From KOB TV:

New glass could increase school safety

Local security firm “Soteria Group: Safety by Design” says one way they’re working to keep armed intruders out of schools, churches and workplaces is by using safer building materials.Tuesday, they tried out a new kind of glass for windows and doors that’s meant to take much longer to break through, giving time for first responders to show up in case of an emergency.

Trained professionals shot a variety of weapons at the glass, hit it with a bat and with a sledgehammer—but the glass didn’t shatter. “School Guard Glass” is not meant to be bulletproof; rather, it’s meant to physically withstand in cases of puncture or pressure, so that it takes much longer to create a hole big enough to get through and intrude a building.

The Soteria Group is looking at tools like this for schools, churches and workplaces.

“We’re looking at every product we can to improve on safety,” said Arthur Tatum, Director of the Environmental Design Division for the Soteria Group said.

School Guard Glass is not nearly as thick or heavy as bulletproof glass, which opens up a lot of options.

“In the past it’s been prohibitively expensive, this glass is probably twice the expense of regular glass,” Tatum said.

The glass isn’t meant to be bulletproof. It’s meant to keep an intruder from easily making a hole big enough to get through, and get into a building.

The Soteria Group says one goal in any response plan is giving first responders time to get there.

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