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Bullet Resistant
Securing your bulletproof glass investment in 2018
As 2017 draws to a close and we look forward to the promise of a new year, we thought it might be a perfect time to pause and reflect on something very important to us – the do’s and don’ts of cleaning your bulletproof glass. While that might not make the top three on most people’s list of resolutions for 2018, here’s why it should. Bulletproof glass is an investment and at Total Security Solutions, we want to protect that investment. We know that more than bullets, the thing that most often spoils a beautiful, crystal-clear sheet of bullet proof glass is an unlikely culprit: Windex.
When bullet proof polycarbonate or acrylic are cut, drilled, or flame-polish, microscopic fractures form in the plastic. These are not visible to the naked eye, and are structurally inconsequential. “But Windex attacks the edges of those fractures,” Jim Richards, CEO of Total Security Solutions explains, “and it will look like there’s cracks going into the glass. It’s what’s called crazing, and it makes the material look terrible,” even though it has no impact on the material’s bullet resistance.
With proper maintenance, bulletproof glass will look great for years, but crazing creates a haze that penetrates the surface and according to Jim, “when it’s done, it’s done.”
Another important tip, skip the paper towel! One downside of polycarbonates is that they are prone to scratches. This scratch potential is why you’ll get a cleaning cloth with eyeglasses or sunglasses you purchase, and why computer and TV screens have special cleaning products as well. Should a scratch occur on your bulletproof glass, it can often be buffed out, but it’s best to avoid them all together and stick to a soft cloth for cleaning.
Proper Care and Cleaning of Bullet Proof Glass
- Gently dust with a soft lint-free cloth (like an old t-shirt).
- Wash with a solution of warm water and mild soap or detergent, using a soft cloth or natural sponge. Keep the sponge sopping wet. Blot dry with clean soft cloth.
- Remove grease and oil using hexane, kerosene, or naphtha, not aromatic compounds like benzene.
- Surface scratches can be buffed out of acrylic by hand.
- Polish acrylic or polycarbonate with quality commercial wax. This fills minor scratches, restoring the original smooth surface.
- Never use paper towels on bullet proof glass.
- Never use scouring compounds or abrasive cloth.
- NEVER USE WINDEX®!
Company: Total Security Solutions Inc
Product: Bullet Resistant Barriers
Source: http://www.tssbulletproof.com/securing-bulletproof-glass-investment-2017/
Tags: Bullet Resistant | Security | Windows
Bullet Proof Barriers For Utility And Electric Co-Op Offices
Remote locations, wide service areas, and lots of cash on hand presents unique security challenges for customer service staff.
While electrical cooperatives are a relatively small part of the total electricity market (about 15 percent of the U.S. population is part of a co-op) they’re responsible for maintaining close to half of the nation’s electric distribution lines. Remote locations, wide service areas, and lots of cash on hand present unique security challenges for their customer service staff. Recently TSS has helped design and install several bulletproof barriers for utility and electric co-op offices.
Over the years Total Security Solutions sales manager Bob George has worked with a large number of electrical cooperatives. He recently noted, “I don’t think people really appreciate the challenges co-ops face. They might have only 1/10th or 1/100th as many customers as a big publicly traded power company. But that co-op has just as big a service area. They end up maintaining 8 to 10 times as much equipment per customer. It’s a real case of ‘Do twice as much with half the resources’. But they consistently rise to and exceed those challenges.”
Electrical cooperatives and other small utilities face challenges beyond the economics of narrow margins, high costs, and large territories. They also face security challenges that are unique to their mission.
Unique Threats to Utility and Electric Cooperatives
Unlike the bigger investor-owned companies, co-ops serve small and mid-sized communities. They tend to be very spread out geographically. This means that they often need several small branch offices in addition to their headquarters. These satellite offices are a special concern, as they are often in remote locations with very few staff members on hand throughout the day. It’s not unusual to see just a single clerk behind the counter during business hours when the line workers are out on the road. These offices often have a great deal of cash on hand (especially if their clientele are older or live within limited financial means). That lone clerk is now seen as the face of the company to irate customers who have missed a payment or want to dispute their bill.
