Question 1

What is the difference between a fixed bullet resistant window and a transaction window?

Accepted Answer

A fixed bullet resistant window is a permanently sealed ballistic barrier with no operable components. It provides continuous, uninterrupted protection at any opening where no exchange of items is needed - observation points, lobby partitions, perimeter glazing. A transaction window, by contrast, includes an operable element (a sliding panel, a drawer, a pass-through) that allows items to move between spaces. The tradeoff is that operable components introduce gaps and require staff to manage them correctly. If your application doesn't require item exchange, a fixed window is almost always the stronger security choice. It's always closed, always rated, and always working.

Question 2

What UL 752 level do I need for my facility in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The right protection level depends on your realistic threat environment - not on buying the highest level available. Level 1 (9mm handgun protection) is commonly specified for retail environments, pharmacies, and convenience stores across the United States. Levels 3 and 4 are frequently used in banks, schools, and courtrooms. Higher levels - 5 through 8 and beyond - are typically reserved for law enforcement facilities, federal buildings, and military installations. Over-specifying adds significant weight, cost, and structural load without meaningful additional protection for most commercial environments. We help you match the protection level to the actual threat, which is the correct approach.

Question 3

Does the frame need to be rated, or just the glazing?

Accepted Answer

Both need to be rated - and this is one of the most important things to understand before you specify or purchase anything. Rated glazing installed in a standard, unrated frame does not create a compliant ballistic assembly. Under attack, the frame is the first thing that gets tested. If it isn't engineered to capture and retain projectiles, the system can fail even if the glass holds. Our hollow metal and aluminum fixed window frames are specifically engineered as part of the ballistic system - not just as a housing for the glass. The frame, glazing, and anchors all work together. That's what makes it a real security fixed window.

Question 4

Can a bullet resistant fixed window be installed in an existing wall opening?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most cases. Because our fixed windows are custom-manufactured to exact dimensions, they can be fabricated to fit existing openings without requiring a full wall rebuild. That said, there are structural considerations - bullet resistant glazing is significantly heavier than standard glass, and higher UL levels add even more weight. The surrounding wall assembly and anchor points need to be evaluated for adequate load capacity before installation. This is part of why having a licensed PE involved in the specification process matters. We can review your existing conditions and engineer the system to work within them, rather than asking you to modify the building around the product.

Question 5

Will a bullet resistant fixed window look different from regular glass?

Accepted Answer

Not in any obvious way. Modern ballistic glazing closely matches standard architectural glass in appearance and light transmission. The thickness increases with protection level - ranging from roughly three-quarters of an inch at lower UL levels to several inches at the highest ratings - but from the other side of the glass, most occupants and visitors won't notice the difference. Our aluminum and stainless steel frame options are available in finishes that match existing architectural standards, so the security upgrade integrates into the space rather than standing out. This matters in environments like banks, healthcare facilities, and government service centers where the customer experience is part of the design brief.

Question 6

What is the difference between bullet resistant and blast resistant fixed windows?

Accepted Answer

Bullet resistance and blast resistance address different physics. A bullet resistant fixed window is designed to stop projectiles - discrete, high-velocity impacts from specific calibers at defined distances, rated under UL 752. A blast resistant window is designed to absorb and dissipate the pressure wave from an explosion, which acts on the entire glazing surface simultaneously and at a completely different force profile. The two threats require different engineering approaches, which is why most manufacturers address them separately. Our fixed windows are tested to both UL 752 ballistic standards and GSA Blast and DOD minimum standards, meaning a single assembly can address both threat types. For government facilities, financial institutions, and high-security commercial environments across the United States, that combined capability is increasingly the specification standard.

Bullet & Blast Resistant Fixed Windows

Bullet/Blast Resistant Fixed Window Products

FIXED WINDOWS

Aluminum Fixed Window

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