Bullet-resistant wall panels are opaque composite sheets built into partitions, counters, and casework to stop and capture gunfire without changing how a room looks. Armortex® manufactures them in Schertz, Texas in eight UL 752 protection levels, sold as O.F. 100 through O.F. 800 and approved by the U.S. Marshals Service and the General Services Administration. For government buildings the question is rarely whether to use panels, but which level to specify where. Armortex usually prescribes a minimum of UL Level 3 for governmental applications, and identifies Levels 4 through 8 as the range government buildings and military bases typically use.
Quick answer
For government buildings, Armortex® usually prescribes a minimum of UL 752 Level 3, which withstands at least three high-velocity .44 Magnum rounds. Levels 4 through 8 are the range government buildings and military bases typically use. The best panel is the lowest level that meets the threat assessment for that area, checked against the weight the structure can carry.
What are bullet-resistant wall panels?
A bullet-resistant wall panel is a rigid, opaque composite sheet designed to stop a projectile and hold it inside the panel rather than deflect it. Armortex classifies the material as fiberglass reinforced plastic, built from multiple layers of woven roving ballistic-grade cloth impregnated with thermoset polyester resin and compressed into flat rigid sheets.
The Armortex specification describes the sheet as a non-ricochet type product intended to permit capture and retention of an attacking projectile, lessening the potential for random injury or lateral penetration. In a courtroom or a police station lobby, where staff and the public occupy the same space, that behavior matters as much as the rating itself.
How do bullet-resistant wall panels work?
Armortex weaves the ballistic cloth in-house from roving ballistic-grade fiberglass, mechanically injects it with thermoset polyester resin, then presses it into flat rigid sheets in a hydraulic hot press.
The stopping mechanism is controlled internal delamination: as a round enters, the laminate separates layer by layer, spreading energy across a widening area of fiber until the projectile is retained. Because the sheets are opaque and thin, they install behind drywall, millwork, or furniture — which is why Armortex describes its police station solutions as adding protection to partition walls and panic rooms without turning the building into a fortress.
Which UL 752 level is best for a government building?
There is no single best panel. The right specification is the lowest level that satisfies the threat assessment for a given area, confirmed against what the structure can carry. Armortex sets the floor for government work at Level 3 and points to Levels 4 through 8 for government buildings and military bases.
| Level | Threat tested | Where it fits in a government facility |
| Level 3 | .44 Magnum, 3 shots | The minimum Armortex usually prescribes for governmental applications; reception and administrative walls at 5.25 lb/ft² |
| Level 4 – 5 | .30 cal and 7.62 mm rifle, 1 shot | Within the Levels 4 to 8 band Armortex identifies for government buildings and military bases; single-shot rifle protection |
| Level 6 | 9 mm, 5 shots | Multi-shot handgun protection at 3.2 lb/ft², the lightest panel in the government band |
| Level 7 – 8 | 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rifle, 5 shots | The highest protection in the line, for facilities where sustained rifle fire is the design threat |
Armortex engineers work across UL 752 Levels 1 through 10, and the company states that no two jobs are alike. Expect more than one level in a single building: a reception wall and a control room rarely share a threat profile.
Armortex wall panel specifications
All eight panels are tested to UL 752, 11th Edition. Each is a distinct SKU with its own data sheet.
| SKU | UL 752 level | Nominal thickness | Nominal weight | Ammunition tested | Shots |
| O.F. 100 | Level 1 | 1/4″ (6.35 mm) | 2.9 lb/ft² | 9 mm, 124 grain | 3 |
| O.F. 200 | Level 2 | 3/8″ (9.65 mm) | 4.1 lb/ft² | .357 Magnum, 158 grain | 3 |
| O.F. 300 | Level 3 | 1/2″ (12.70 mm) | 5.25 lb/ft² | .44 Magnum, 240 grain | 3 |
| O.F. 400 | Level 4 | 1 3/16″ (30.22 mm) | 13.7 lb/ft² | .30 cal rifle, 180 grain | 1 |
| O.F. 500 | Level 5 | 1 3/8″ (35.05 mm) | 15 lb/ft² | 7.62 mm rifle, 150 grain | 1 |
| O.F. 600 | Level 6 | 3/8″ (9.65 mm) | 3.2 lb/ft² | 9 mm, 124 grain | 5 |
| O.F. 700 | Level 7 | 1 1/16″ (26.92 mm) | 12.2 lb/ft² | 5.56 mm rifle, 55 grain | 5 |
| O.F. 800 | Level 8 | 1 7/16″ (36.57 mm) | 16 lb/ft² | 7.62 mm rifle, 150 grain | 5 |
Sheets come in six stock sizes — 3′ or 4′ wide by 8′, 9′, or 10′ long — with a square edge, and are specified for interior application. Every level carries a one-hour fire rating tested to ASTM E119.
