been banned from a property, and even the vehicle they are known to drive, as well as aggressive behavior. With the proliferation of cameras into security systems and public places in general, these technological advents certainly make security cameras more useful as an early warning system for certain types of crimes, but cameras are not a barrier to entry and will not stop a crime from occurring in most cases.

Alarm systems are necessary for alerting police, and a loud alarm sound is undoubtedly going to scare off a percent of would-be intruders, but it takes considerable time for the alarm company to make initial calls to the property owner before a call to the police occurs. This wastes valuable time. Criminals use the statistical data in their favor, betting on the response time taking longer than they need to commit the crime and get away.

Police response times vary greatly, and according to an FBI report*, 60% of active shooter crimes end before police arrive. In a burglary the time delays can be even longer. Once police are alerted, it can take several minutes to over an hour for them to arrive, depending on the proximity of officers to the alarm and amount of other police activity taking place at the same time. False alarms are common, so police may not place a priority on responding, and bad actors use these timelines to their advantage. They know statistically they have a good chance of committing a crime and escaping before police arrive.

* https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/as-study-quick-reference-guide-updated1.pdf/view

Windows and glass doors are the Achilles heel of a building, and this is where intruders are getting in. Traditional security window films and laminated glass are no match for the heavier tools bad actors have learned to bring along as part of their tool arsenal. Entry takes only seconds when it used to take minutes or deter crimes all together. Not anymore. Apparently, sledgehammers are standard issue when graduating bad guy academy these days, so we need to prepare with a more robust system. New retrofit panels from Riot Glass for example, have been shown to prevent forced entry attempts, even when sledgehammers are used (see video below).

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This innovative system uses an unbreakable, containment-grade polycarbonate panel in conjunction with a patented framing system to create a shield that makes forced entry through the glass virtually impossible. This is the same type of system used in correctional facilities and psychiatric hospitals. When you absolutely, positively must keep someone out, this is the system you use. It is far lighter weight than heavy ballistic security glass, so no other modifications are needed. It simply bolts onto virtually any door or window frame. This system comes in bronze or clear aluminum anodize. It can also be powder coated to any custom color. All fasteners are then hidden under a decorative cover, so the system blends seamlessly into the window or door frame for a virtually invisible appearance.

All of these security measures together create a layered system that will likely delay if not completely deter a bad actor, buying precious time and thus saving lives and protecting property. It is time for the civilized modern world to take a stand against forced entry crimes. Don’t let your facility, school, or home get behind and become an attractive target. Start implementing one technology at a time. Barriers to entry are the best place to start. If the balloon goes up, you’ll be glad you did.

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The importance of keeping an armed intruder out of a building cannot be underestimated. Once inside, the situation goes from bad to infinitely worse. Building occupants need sufficient time to gather their wits, spring into action, and switch on the run, hide, fight mindset.

Dexterity and decision-making can be significantly diminished in the panic following the realization that an actual attack is taking place. As a result, every second matters. Time is needed to get focused and take meaningful action, to exit or barricade in a room, and to calm anyone else who may be panicked and unsure of what to do. Deterring or slowing an intruder is the key to increasing the chances for survival.

If a school or facility has access controls and all doors remained locked, occupants may feel a false sense of security. Locked doors, alarms, and cameras are important, but ignoring windows and glass doors is a fatal flaw in many active shooter protection strategies.

The problem:

There are many misconceptions surrounding fenestration security. Chief among them are the options an armed intruder has when endeavoring to enter a building. Most attackers go to a door and attempt to open it. If the door is locked they may immediately feel a sense of urgency as the adrenaline dumps into their bloodstream. Searching the building perimeter for an unlocked door will seem time-consuming, so finding a quicker way to enter in the immediate vicinity will likely be the next action. If the door has vision glass, or if there is a window adjacent to the door, breaking the glass to gain entry is a tactic an intruder will likely use.

Fire egress panic hardware is mandated in common areas for safety. An occupant need only crash into the door to trigger the panic hardware, allowing the door to fly open. While this is ideal for fire safety, it is a vulnerability when it comes to security. An attacker can simply break the glass, reach in, and pull the panic hardware to gain entry. This can be done more quickly than using a key to unlock a door and renders access controls useless.

Glass doors and windows in entrances of buildings must be tempered for safety. Tempering is a process where glass is heated and then rapidly cooled to create internal compression. By design, when the glass breaks, it shatters into millions of tiny pieces, preventing any large shards of glass. The result is a safer window, but a substantially higher security risk. An attacker need only strike or shoot the glass for it to burst and immediately fall into a pile of gravel which can be simply stepped over to gain entry.