“With the climate we’re in right now,” Bob George explains, “with these awful incidents that just keep happening every couple weeks, people are being more proactive. With a lot of cash on hand, and irate customers, there’s a tendency to want to make sure your people are protected. And I hate to bring up gender, but it’s just a fact that in most of these isolated offices it is women working behind the counter, and the level of abuse that some people will aim at a female worker, it’s just hard to believe.”
This was certainly a key concern for Clark Energy when they contacted TSS in 2014, following an incident at another local utility co-op office near their Winchester, KY headquarters. As Holly Eades, Clark Energy vice president of finance, explained at that time: “When a big man is standing at the counter, screaming and cussing at a female customer service rep who’s five-foot-four, there’s something wrong with him…You just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Electric and Utility Co-op Security Essentials
No two utility co-op offices are alike—even in the same cooperative. That said, there are a few key considerations for bullet resistant barrier systems designed for small utility co-ops. In general, a utility co-op should have a system that:
- Protects against common handguns calibers (i.e., a “Level 1 or 3” system). This would include appropriate bullet resistant glass and framing, as well as bullet resistant fiberglass to reinforce the counter front.
- Has two to three transaction windows (one of which should be ADA compliant, to accommodate customers with limited mobility)
- Includes a bullet resistant door with an electric strike or sturdy pushbutton Simplex lockset
- Will be installed with absolutely no business disruption (TSS, for example, installs barrier systems overnight or on the weekend)
Many builders, renovators, and security companies treat custom design work as an extra. TSS has built custom design, fabrication, and installation into their foundations—every job is a custom job to TSS.
“What’s key here,” notes TSS CEO Jim Richards, “Is that there’s no unending up-sell. We don’t live on change orders, and we don’t treat custom work like it’s a hassle or price it like it’s luxury. Doing custom work, making that system fit your office as though it was built in from day one, that is where we shine.”
Company: Total Security Solutions Inc
Product: Bullet Resistant Barriers
Source: http://www.tssbulletproof.com/bulletproof-barriers-utility-electric-co-op-offices/
Tags: Bullet Resistant | Security | Windows
Attractive Bulletproof Barrier Design
Modern. Clean lines. High Visibility. Upscale. Bulletproof. Which one of these doesn’t belong? While there is a strong perception that beauty and security cannot go hand-in-hand, attractive bulletproof barriers are totally possible.
In some situations, a more pronounced bulletproof barrier design is exactly what the space and company requires. If that’s what your facility demands, we can achieve it. At Total Security Solutions, however, custom, detail-oriented jobs are where we truly shine.
Balancing Design and Bulletproof Security
The Healing Center of San Diego challenged us to maintain a light airy feel in the design while achieving the desired security. A solid partnership with Element Construction ensured no detail was overlooked. The space features multiple access control points linking the showroom, the administrative area, and the lobby. We also supplied ballistic fiberglass for the storefront walls. The final result is a peaceful setting, both in its physical space and the peace-of-mind knowing employees and patients are secure.
The corporate headquarters of Brown-Forman are another shining example of upscale bulletproof barrier design. Oversize bullet-resistant glass panels are butt-glazed, eliminating visual barriers and conveying a more high-end appearance. Applied graphics further elevate the design. Despite the need for a bullet-resistant barrier to secure the lobby area, visitors still feel welcome thanks to the minimalist design.
Visually Enhancing Bulletproof Glass
The small design details on a project can make a major difference in the overall aesthetic. While bulletproof glass has some design limitations, it can be frosted or tinted. By adding a colored polycarbonate cap sheet as the outer layer of the security glass, the color of the glass can be changed. Similarly, a film added in between the layers achieves a frosted appearance. For outdoor use, glass-clad polycarbonate is also available with a mirror finish.
We enjoy working with architects to push the limits of bulletproof glass and achieve their vision. We are experts in bulletproof glass and the details are our specialty. Even if you have worked on a project with a bulletproof barrier before, each project is unique and we recognize that. Let us help you assess, design and install a bulletproof barrier that doesn’t just secure a facility, but adds to its beauty.
Learn more about how Total Security Solutions partners with Architects and view our Architect Projects Gallery.
Company: Total Security Solutions Inc
Product: Ballistic Security Glass
Source: http://www.tssbulletproof.com/attractive-bulletproof-barrier-design/
Tags: Bullet Resistant | Entrances | Glass | Security