Weight does not climb steadily with level. Within the range typically specified for government work, the Level 6 panel (highlighted) weighs 3.2 lb/ft² because it is rated for five 9 mm shots rather than rifle fire, while the Level 4 panel weighs 13.7 lb/ft². Where a retrofit is weight-constrained, compare the threat tested rather than the level number.
Where are bullet-resistant wall panels used in government buildings?
Armortex identifies courthouses, educational buildings, embassies, homeland security buildings, federal and state offices, and public safety facilities as the government categories that need ballistic protection. Within each, panels go where people are stationary and exposed.
| Facility type | Where panels are typically concealed |
| Courthouses | Judges’ benches, clerk counters, chambers and corridor walls |
| Police stations | Partition walls, reception desks, panic rooms, booking and interview areas |
| Federal and state offices | Reception walls, executive offices, mail rooms, controlled corridors |
| Embassies and homeland security | Screening areas, secure offices, safe rooms |
| Public safety and detention | Control rooms, dispatch centers, prison and detention partitions |
| Education and public buildings | School offices and entry vestibules, public counters |
What should architects and specifiers consider?
Use the published specification
Armortex publishes an editable master specification, Section 10 26 41 — Bullet-Resistant Fiberglass Sheet, for partition and casework assemblies. It cross-references 06 11 00 for wood framing, 06 41 00 for wood casework, and 09 22 00 for metal support assemblies, and calls for product data including bullet-resistant ratings.
Hold the rating across every joint
Any butt joint or seam creates a ballistic weakness. Armortex requires a minimum 4-inch-wide backup layer centered on each joint, giving a 2-inch overlap per side so the reinforced joint at least equals the panel’s level. Curved surfaces take 12- to 18-inch vertical strips following the curvature. Fastening at perimeters, junctures, and penetrations must also hold the rating.
Check the loading before the level
At Level 8 the panels weigh 16 lb/ft² and measure 1 7/16 inches thick, affecting both stud spacing and wall build-up. On a retrofit inside an existing building, the structural allowance often decides which levels are realistically available. Confirm loading against the specific SKU, not the level number.
Plan the field work
Panels cut with ordinary carpentry tools using RemGrit® “Grit Edge” blades and drill with high-speed steel twist bits at slow speed; pre-drilling may be required on 1 3/16-inch and thicker material. For prolonged cutting, Armortex recommends a disposable respirator, Tyvek® coveralls, and a well-ventilated area — worth writing into safety requirements on an occupied government site.
Model it before you draw it
Armortex maintains a BIM library through BIMsmith with Revit families for the fiberglass composite panels alongside glazing, windows, doors, and transaction equipment. Revit support runs weekdays, 9am to 5pm CT.
How do you source panels for a government project?
Armortex sells direct and worldwide from Schertz, Texas, and is a single-source supplier for doors, windows, wall panels, and related products — useful where a courtroom or police counter needs panels, glazing, and transaction equipment carrying matched ratings. Armortex lists courthouse, police station, school, military base, and GSA projects among the work it supports.
Armortex is a material supplier and does not install, though it can help locate a contractor in your region. Installation suits anyone with skills consistent with competent, experienced installers, with no certification required. Same-day shipping, factory technical support, and UL Listed products are among the listed capabilities, and Armortex will liaise with the project architect on material requirements.
Outside the six stock sizes, Armortex is a custom manufacturer running a Mazak fiber optic laser and a Flow waterjet, so panels can be profiled or perforated before reaching a secured site.
Why choose Armortex?
- Manufacturing since 1980: bullet, blast, and forced entry resistant products manufactured at one facility in Schertz, Texas.
