The Ballistic Projectile Resistance Capability of Classroom/Corridor Walls

Dan Keller








To protect students and teachers from an active shooter ballistic attack directed into a classroom from a school corridor, it is recommended that designated shelter areas outside of the corridor line of sight through the classroom door vision panel be identified.

To protect students and teachers from an active shooter ballistic attack directed into a classroom from a school corridor, it is recommended that designated shelter areas outside of the corridor line of sight through the classroom door vision panel be identified.

 

The classroom/corridor walls adjacent to the designated classroom shelter area may be vulnerable to a ballistic attack.  Classroom/corridor walls may either be masonry or gypsum wallboard.  For new schools, the trend is to utilize abuse resistant drywall panels, which are more than five times more impact resistant than regular wallboard.

 

Impact resistant drywall has higher wallboard density and embedded fiber mesh to give it it’s additional strength, but it is not bullet resistant to a significant degree.

 

Bullet resistant fiberglass panels can be installed in schools.  When utilized, they are usually mounted onto studs and covered with drywall.  They can be used for classroom closets/safe rooms, at transaction windows and classroom or school office doors.  Armorcore is a company that provides bullet resistant fiberglass panels.

 

Dense masonry classroom/corridor wall material will usually provide the best resistance to ballistic attack as well as abuse resistance.


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