A Guide to ASTM F3561 Testing for Active Threat Protection in Schools

It’s an unfortunate reality of the times we live in that schools have a growing need to strengthen their defenses against active threats.

While no single measure can fully eliminate the risk of an active threat, implementing robust physical security systems that include forced entry-resistant and ballistic-grade security glazing significantly increases the safety of students, educators, and staff while inside a school.

Ensuring entryway doors and windows can withstand forced entry attempts and ballistic impacts is one of the most critical aspects of hardening a school’s defenses — and that’s where choosing products tested according to ASTM F3561 for schools can help.

ASTM F3561 is the standard test method for evaluating the forced entry resistance of fenestration (window and door) systems after a simulated active shooter attack, and can be extremely valuable for helping schools choose the right materials with which to reinforce their windows and doors.

What Is ASTM F3561 and Why Does It Matter for Schools?

While not exclusively meant for schools, the ASTM F3561 testing protocols perfectly address the vulnerabilities of school doors and windows, often the first points of entry during an active threat scenario in a school.

The ASTM F3561 testing standard evaluates whether doors, windows, and their assemblies can withstand attempts to breach them using firearms, heavy tools, and other methods. It’s a comprehensive measure of a product’s ability to protect against both forced entry and ballistic threats, making it especially relevant for schools looking to beef up security against active threats.

By choosing school security glazing systems that successfully pass this rigorous test, educational facilities can greatly increase their physical security, better protecting the lives of school occupants during a worst-case active threat scenario.

How ASTM F3561 for School Security Glazing Works

The ASTM F3561 testing methodology starts by firing 10 AR-15 5.56 rifle rounds into the transparent portion of the window or door glazing system. This phase of the test, called the “glass weakening” portion, simulates an active shooter attempting to force entry by shooting out a pane of glass.

The next phase of the test involves swinging a 100-pound impactor, with gradually increasing velocity and from increasing heights, at the glazing, eventually reaching over 400 pounds of force for materials that achieve an ASTM F3561 Level 8 rating. This simulates an attacker swinging a sledgehammer or another heavy object against the glass to try and force entry.

Passing the different stages of the ASTM F3561 test is defined as preventing the creation of a hole large enough for an attacker to reach through, potentially allowing them to depress the panic egress hardware or manipulate the lock to gain entry.

Riot Glass Security Glazing for Schools: ASTM F3561-Tested Systems

Riot Glass offers school security glazing systems that have successfully passed the ASTM F3561 testing protocols up to Level 8, the maximum level of forced entry resistance that can be achieved using this method. These solutions are ideal for retrofitting existing school infrastructure or equipping new buildings with enhanced active threat protection measures.

Key Benefits of Riot Glass ASTM F3561-Certified Solutions for Schools:

• Can be retrofitted into existing window and door framing systems, minimizing disruption and reducing costs.
• Secure entryway doors, classrooms, and other vulnerable areas, providing access denial in active threat scenarios.
• Resist ballistic attacks without weakening or allowing an attacker to pass any part of their body through.
• Provide clear visibility, ensuring that natural light and line-of-sight supervision are not compromised while maintaining security.
• Require minimal maintenance while delivering long-term durability, even in high-traffic areas.
• Reduce the risk of glass shattering, preventing dangerous debris from injuring occupants during an attack.
• Designed for quick installation by certified professionals to ensure compliance with ASTM F3561 standards.
• Help schools demonstrate a proactive commitment to safety, reassuring parents, staff, and students.

Reinforcing windows and doors with Riot Glass security glazing that has passed the ASTM F3561 forced entry resistance test is one of the best ways for schools to improve physical safety and security during a lockdown, whether it’s triggered by an active threat or any other type of emergency scenario.

Why ASTM F3561 Compliance Is Essential for Schools

Forced entry-resistant and bullet-resistant glazing is increasingly becoming the norm in schools across the U.S., with some states even implementing or considering implementing glass hardening mandates for schools.

Installing security glazing systems that meet ASTM F3561 standards is a proactive and highly effective way for schools to harden their windows and doors and future-proof their security systems.

Retrofitting doors and windows with access denial barriers that have undergone such extensive testing for forced entry resistance during an active shooter attack drastically reduces the chances of an intruder gaining access to classrooms, offices, or other critical areas where they can do serious harm.

This essential layer of protection provides more time for school occupants to react, by running, hiding, and barricading themselves inside safe areas, and gives law enforcement more time to arrive and neutralize the threat. This time can mean the difference between life and death in the worst-case scenario.

Take Action with ASTM F3561 Solutions for Schools From Riot Glass

School safety and security is a growing concern, and Riot Glass specializes in providing schools with ASTM F3561-compliant glazing systems for entryway doors, exterior windows, classroom windows and doors, and all other areas that are vulnerable to forced entry.

We can help you reinforce your school’s fenestration systems to create a safer learning environment and protect students, staff, teachers, and visitors from harm in the unfortunate event of an active threat scenario.

If you’re ready to harden your school’s defenses, contact Riot Glass today for a free consultation or to schedule a threat assessment. Together, we can take the necessary steps to ensure your facility is prepared for whatever challenges the future may bring.