- ISO 9001 certified quality management system, awarded after audit by an independent certification body.
- Agency approvals: panels are UL-compliant and approved by the U.S. Marshals Service and the General Services Administration, among other agencies.
- Woven in-house: Armortex produces its own ballistic cloth, which is how it controls press quality and projectile retention.
- Single-source supply: doors, windows, wall panels, glazing, aluminum storefront, transaction drawers, deal trays, speakers, gun ports, gun lockers, and man traps, plus U.S. Department of State FE/BR windows and doors.
- Custom fabrication in-house, plus published data sheets, a master specification, fire test reports, and Revit content for every level.
Armortex technical resources
- Fiberglass ballistic chart (UL 752) — PDF
- Section 10 26 41 master specification — PDF
- Installation and cutting instructions — PDF
- ASTM E119-00a fire test report — PDF
- F. 100 – O.F. 800 individual data sheets — product pages
- BIM / Revit library via BIMsmith — Revit families
All are published on the Armortex fiberglass panels page at http://www.armortex.com/our-products/fiberglass-panels/. Quotes route through the Armortex contact page to a regional sales representative, or by phone at 1-800-880-8306.
Frequently asked questions
What are bullet-resistant wall panels?
Bullet-resistant wall panels are opaque composite sheets that stop bullets and prevent penetration. Armortex manufactures them from multiple layers of woven roving ballistic-grade fiberglass impregnated with thermoset polyester resin and pressed into flat rigid sheets. They are lightweight, fire-rated, and designed to be concealed behind drywall, millwork, or furniture.
What UL level is best for a government building?
Armortex usually prescribes a minimum of UL Level 3 for governmental applications, meaning panels that withstand at least three high-velocity .44 Magnum rounds. Armortex also identifies Levels 4 to 8 as the range government buildings and military bases typically use. The right level depends on the threat assessment for each area.
Why is the Level 6 panel lighter than the Level 4 panel?
Because UL 752 levels describe different threats, not a single ascending scale. The Level 6 O.F. 600 panel is rated for five 9 mm shots at higher velocity, so it uses a 3/8-inch sheet at 3.2 lb/ft². The Level 4 O.F. 400 panel is rated for rifle fire and needs 1 3/16 inches at 13.7 lb/ft².
How much do the panels weigh?
Nominal weight runs from 2.9 lb/ft² for the Level 1 O.F. 100 to 16 lb/ft² for the Level 8 O.F. 800. Within the levels typically specified for government work, weight ranges from 3.2 lb/ft² at Level 6 to 16 lb/ft² at Level 8. Check structural loading against the specific SKU.
Are the panels fire rated?
Yes. Armortex bullet-resistant fiberglass sheet carries a one-hour fire rating tested to ASTM E119, the standard test methods for fire tests of building construction and materials. The E119-00a report is published on the Armortex fiberglass panels page and can be submitted alongside the ballistic documentation.
Are Armortex panels approved for federal projects?
Armortex bullet-resistant fiberglass panels are UL-compliant and approved by the U.S. Marshals Service and the General Services Administration, among other agencies. Armortex lists GSA projects among the work it supports, and offers U.S. Department of State FE/BR thermally broken aluminum windows and steel doors.
How are the panels installed in an existing wall?
Cut with ordinary carpentry tools using RemGrit® “Grit Edge” blades, drill with high-speed steel twist bits at slow speed, and fasten with self-tapping drywall screws, bolts, or industrial mastic. Pre-drilling may be needed on material 1 3/16″ and thicker. Reinforce every seam with a 4-inch overlap strip to hold the rating across joints.
Can panels be customized for a specific opening?
Yes. Armortex is a custom manufacturer and will design and build to a project’s requirements. Its Schertz facility runs CNC equipment including a Mazak fiber optic laser and a Flow waterjet, so panels can be cut to profile or perforated for hardware before shipping rather than being trimmed on site.
Specifying the right level
The best bullet-resistant wall panel for a government building is the one matched to the threat in that area, not the highest number available. Armortex® sets a working floor at UL 752 Level 3 for governmental applications and identifies Levels 4 through 8 as the usual range for government buildings and military bases, with eight documented panels from 2.9 to 16 lb/ft². Confirm the level against the threat assessment, the weight against the structure, and hold the rating across every joint.