Bullet Proof Security Systems, News, Information | Demand TSS

The battle in New York between the Police Department and bank officials, particulary TD Bank, continues to go on as a bill that would mandate bulletproof barriers sits before the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety. While “banks without barriers represented only 10 percent of the city’s banks, 53 percent of the bank robberies last year occurred in those branches.”

Read “Battle Over Bandit Barriers“  by Michael Wilson, nytimes.com/

There has been much controversy in New York lately over a bill that would mandate all banks to install bandit barriers. TD Bank has been the major opposition to the bill as they seek to create a more welcoming environment without bullet resistant glass separating tellers and customers.

A recent article on nytimes.com stated, “Relaxed bank security — often driven by an attempt to create a friendly atmosphere, without barriers between tellers and customers — can attract robbers.” Connecticut can attest to this statement as it has been the target of a series of bank robberies in which the robbers casually entered a bank and handed over a note demanding money to the teller.

The article also comments on a trend toward robberies in the suburbs as opposed to the major cities stating, “Many [. . .] officials point to the casual, open layout of many suburban banks — like the TD Bank branch in Westport — as a possible factor in the trend.”

Read “In Suburbs, Bank Robbers Like the Layout” by Michael Wilson, nytimes.com.

In keeping with our dedication to high quality products, Total Security Solutions has recently began working with GlasForms, Inc to provide our bullet resistant fiberglass. TotalArmor is available in UL Level 1-3 protection in the following sizes:

Level 1: 3’ x 8’, 4’ x 8’
Level 2: 3’ x 9’, 4’ x 9’
Level 3: 3’ x 10’, 4’ x 10’

TotalArmor has a smooth paintable finish and an extremely tight thickness tolerance providing ease of installation and fitting. The Level 3 bullet resistant fiberglass has a ½” nominal thickness and this thickness is consistent across the entire sheet of fiberglass ensuring that corners properly align.

GlasForms, Inc manufactures its bullet resistant fiberglass using a “proprietary resin injection pultrusion process utilizing multiple layers of woven ‘E’ glass reinforcements encapsulated in a proprietary resin matrix.” GlasForms was established in 1978 and has become an industry leader as it is the “first pultruder with such a broad product range to achieve ISO registration.”

An attempted robbery in Philadelphia was foiled on Friday when a bank teller “triggered a trap” which locked the man “into a vestibule made of bulletproof glass. Police say he fired his .357 Magnum trying to get out,” but eventually gave up when they arrived.

Read “Alleged Robber Trapped in Bank Doors,” myfoxphilly.com

Image taken from myfoxphilly.com.

Security levels for bullet-resistant systems have been established by UL (Underwriters Laboratory), the primary testing organization for materials used in these systems. Each level has been tested and found effective at stopping certain types of projectiles, ones most typically employed during an armed robbery. While ratings extend to Level 8, the needs of most banks, credit unions, and convenience stores are well covered in Levels 1-3. View a chart of standard UL Protection Level ratings.

If you have additional questions on what products UL tests, what they test for, or what UL “standards” mean, read an interview with UL’s Director of Consumer Safety.

Read “Speaking with UL consumer safety director John Drengenberg” by Claude Solnik, http://libn.com.

Total Security Solutions is continuously striving to offer the best products and best service to its customers. Our lineup of bullet resistant acrylics is manufactured by an industry leader, Evonik CYRO. We offer bullet resistant acrylic in a variety of standard sizes in-stock and ready to ship, including 4’ x 8’, 5’ x 8’, 6’ x 8’, and 5’ x 6’.

All sizes come in UL Level 1-3 protection and are available uncoated or abrasion resistant coated. The edges of the bullet resistant acrylic are flame-polished providing a water clear edge ensuring maximum clarity and light transmission.

Evonik CYRO has been manufacturing ACRYLITE® and advancing the plastics industry for the past 75 years. ACRYLITE is UV-stable, won’t yellow over time, has one of the highest light transmission rates of any plastic, and is known for its superior impact strength. ACRYLITE also offers ease of fabrication as it is easily “sawed, routed, drilled, cemented, thermoformed, painted or silkscreened.”

While New York officials are still contemplating a bill that would require local banks to install bullet proof barriers, one Maryland county is now considering a proposal to require check cashing facilities to limit their hours, install bullet resistant glass and hire guards.

Read “Check Cashing Stores: Urban Blight or Convenience?” wtop.com