Commonly deployed products:

Security window film is often used to slow or prevent entry, but on tempered glass it must be attached at the edges to prevent the whole broken piece from being dislodged. Often, especially on doors, the attachment options are limited and can readily fail. Even if the attachment does not fail, the film itself can be “punched through” with a tool such as a hammer, metal bar, or even the butt of a gun. Window film may slow an attacker, but if he is prepared, the delay is often only a few seconds. He need only punch a hole large enough to insert his hand and pull the panic bar or access the thumb turn on the lock cylinder. Window film, however, is a viable solution for non-entry areas, especially when the glass is annealed.

Laminated glass is another common method used to secure glass vulnerabilities. This technology is essentially two pieces of glass with a window film-type interlayer sandwiched in between, offering similar protection to that of window films. The vulnerability of puncture remains and can be thwarted in seconds if the attacker is prepared with an object to strike the glass.

Bulletproof glass is another way facilities protect entrances, but there is a significant cost barrier for many, as these materials are far more expensive than the other options. Additionally, the sheer weight of these materials is such that a simple retrofit is not always possible. It may involve removing the existing doors and windows and adding in new framing, and/or changing the hinges and door closers to accommodate the extra weight. This may be the ideal solution from a protection standpoint, but is cost prohibitive more often than not.

Most viable solution:

Riot Glass, Inc saw a clear gap between the lower-level and the high-end protection options, and developed a shielding product called ArmorPlast (AP25). This system includes an unbreakable, containment-grade panel and a retrofit framing that is attached to the outside surface of a door or window frame. It becomes a shield that protects the glass and prevents access. Although AP25 does not stop bullets, it does not crack or shatter. Even after being riddled with bullets, it remains a barrier to entry because it cannot be dislodged and a would-be intruder’s hand cannot pass through to open the door. AP25 is lightweight and can be retrofitted onto most glass doors. It can also be mounted in front of the windows adjacent the doors for added (and highly recommended) protection.

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Conclusion:

Police response times vary greatly, but range on average from 3-5 minutes. We often see that a lot of damage can be done within that time frame, so slowing or preventing entry is crucial. When a would-be intruder is kept outside, they are likely to panic and abandon the attack altogether. The longer the delay, the more likely they will be deterred. Police can locate and neutralize the threat far more easily if an intruder is still outside when they arrive.

We set out to create a protection system that is affordable, superior in strength, light weight, and easy to install. ArmorPlast 25 is the product that fills the gap between low-cost weaker solutions, and higher priced ballistic solutions. ArmorPlast was designed to protect students and faculty, employees of businesses, persons of prominent notoriety, and anyone who may otherwise fall victim to the horrific crimes that motivated its inception.

For more information call 800-580-2303, or fill out the form below.

See ArmorPlast in action here.

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Increased demand for school security has spawned the development of many new products designed to slow or deter an armed intruder. In addition to emergency protocols and drills, there are some critical physical security measures that can significantly improve the survival rates in an incident involving an active shooter. Door anchors for interior doors, Velcro affixed, quick release roll-down black-out shades for classroom door windows, and ArmorPlast™ glass security shields all have specific design features that allow schools to use them without violating fire code and in keeping with aesthetics conducive to learning. Essentially, security measures must be effective, safe, and virtually invisible to students. Ideally, maximum security can be obtained with minimal effect on the look and feel of the school, and without reducing daylighting and natural airflow.

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ArmorPlast Clear Bars for Glass Security

ArmorPlast™ Clear Bars were developed using an existing patented framing system from Riot Glass, Inc that is used to hold unbreakable clear shields in front of windows to prevent forced entry. The standard ArmorPlast™ panels are mounted as a single solid sheet, but in some cases, especially in schools with operable windows, an alternative was needed to maintain airflow. ArmorPlast™ Clear Bars are evenly spaced to allow for ample airflow while simultaneously fortifying windows to prevent an intruder from entering the building. They are available in standard lengths up to 96 inches long and can be cut to fit virtually any window. Clear Bars are often used in conjunction with standard ArmorPlast™ panels on non-operatable windows and glass doors. With ArmorPlast™ Clear Bars in place, the windows may be opened to allow for air circulation without compromising security, something other glass security products cannot achieve.

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ArmorPlast Standard Solid-Panel Door Glass Security

ArmorPlast™ is 250 times stronger than standard glass and can withstand sustained attacks from heavy tools such as hammers, rocks, and metal pry bars. In testing, Clear Bars have been pulled, yanked back and forth with great force, hammered, and twisted to no avail, even after multiple sustained attempts from testing facility agents that were young men of larger than normal stature.

Security window films and standard laminated safety glass are often used in schools and can be effective for slowing an intruder. These products however, can rarely withstand more than a few strikes with a heavy object or tool before a hole can be made, and an intruder need only make a hole large enough to reach in to “trip” the panic hardware on a door to make entry in under a minute. For this reason, ArmorPlast™ is often used on doors and the windows surrounding the doors while window films and laminated glass is used in areas less vulnerable. ArmorPlast™ Clear Bars can be used on operable windows for a well-rounded window and glass door security strategy that will fit most schools’ limited security budgets. Call for more details and to locate a dealer near you 800-580-9997.

