The Importance of Riot Glass® as a Door Barricade for Active Shooter & Active Threat Protection

When it comes to mitigating the risks of active threats, especially active shooter scenarios, the most important factor in preventing harm to those inside a facility is the type of physical access denial barriers it has in place.

Riot Glass security glazing solutions provide an extremely high level of access denial and active threat protection, preventing attackers from gaining access to a building by shooting out a pane of glass to open a door from the inside or step right in.

When you reinforce a property’s vulnerable doors and windows with Riot Glass, the threat of physical harm to people inside the property during an active threat scenario drastically drops. Keep reading to find out why.

What Is an Active Threat Scenario?

An active threat scenario refers to a situation in which there is an immediate and ongoing threat to the safety and security of individuals or a community, including those inside a specific building or set of buildings within a certain area.

This type of scenario typically involves a person or group of people who are actively engaged in harmful or dangerous activities, such as violence, terrorism, or other criminal behavior. 

Active threat scenarios can take many forms, including:

• Active shootings
• Terrorist attacks (employing bombs, shootings, knife attacks, or other methods)
• Physical assaults
• Hostage situations
• Armed robberies
• Other targeted or random acts of violence

In any active threat scenario, it is crucial for individuals and authorities to respond quickly and effectively to minimize harm, protect lives, and bring the situation under control. 

This often involves the coordination of law enforcement, emergency responders, and other relevant agencies to address the threat and provide assistance to those affected. 

Preparedness, training, and effective communication are essential in managing and mitigating the risks associated with active threat scenarios.

A huge part of this preparedness is taking proactive measures to harden the security of commercial buildings, especially that of high-risk facilities like schools, religious facilities, government buildings, and other places that are prone to be targeted for violent attacks.

How Does Riot Glass Mitigate Active Threats?

Riot Glass security glazing is designed specifically to protect windows, doors, and other glass surfaces against forced entry, active threats, and other impact-related security threats.

When you retrofit Riot Glass over a pane of glass, use it to replace the existing glass, or install it in new construction, you’re getting an incredibly effective, yet virtually invisible, access denial barrier.

With its specific formulations of polycarbonates, acrylics, and other plastics, Riot Glass effectively stops even the most determined would-be intruders from gaining access to a facility by breaking a window or door.

Attacks using common burglary tools, such as crowbars, sledgehammers, bats, bricks, and other heavy objects, will be met with frustration as they bounce right off the Riot Glass. 

In fact, even if riddled with bullets, Riot Glass won’t give way or significantly diminish in strength — it continues to remain a barrier to forced entry and keep the bad guys out, protecting the well-being of those inside as long as needed.

Implementing Riot Glass As an Active Shooter Door Barricade

In the unfortunate event of an active threat scenario, such as an active shooter incident, people inside a facility under attack should run, hide, and barricade themselves inside somewhere safe until the authorities arrive and neutralize the threat.

This often means that people lock and barricade themselves inside a classroom, an office, or another room with a door. 

However, in many types of commercial facilities, doors are often made of glass, have a glass see-through window in them, or are surrounded by windows on either side. 

If this is the case, it’s very easy for an attacker to smash or shoot out a pane of glass and open a door from the inside — this is where Riot Glass comes in as an active shooter door barricade.

Riot Glass can be installed into or onto many existing door framing systems, either protecting the existing glass behind or replacing it altogether. 

This creates a virtually unbreakable access denial barrier that prevents bad guys from forcing entry into a building or room where people are sheltering and waiting for the authorities to arrive.

While an active shooter may still shoot through Riot Glass, they won’t be able to pass any part of their body through.

This access denial drastically reduces the risk of physical harm and loss of life to building occupants, and can deter and delay attackers long enough for them to move on or be neutralized by the authorities.

Benefits of Using Riot Glass for Active Threat Mitigation:

• Containment-grade and ballistic-grade options available.
• Provides access denial for doors and windows to keep bad guys out, period.
• Strength is not compromised by blunt force impacts or bullets, even if penetrated.
• Virtually invisible (maintains visibility and natural light transmission).
• Fortifies buildings without making them look fortified.
• Specific formulations ensure Riot Glass outperforms and outlasts similar security glazing.
• Protects against a full range of security threats, including:
  • Active threats/active shooters.
  • Forced entry and burglary.
  • Smash-and-grab theft.
  • Rioting and looting.
  • Vandalism.
  • Blast damage/explosions.
  • Storm damage.
  • Natural disasters.

Final Words

We hope that no one ever has to experience an active threat or active shooting scenario, but it’s important for commercial building owners and facility managers to take proactive measures to mitigate the risks associated with these types of incidents.

Implementing physical access denial barriers and active shooter door barricades by installing Riot Glass can go a long way towards protecting the lives of building occupants in the face of such tragic incidents.

The technology behind Riot Glass security glazing and all the benefits it provides make it one of the most cost-effective ways for schools, government buildings, religious facilities, and other commercial properties to reinforce glass doors and windows without breaking the bank.

Contact us today for more information on Riot Glass solutions or to schedule a free consultation with one of our fenestration security experts.