Yes! A steel door is good for security. Steel security doors are ideal for businesses with back and service entries that are vulnerable to breaking and entry or other threats. A good steel door with a welded steel frame, interior hinges, and quality deadbolt lock will withstand prolonged blunt force attacks. However, this type of steel security door won’t stop a single shot from a tiny pocket pistol.
If you want a steel security door that stops bullets, you need a ballistic steel door.
What’s The Difference Between a Steel Security Door and a Bulletproof Steel Door?
The difference between standard steel security doors and bulletproof steel doors come down to the components and construction.
Standard steel security doors are hollow metal doors and are available at most big-box hardware stores. These doors are typically mass-produced overseas. The steel is thinner than a dime, requiring wood rails running down either edge inside the door to provide structural support. Most steel security doors are filled with polystyrene or polyurethane foam for insulation and noise reduction. The door is then sold pre-hung in a welded steel frame, using standard steel spring hinges. All together, the door and frame weigh around 100 pounds. The door may be fire-rated for 90 minutes, but rarely provides third-party validated forced entry protection.
Big-box steel security doors typically don’t include windows. Adding windows would either drive up the price or compromise the security. Specialty door suppliers offer a wider range of steel security doors, including those with windows made of detention glazing or wire glass. Any of these standard steel security doors will pose a major obstacle to burglars and vandals. But they cannot stop a bullet.
TSS bulletproof steel doors are made-to-order at our facility in Michigan. We use a thicker gauge of steel, but that isn’t what stops the bullets. TSS bulletproof steel doors and frames contain one or more layers of ballistic fiberglass paneling, providing bullet-resistance at whatever level of protection you choose. Any windows are made from bulletproof glass.
Thicker steel, bulletproof glass windows, and layers of interior fiberglass can make these doors more than twice as heavy as big-box steel security doors. So, ballistic steel doors usually come with heavy-duty continuous hinges and include special overhead closers to make the doors easier to use.
How Do I Know a Steel Door Will Stop Bullets?
A real bulletproof steel door is tested to a ballistic standard by a third-party testing lab. The lab verifies that the door meets specific requirements regarding the number of shots from different firearms a product can withstand. TSS, and most of the other bulletproof barrier providers, use the UL 752 standard.
A real bulletproof steel door is tested to a ballistic standard by testing laboratory. The lab verifies that the door meets specific requirements regarding the number of shots from different firearms a product can withstand. TSS, and most of the other bulletproof barrier providers, use the UL 752 standard.
For example, a Level 3 bulletproof door is one that has been independently-verified to stop at least three shots from a .44 Magnum pistol. A Level 8 door will stop five shots from an AK-style rifle.
Any component tested to the UL 752 standard will always stop at least that number and type of bullets. But it isn’t unusual for one of TSS’s Level 3 bulletproof steel doors to stop hundreds of shots from a wide range of pistols and rifles, even though it is only tested to stop three shots from a .44 Magnum pistol.
Every TSS bulletproof steel door is tested to the UL 752 standard by an independent, third-party lab. TSS also offers doors with 60- and 90-minute fire ratings.
3 Considerations for Purchasing a Bulletproof Steel Security Door
1. Verify Bulletproof Capabilities
If you want to stop bullets, you need to make sure that your door is tested to the UL 752 standard. You also need to make sure that the UL level of protection reflects the risk you face. A Level 8 door will stop all sorts of high-powered rifles, but that’s a hefty investment if you’re primarily concerned about street crime or handguns. Speaking with an experienced bulletproof expert can help you identify the appropriate level of ballistic protection for your facility.
2. Consider Hardware and Access Control
If you need special hardware or access control features, discuss these needs with us in advance. Bulletproof steel doors are thicker and heavier than standard steel security doors. As a result, door hardware, closers, and access control systems often need adaptors or adjustment to work properly. Bulletproof steel doors are nearly impossible to modify in the field, so communicating early is one way to avoid problems in the future.
3. Develop and Implement Safety Protocols
Finally, your bulletproof steel security door is only as good as your safety processes and procedures. The best ballistic door in the world connected to the most advanced access control system doesn’t do any good if someone keeps leaving that door propped open or buzzes anyone through without a second thought.
Customize Your Bulletproof Protection with Total Security Solutions
To learn more about bulletproof steel doors as well as our other bulletproof door offerings, download our comprehensive ballistic door solutions guide. It’s free, easy to read, and provides a critical overview of bulletproof door security options.
If you have specific questions, or are ready to begin moving forward with a project, we’re here to help. Send us a message online or give us a call to get started.