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Retail stores that have merchandise on display after hours have become a target for smash and grab theft. The burglars know that the time delay between when the alarm sounds and when police arrive is sufficient for them to get in and out,…….and away. The alarm is not going to stop them. The cameras aren’t going to stop them, and your storefront glass is definitely not going to stop them, either. So how can you protect your store in the vulnerable few minutes while police are traveling to the scene?

There is a new product designed specifically for the prevention of heavy tool-wielding bad guys smashing their way into your store. ArmorPlast™ is a clear, unbreakable shield that is installed in front of your existing glass and acts as a shield to prevent entry. ArmorPlast™ is manufactured by Riot Glass, Inc, a security glass company located in Huntington Beach, California. It is made out of polycarbonate, acrylic, and other durable plastics and is virtually invisible once installed. This containment-grade material is used in jails, psychiatric hospitals, police stations, or any facility where you absolutely must keep someone on the other side of the glass.

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Riot Glass, Inc designed framing specifically for ArmorPlast™ to be mounted onto the existing storefront glass framing. It comes in a clear satin or bronze anodize aluminum to perfectly match the existing framing. The ArmorPlast™ clear panels are secured with mechanical fasteners and then covered with a clean, low-profile protective cap. The system blends seamlessly in with the storefront, and does not significantly change the curb appeal of the store.

ArmorPlast™ was born out of the need for a robust, containment-grade security system that does not change the look of a retail store. Other “clear” solutions include security window film laminates and laminated glass. Both of these solutions can delay entry, and sometimes deter burglars, but increasingly the bad guys are still forcing their way past these measures. Something far stronger, yet still invisible to the average onlooker was needed.

So what happens when a burglar attacks a storefront that is protected with ArmorPlast™? The protective panel will not break. Heavy tool such as hammers, steel or iron bars, baseball bats, etc will bounce off regardless of how hard the attacker strikes. There is a pocket of air between the glass and security panel that acts as a cushion, often protecting the glass behind it from breaking at all. Even if the glass does break, the ArmorPlast™ stays securely in place due to the independently mounted framing it is affixed to.

ArmorPlast™ has thwarted countless burglaries to date. Store owners report arriving the next day to find tooling marks on their storefront panels, but no entry was achieved. Glass is in tact, and merchandise remains untouched, safe behind a clear, yet formidable barrier to entry.

Retail is not the only industry taking advantage of this new tool for fighting back against crime. Corporate office buildings, schools, places of worship, and even homeowners are using ArmorPlast™ to protect their properties. Contact Riot Glass, Inc to learn more. 800-580-2303

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For years, business owners, campus police, and security officials have had very few options for protecting their property against a determined bad guy because everyone knows that if you really want to get inside a building, you can just smash a window or glass door and you’re in.

Protecting the glass with bars or scissor gates dramatically alters the appearance of the building in a way that negatively impacts not only your property, but the neighborhood as a whole, and these solutions often only work after hours as they are disabled or pushed aside during the day. The windows then become vulnerable to an attacker.

The solution? Riot Glass. We have solutions in many protection levels and price ranges.

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Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Imagine you own this retail store and receive that dreaded phone call from the police or alarm company that your store has been looted.

Now, imagine the voice on the other end of the line informing you that although your store was vandalized, the rioters or burglars were unable to gain entry, no merchandise was stolen, and your store interior is intact. It is still a dramatic event to endure, but the outcome is significantly less traumatizing for you, your employees, and your patrons. It is also vastly less expensive when you consider lost revenue, potentially lost customers and/or employees, and the insurance deductibles.
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Whether you are in charge of protecting a retail store (or chain), a school, government facility, or office building, think of Riot Glass as insurance that prevents the negative financial and psychological impacts. It is the first line of defense against a burglary, riot, or other attacks.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Our expert glaziers are extremely proficient and can retrofit your building in no time, with minimal disruption to customers, employees, or students.

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The durability of our products is second to none, and our prompt and professional service is ‘pain-free’. When you call our office, we will locate a dealer near you and a surveyor will be dispatched to your location(s) to assess the size, strength and overall scope of work required to secure your building and its invaluable contents.
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Our Riot Glass Thermoplastic interlayer is the secret to our product’s unbelievable strength. It comes in multiple strengths and overall thicknesses and can be installed as a retrofit over your current windows, or as a replacement glass.

Our surveyor will inspect your property and windows and perform a needs assessment to better understand your specific concerns. Once we determine the best protection level to meet your needs, we will promptly provide you with a quote, supporting literature, case studies, and references.

Riot Glass is virtually invisible and undetectable, yet performs a vital function in a tumultuous world.

