Exterior Security Door Retrofit Options and Their Benefits

Any commercial building’s exterior doors and windows are its most vulnerable points, as they’re highly susceptible to forced entry, vandalism, storm damage, and related threats.

This is why many business and building owners seek out exterior security door retrofit solutions that can boost their property’s security without the need to fully replace the existing door and framing system.

In this brief guide, we’ll go over a few of the most popular retrofit security solutions for exterior doors, covering their benefits and limitations, to help you decide what the right solution for you and your property is.

Exterior Security Door Retrofit Options: Benefits and Limitations

1. Window Bars, Grates, and Grilles
2. Security Shutters and Gates
3. Retrofit Security Glazing

Window Bars, Grates, and Grilles

Window bars are metal bars or grids that are installed over windows or doors to prevent unauthorized entry. They are typically made of steel or wrought iron and are designed to be very strong and durable. Window bars can be fixed or removable, depending on the level of security needed.

Grates and grilles are similar to window bars but are usually more decorative in design. They may have intricate patterns or designs, adding a decorative element to the window while providing security.

These exterior door security options are effective at preventing forced entry and can provide 24-hour protection against various security threats. However, some businesses, cities, and landlords don’t want such visible security measures in front of doors and windows, meaning these solutions aren’t always viable options.

Security Shutters and Gates

Security shutters and gates are physical barriers that can be installed over windows, doors, or other openings and rolled down or across them when needed, typically to enhance after hours security. They can be operated manually, electrically, or even automatically. 

While security shutters and gates are very difficult to breach, they have to be put into place in order to provide protection, and this usually means they only offer their benefits when a business or facility is closed.

Retrofit Security Glazing

For glass exterior door security, a third option is retrofit security glazing. Retrofit security glazing consists of retrofittable framing adapters and forced entry-resistant security glazing infills, which can be made from laminated security glass, non-glass security glazing (like polycarbonate), or a combination of both.

Using the retrofittable framing adapters, the security glazing infills can be mounted on top of many different types of commercial glass surfaces, including glass entryway doors or doors with a glass see-through component.

Depending on the specific type of security glazing used, the new glass can either significantly delay or outright deny forced entry, as well as protect the existing glass against all other types of impacts, including those from flying storm debris. 

Retrofit security glazing is a great option for turning any commercial property’s entryway doors into exterior security doors, as it is cost-effective, provides “always-there” protection, and is virtually invisible.

Security glazing can also be used alongside any of the more traditional exterior door security solutions discussed above to provide even higher levels of protection against forced entry, burglary, and other threats.
Contact Riot Glass today for a free consultation about fortifying your commercial property, without making it look fortified.