Written By: Brad Campbell | October 21, 2024
Historical buildings are often architectural treasures, offering a glimpse into the past and showcasing the craftsmanship and design preferences of bygone eras.
However, many old structures still face modern security threats, from burglary and civil unrest to active threat scenarios. As such, historical buildings need modern security solutions to address these threats — solutions like forced entry-resistant and ballistic-grade retrofit security glazing.
Balancing the need to protect historical buildings against security threats with preserving their heritage architecture poses unique challenges, particularly as historic architecture is often protected by strict rules and regulations that dictate how it can be modified.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a closer look at these challenges and potential solutions that can facilitate the retrofitting of historical building security glass without damaging the existing architecture, ensuring historical buildings remain secure while retaining their heritage value for generations to come.
Because historical buildings didn’t face the same types of security threats when they were constructed as they do now (or have the same technology to mitigate said threats), securing them can be quite a complex task.
One of the primary concerns when it comes to securing historical buildings is preserving their architectural integrity, conserving as many of the original materials and as much of the original structure as possible when necessary renovations or upgrades, including security upgrades, are made.
Heritage buildings often have ornate window designs with delicate frames and glass, made from materials that are no longer in common use. Installing security glass using traditional methods could potentially damage these architectural features, significantly altering the building’s facade and detracting from its historical value.
The structural integrity of historic buildings can present additional challenges. Older buildings may not have the structural capacity to support the weight of certain types of modern security glass, which can be significantly heavier than traditional glass.
This means that certain structural modifications, such as drilling into the window framing, must be made in order to install new security glass — but this can weaken the surrounding structure, leading to additional damage or irreversible harm to the building’s facade.
Lastly, there’s the issue of ensuring compliance with historical building preservation guidelines, which are often at odds with modern security requirements.
Historical building security glass is one of the biggest architectural innovations in securing historic properties, as it can provide extremely high levels of security without causing permanent damage to or significantly altering the building’s existing facade and structure.
Unlike standard security glass, which is very heavy and often requires invasive installation, historical building security glass employs lightweight materials and non-invasive installation methods. It combines forced entry and/or ballistic resistance with sleek, minimalistic design, blending seamlessly with a historic building’s original structure to preserve its aesthetics while hardening its security.
Security glazing for historic buildings is typically composed of non-glass materials, including polycarbonate and acrylic plastics, which can mimic the appearance and feeling of real glass, yet are virtually unbreakable, even after repeated blunt-force impacts.
The virtually unbreakable strength of non-glass security glazing can protect historical buildings against a full range of modern security threats, including:
Because it can be installed using non-invasive installation methods that don’t require drilling into or otherwise altering the original structure, this security glazing ensures the preservation of historic buildings’ heritage architecture. This balance makes historical building security glass the ideal solution to satisfy the needs of security experts, architects, and preservationists alike.
To protect historical buildings without compromising their integrity, solutions like the Riot Glass J Series compression-fit sub-framing system are becoming increasingly popular. This system allows for the installation of forced entry- and bullet-resistant security glazing over existing windows without the need for drilling or other invasive installation methods.
The Riot Glass J Series utilizes compression-fit technology to securely hold the security glazing in place without damaging the structure of the building. This means that the glass can be installed over the original windows, preserving the building's appearance while providing robust protection.
Additionally, the J Series system is designed to be reversible, allowing the historical building’s security glass to be removed if necessary or desired, ensuring that no permanent alterations are made to the building.
J Series sub-framing is compatible with different varieties of ArmorPlast and Riot Glass security glazing infills, allowing historic building owners to choose the ideal level of forced entry and/or ballistic protection. Not only that, but the sub-framing itself meets the ASTM F 3038 forced entry testing requirements for a 15-minute forced entry attempt carried out by a group of armed attackers.
This solution is ideal for retrofitting security glazing in all types of historical buildings, including:
Retrofitting security glazing in historical buildings, where preserving the original architecture is just as important as ensuring the building's security, is a complex task.
By choosing historical architecture-friendly retrofit solutions, like Riot Glass J Series sub-framing and security glazing, building owners can protect their properties from modern threats while maintaining the historical integrity that makes these buildings so valuable.
Want to learn more about our historical building security glass solutions? Contact Riot Glass today for a free consultation!
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