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The US Department of Justice released a report entitled “Victimization During Household Burglary”. Over a five year period, an estimated 3.7 million burglaries occurred each year on average. In 28% of these crimes, a household member was present during the burglary, and in 7% of these crimes a household member experienced violent victimization.

When a criminal decides to target your home, the most important feature of your security system should be a physical barrier to entry. A burglary that involves an attack or threat of an attack is no longer classified as a property crime or theft; it becomes a personal crime (rape/sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault). The key to preventing this type of violent victimization is with a physical barrier to entry.

BEFORE – This seemingly strong door can be easily kicked in.

This entry door looks strong, yet offers only a false sense of security. Burglars routinely enter with one kick and are in a home in less than 10 seconds. The only thing holding this, and almost every residential door out there, is a thin piece of pine in the jamb which virtually explodes inward with even a modest amount of force.

There are a myriad of solutions out there, including purchasing a new reinforced pre-hung security door, but we have designed our Security Screens to allow you to exponentially increase security while keeping your existing doors in place.

In the photo below, you can see our screens installed on both the door and the windows, so this homeowner can enjoy the cool summer breeze while maintaining a safe and virtually impenetrable barrier to entry. These are no ordinary screens, even though they look like a typical insect screen. Our Security Screens are made at our Riot Glass factory in Los Angeles and are as tough as nails.

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(See video at the bottom of this post where we put Security Screens to the test.)

AFTER – Security Screens allow you to enjoy the fresh air while maintaining a secure household.

The Benefits of Security Screens

• Provide a strong security barrier to unlawful entry of burglars and intruders while providing homeowners with ease of use, entry, and exit.
• Made extremely strong, secure, and durable to provide years of trouble-free use.
• As an added bonus, our screens keep out the other pesky intruders like flies, mosquitoes, and pests.
• Provide security without compromising a clear and unobstructed view of the outdoors.
• Allow the free flow and circulation of fresh air for your comfort.
• Keep pets and small children safely inside.
• Provide energy savings from reduced need for air-conditioning and add some shading from the sun’s hot rays.
• Block an average of 60% of damaging UV rays.
• Enhances and modernizes the architectural appeal of your home or building.
• Riot Glass products are easily incorporated into almost all types of doors and windows.
• Frames come in nine standard color options: White, Black, Brown, Sahara Brown, Silver, Sahara Gray, Almond, and Bronze.
• Over 60 custom colors available for superior blending with your exterior facade.

Many clients choose Security Screens in addition to other security measures such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras. This is an excellent way to ensure you have the three most important ingredients for success in thwarting a would-be burglar or home invasion robber.

The Security Screens act as a barrier to entry, the alarm will alert police so they are on the way, and the cameras record the event, helping you to better understand what happened after the fact, and often leading to the identification and eventual apprehension of suspects.

Security Screens utilize powder coated stainless steel mesh and exquisite craftsmanship to thwart this determined bad guy.

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Every initial call with a client involves a detailed needs assessment to determine, among other things, the anticipated threat level the client wishes to protect against. In most cases, defense against high powered rifles is the first priority.

Our ballistic solutions are rated by Underwriter’s Laboratories, which will typically assign a rating level from 1-8, depending on the material’s bullet resistance in a laboratory test. It is logical to want the most protection you can get, but the costs associated with a higher rated system can be surprising to many clients. To put this in perspective, most private businesses end up with a UL752 Level 1 material, which is fairly thin, lightweight, and affordable.

Generally speaking, the higher the rating, the thicker and heavier the material. Many municipalities, courthouses, police departments, and other government agencies will opt for – and have the budget for – higher rated systems.

Depending on the window opening size, the weight can add up to significantly more than the architect originally intended, so structural reinforcement of the building envelope’s superstructure may be necessary to accommodate the material.

Riot Glass offers a multitude of materials ranging from laminated glass, acrylic, polycarbonate, and glass clad polycarbonate. Each has its pros and cons, and we will help you decide based on many factors indicated in your needs assessment.

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Our goal has always been to offer the highest quality and affordability, so we are always testing new solutions and combinations of materials that achieve the highest rating, lowest implementation cost, the highest level of scratch resistance and durability, and the lightest weight.

In the video below, we are field testing a Level 7 solution for a client that has high-level protection needs, but with weight restrictions. A field test does not guarantee the material will pass the UL752 test in the actual lab, but this is a starting place for determining whether the material is likely to pass or not.

This particular material passed the field test by stopping 5 rounds fired from an AR15 rifle. Ammunition used: Federal American Eagle 5.56 NATO 55 Grain full metal jacketed lead core rounds (FMJ LC) with a velocity of 3240 fps.
Now it is off to the lab for official testing and certification.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please fill out the form in the sidebar or call us at 800-580-2303.

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