Bullet resistant doors (sometimes referred to as bulletproof doors) are specially designed to resist theft or ballistic attacks. They can be used in a wide range of applications such as retail stores, museums, banks, and other commercial properties which require a high level of security.
Residential bulletproof doors are manufactured for use in homes and are used to increase the security and safety of the property. They can be made from a range of materials, most commonly bullet-resistant glass and steel.
In this article, we take a closer look at how residential bulletproof doors are made, how they work, and how they are classified. For more information about ballistic and security solutions for your property, speak with the experts at Australian Fire Control. We can help you find a solution that gives you peace of mind.
What are bulletproof security doors made from?
It is important to note that ordinary glass will shatter immediately when a bullet or other projectile comes in contact with it. This is because ordinary glass cannot bend to absorb the energy of the moving object. The incoming energy will just split the glass along its weak points.
At Australian Fire Control, we offer a number of specialized bullet-resistant glass types which can be used in the construction of security doors. Bullet resistant doors can be manufactured to meet your specific security requirements, whether that be resisting manual attacks from burglars or preventing projectiles from penetrating the door.
Steel is a very common material for bullet-resistant systems as it is highly robust, heavy-duty, and effective at stopping bullets from modern firearms. Steel can be used as the main door material or as the frame for a glass bullet-resistant door. Steel framed doors tend to last longer with use as steel is highly durable.
Different types of bullet-resistant glass for security
The glass that is classified “impact-resistant” is appropriate for stopping objects that are thrown from penetrating through the door. Glass that is classified as “burglary resistant” resists or delays the formation of an opening when the door is under manual attack. Glass that is classified as “bullet-resistant” stops projectiles such as bullets from penetrating the door.
Glass can add a lot of weight to the door structure, so the security-grade glass is often made from a combination of glass and polycarbonate. Polycarbonate plastics are transparent and allow light to transmit through them almost to the same capacity as glass.
Polycarbonate plastics have a very high heat resistance which makes them suitable for combining with flame retardant chemicals. They also have high impact resistance properties which makes them ideal for security applications.
How do residential bulletproof doors work?
Although bullet-resistant doors are commonly called “bulletproof” doors, it is important to note that no door or other building element is completely bulletproof. When exposed to repeated ballistic attacks, any door will eventually succumb to the attacks and be compromised.
Doors that are designed to withstand or delay damage from ballistic attacks should be more correctly referred to as “bullet-resistant” doors. When attacked by firearm rounds or manually attacked, bullet-resistant doors will slow down the attack, helping protect occupants and valuables within the building. Glass doors have the added advantage of being transparent, allowing trapped occupants to find a safe escape route if need be.
Laminated polycarbonate bullet-resistant glass is created by putting a layer of polycarbonate between two sheets of glass and then joining the layers with a laminate. The thickness of the overall glass pane can vary, depending on the level of ballistic protection required.
When a bullet hits the outer layer of glass, it will pierce through that layer but the energy will be absorbed by the polycarbonate layer underneath. This stops the bullet from penetrating through the whole door or window pane.
Meeting modern aesthetic standards with bullet-resistant doors
In the past, bullet-resistant doors have been primarily functional and not manufactured with aesthetics in mind. However, as technology has advanced, bullet-resistant doors are able to be manufactured to a high aesthetic standard without compromising on security.
At Australian Fire Control, we have the capability to manufacture bullet-resistant doors that meet the design and aesthetic standards of your home or commercial building. Our ballistic systems provide high-quality protection while also meeting the aesthetic quality of modern building designs.
Australian standards for bullet-resistant doors
Bullet-resistant doors that are installed in Australia must comply with the Australian standards that are set out in the Building Code of Australia (BCA), specifically AS/NZS 2343:1997. These standards specify the requirements that bullet-resistant doors, glass, and other bullet-resistant elements must meet, based on their performance in test conditions.
Not all bullet-resistant glass is the same and it is important to consider what type of firearm it has been rated for. For example, a handgun, rifle, or shotgun. It is not just the door itself that is tested to meet Australian standards. The hinges, frames, and any other associated hardware must also be tested for compliance.
Your Australian bulletproof door supplier
If you are looking for a bulletproof door supplier in Australia, Australian Fire Control can help. We supply tough ballistic-grade doors that will meet your security and aesthetic requirements. We also supply manual and ballistic attack windows which are suitable for a wide range of applications.
Get in touch with our team today to see how we can assist. Or fill out our contact form and request a project-specific quote from us. We look forward to hearing from you.