Written By: Brad Campbell | January 29, 2025
When it comes to forced-entry-resistant doors, you might be picturing heavy, solid metal doors. While these types of security doors are certainly effective at preventing forced entry, especially for vulnerable exit doors or service entrances, they simply aren’t viable for most commercial entryways.
Many businesses rely on glass storefront doors and windows to boost curb appeal and attract customers, and many commercial facilities incorporate modern glass entryway doors into their architecture, for an open, inviting look. Replacing these glass doors with metal ones would completely defeat their purpose.
Fortunately, there’s another way to achieve forced-entry-resistant doors for glass entryways and storefront — Riot Glass’s virtually unbreakable door retrofit solutions.
With these innovative Riot Glass solutions, your glass entryway doors can be just as secure as high-security exit doors without hurting the visual appeal or functionality of your storefront or building facade.
Riot Glass security glazing and framing solutions protect commercial properties of all types from forced entry, burglary, smash-and-grab theft, rioting and looting, vandalism, and even ballistic attacks, depending on your perceived threat level and goals.
Forced-entry-resistant doors aren’t only for extremely high-security environments. Virtually any business or facility with vulnerable glass entryway doors can benefit from upgraded doors.
A secure entryway serves as a powerful deterrent to forced-entry-related threats, from after-hours burglary to brazen daytime smash-and-grabs. For high-risk facilities, forced-entry-resistant doors also provide access denial in a worst-case active threat scenario.
Riot Glass offers retrofittable forced-entry-resistant door solutions to meet the needs of:
The most common forced-entry methods exploit weaknesses around vulnerable door and window glass.
For example, glass within 40 inches of a door lock, including panes of glass within the door unit itself, is often a prime target. Intruders can easily break a pane of glass with a swing of a hammer or even something as simple as a thrown spark plug, allowing them to reach through and unlock the door from the inside or open it using the emergency egress mechanism.
This type of forced entry is especially common in incidents of retail theft where criminals attempt rapid entry, either when committing a smash-and-grab-style burglary or when looting businesses during civil unrest or a natural disaster.
In the worst-case scenario of an active threat targeting a school, a government building, or another type of facility, violent attackers may also attempt to force entry by shooting a glass door with firearms to gain quick access.
Ideal for framed glass doors, AP-Series Riot Glass is a polycarbonate-based security glazing that provides virtually unbreakable glass protection for doors and windows. It can often be fitted directly over the existing glass, creating a clear, resilient barrier that stops forced entry attempts in their tracks.
AP-Series glazing is also available with UL 752 ballistic resistance, offering an additional layer of ballistic protection for active threat mitigation.
Benefits of AP-Series Retrofits:
For facilities requiring the highest level of security, Riot Glass unbreakable door conversion kits offer unparalleled strength and durability. This system combines the high-security Universal Framing System with AP75 bullet-resistant glazing panels, achieving both a UL 752 Level 1 ballistic rating and ASTM F3038 forced entry test standards.
Passing the ASTM F3038 forced-entry-resistance test means that these door conversion units are suited to some of the most high-security commercial applications you can imagine, including government buildings and similar facilities. They can resist mob-style attacks using heavy tools.
Here’s a video demonstrating the capacity of these forced-entry-resistant doors to withstand even the most severe attacks:
Benefits of Riot Glass Unbreakable Door Conversions:
Riot Glass provides modern, aesthetic door security solutions that maintain the welcoming feel of glass storefronts and entryway doors. Designed to look and function like standard commercial glass doors, Riot Glass forced-entry-resistant doors retain full visibility, preserving sight lines and letting in natural light.
Riot Glass solutions are crafted from proprietary formulations of polycarbonates, acrylics, and other specialized security glazing materials. They’re highly engineered to withstand real-world forced entry attempts and ballistic threats (depending on the specific composition).
The combination of aesthetics and strength makes Riot Glass unique in its ability to support architectural and design goals alongside security objectives. Whereas traditional door security measures can give a fortress-like impression, Riot Glass products provide even better protection without compromising your building’s inviting atmosphere.
Every property has its own unique security profile and challenges, which is why Riot Glass offers a fully customizable approach to forced-entry-resistant door solutions.
From lightweight retrofit options like AP-series AP25 glazing shields for moderate-risk environments, such as high-end retails stores, to ballistic-grade unbreakable door conversions for maximum protection, our products are designed to meet various levels of commercial security requirements.
Riot Glass solutions can be customized to fit specific door and window dimensions, design styles, and desired security ratings, providing clients with the flexibility to address their exact needs.
Additionally, Riot Glass is compatible with various framing and architectural specifications, allowing for seamless integration with almost any existing structure.
Riot Glass solutions can often be installed without requiring major renovations or even replacement of the existing glass, making them an extremely cost-efficient option.
We work either directly with clients or with their local glass contractors, architects, or other building professionals to ensure that our solutions align with all brand, security, and operational goals, providing a robust, customized defense that’s as attractive as it is functional.
Our holistic approach ensures that each client receives the right solution for their unique needs and challenges, rather than a one-size-fits-all security option.
Riot Glass offers glass entryway door security solutions that don’t compromise on the appearance or curb appeal of your storefront glass. In other words, we fortify buildings without making them look fortified.
With several options, including AP-Series retrofit security glazing and Riot Glass unbreakable door conversion kits, you have unprecedented access to forced-entry-resistant entryway door solutions that can be adapted to your specific needs.
Whether you’re looking to secure a luxury retail store, a government building, a school, or anything in between, Riot Glass has the perfect solution.
Contact our team today for a consultation and let us help protect your property with durable security glazing solutions tailored to your needs!
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