Written By: Brad Campbell | December 8, 2024
When it comes to commercial building security, windows and doors are often the weakest links. Though they serve obvious practical and aesthetic purposes, their structural vulnerabilities can compromise the entire building.
Even the most secure commercial establishments, equipped with high-tech alarms, surveillance systems, and security personnel, are only as strong as their weakest point and, in many cases, that point is the glass in their doors and windows. That’s why most commercial window and door glass is the Achilles heel of buildings.
From break-ins to storms, the glass in commercial buildings faces a wide range of threats. Whether it's thieves smashing a window for a quick grab-and-go or natural disasters shattering glass panels, the consequences can be severe.
Protecting the glass Achilles heels of buildings is of the utmost importance to mitigate risks like expensive property damage, theft, and even physical harm to employees, customers, and other building occupants.
Most modern commercial buildings use tempered glass for windows and doors, as tempered glass is designed to be both stronger than regular annealed glass and mitigate the risk of glass-related injury in the event of breakage.
When tempered commercial glass breaks, it shatters into small, blunt fragments, reducing the risk of injury. While this makes it a safer option for public spaces, it remains highly vulnerable to damage under stress.
Tempered glass is often chosen for commercial buildings due to its balance between cost, safety, and durability. However, its durability is limited to everyday impacts like minor bumps or knocks.
Once a higher level of force is applied, whether from a crowbar, hammer, or another blunt object, tempered glass will shatter completely. This makes it an easy target for criminals attempting to break into a building, especially in retail environments where smash-and-grab thefts are common.
Beyond break-ins, commercial glass windows and doors are also at risk during natural disasters. High winds from storms, flying debris, and large hail can easily shatter these windows, exposing the building to rain, wind, and potentially more structural damage.
In urban areas, during civil unrest, which often comes along with rioting and looting, glass doors and windows become prime targets. Vandals and looters can shatter them with little effort, gaining quick access to a business's interior or simply causing costly damage.
The crumbling nature of tempered glass under stress has led to its reputation as the “Achilles heel” of commercial buildings.
Once a window or door breaks, security is compromised, leading to potential theft, vandalism, or even further destruction. The financial losses from these vulnerabilities can be devastating, not to mention the interruption of business operations and the potential safety risks posed to employees and customers.
Recognizing the vulnerability of glass in commercial buildings is the first step toward securing your property. While tempered glass may offer a certain level of safety and durability, it’s clear that it cannot fully protect against the variety of threats commercial facilities face. To safeguard windows and doors, business owners need to invest in stronger, more resilient solutions that go beyond traditional glass. This is where Riot Glass comes into play.
Riot Glass is a type of security glazing that can either be retrofitted over existing commercial glass windows and doors or used to replace the existing glass.
Riot Glass is available in different combinations of advanced materials, including laminated security glass, glass-clad polycarbonate, and full polycarbonate models (ArmorPlast). These glazing solutions create a multi-layer defense system that prevents commercial glass doors and windows from shattering and keeps intruders out, even when subjected to extreme force.
One of the biggest benefits of Riot Glass is its ability to protect against forced entry. Burglary and smash-and-grab theft are common problems for many businesses, especially retailers. Thieves typically target windows and doors because they are the easiest points of entry — they know exactly how to shatter a tempered glass panel in a matter of seconds.
With Riot Glass, these vulnerable points — the glass Achilles heels of your building — become nearly impenetrable. Even after repeated blows with blunt objects, Riot Glass resists breakage and remains in place, deterring would-be intruders and giving business owners, security companies, and law enforcement time to react.
In times of civil unrest, commercial properties are often at the mercy of rioters and looters. With Riot Glass, businesses can significantly reduce the risks of property damage and theft alike.
While regular tempered glass crumbles easily under such circumstances, Riot Glass remains intact, preventing unauthorized access and minimizing damage.
Imagine you own a retail store and receive that dreaded phone call from the police or alarm company that your store has been targeted by rioters.
Now, imagine the voice on the other end of the line informing you that, although your storefront was vandalized, the rioters were unable to gain entry, no merchandise was stolen, and your store interior is intact.
This is still a dramatic event to endure, but the outcome is significantly less traumatizing for you, your employees, and your patrons. It is also vastly less expensive when you consider the alternatives of lost revenue, potentially lost customers and/or employees, and insurance deductibles.
Natural disasters, particularly hurricanes and strong windstorms, are another major threat to commercial properties, especially in Florida and other southeastern states. High winds and flying debris can turn regular glass into a hazard, not to mention leave your property exposed to heavy rains and water damage.
Riot Glass not only withstands the direct force of storms but also protects your building from water intrusion and further damage caused by broken windows. This storm resistance makes Riot Glass an ideal solution for businesses located in hurricane-prone or storm-heavy regions.
For businesses that face more extreme, potentially violent threats, such as financial institutions, government buildings, schools, and high-risk businesses, Riot Glass offers bullet-resistant glazing solutions.
Bullet-resistant Riot Glass is designed to stop ballistic impacts from certain types of firearms and ammunition, providing heightened security for building occupants. Plus, even when it gets penetrated with bullets, Riot Glass remains a barrier to forced entry, providing invaluable access denial to keep the bad guys out and prevent further harm to those inside.
While not every business will require this level of protection, installing bullet-resistant glazing can provide extra peace of mind for those operating in high-risk environments.
With civil unrest, organized retail theft, devastating storms, and other threats all on the rise, the vulnerability of commercial window and door glass can no longer be ignored. As the Achilles heel of buildings, these glass points offer easy access to intruders, including thieves, vandals, and Mother Nature.
While tempered glass provides some level of safety, it is no match for the varied threats that commercial buildings face.
Riot Glass offers a comprehensive solution that strengthens windows and doors, protecting against forced entry, vandalism, storm damage, and more. Its virtually unbreakable design not only keeps businesses and facilities secure but also helps keep day-to-day operations running as smoothly as possible during times of crisis.
If you’re looking to safeguard your commercial property against a range of modern threats, contact Riot Glass today for a free consultation and take the first step toward securing your building’s glass Achilles heels!
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