UL Bulletproof Protection Levels & Ratings

Understanding Bulletproof Levels And Physical Security Standards

When designing bulletproof barriers and selecting bullet-resistant materials for your facility, it's important to understand how protective products are rated. Ballistic standards (also referred to as bulletproof levels) offer consumers a detailed description of a product's protective capabilities. Testing to these standards gives the consumer a guarantee a product will perform in a certain way.

At Total Security Solutions, we rely on the UL 752 standard test method for evaluating bullet-resistant products, including bullet-resistant glass, fiberglass panels, and doors. This is the standard most commonly used by security professionals. However, there are other ballistic standards.

Ballistic Protection Levels and Standards

For ballistic protection standards, this typically includes laying out the number of shots stopped from a specific type of firearm when fired from a certain distance, as well as other factors. This helps consumers understand what type of protection they can expect and choose products that match their threat level.

If you're considering a bulletproof barrier for your facility and the product is not tested to a standard (usually the UL 752) that's a red flag. Your provider should be able to articulate what level of bulletproof protection you can expect from their products.

UL 752 Bulletproof Ratings

The UL 752 Standard for Bullet Resisting Equipment is the standard test method used to rate the effectiveness of bullet-resistant building components. Developed by Underwriters Laboratory, a global safety standards organization, it ensures bullet-resistant materials can withstand a defined number of shots from specified firearms and ammunition types. This test evaluates materials against projectiles that include metal copper jacket bullets, which are commonly used in handguns and rifles. Each protection level corresponds to the type of firearm, caliber and velocity tested.

Generally, Levels 1 through 3 are designed to stop three shots from common handguns. Levels 4 through 8 are designed to stop shots from various rifles and submachine guns.

Click here to download a PDF of our UL-752 reference chart.

We always recommend speaking with an experienced bulletproofing professional to understand what level of protection is right for you, your facility, or your project.

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Click here to download a PDF of our UL-752 reference chart

CE Courses From TSS

If you’re an architect, engineer, glazier, or security professional who wants to learn more about the eight levels of bullet-resistance and earn CE credit at the same time, we offer a free CE course that dives into what you need to know. This course guides participants through the fundamentals of ballistic material and ratings, the multiple ballistic standards bodies and how they compare, and practical applications for each level of ballistic material. Participants qualify for one LU/HSW Credit.

Other Ballistic Standards

There are many protective standards from a number of different agencies and organizations. These standards outline other variables in physical, personal, and ballistic security and the properties protective products must include.

NIJ 0108.01

The NIJ 0108.01 comes from the National Institute of Justice. The NIJ 0108.01 standard applies to body armor and protective materials. It does not include procedures for testing bullet-resistant building materials. If you're looking for a high level of detail about testing and performance, the NIJ 0108.01 may not meet your needs.

ASTM Ballistic and Physical Security Standards

There are a variety of standards from ASTM, the American Society for Testing and Materials. These standards are important for comparing materials in applications such as physical security and building construction. The most relevant standards include:

The ASTM F1233 standard applies to ballistic barrier systems but with provisions for forced-entry resistance as well as ballistic ratings. While comparable to the UL 752, the ASTM F1233 only requires the material in question to stop one to three shots.

Additional Forced Entry and Physical Security Standards

Forced entry protection standards are designed to provide protective qualities for various additional scenarios. These standards apply to factors like blunt force, pressure and temperature changes, and withstanding being struck by projectiles, among others. While ballistic glass may offer some inherent protection from some aspects of other risky physical security scenarios, we always recommend seeking out products tested to the appropriate standard to ensure the security product performs as expected.

If you’re looking for additional protection, there are a variety of standards that may apply to your situation, depending on your needs and local ordinances.