A law enforcement reception transaction window is a bullet-resistant window assembly set into a front desk or booking counter so police personnel can see, speak with, and exchange items with visitors from behind a ballistic barrier. Armortex®, which has manufactured bullet, blast, and forced entry resistant products in Schertz, Texas, since 1980, builds these assemblies from its own UL 752-rated glazing, bullet-resistant transaction frames, security speakers, and pass-through equipment. Their purpose is to protect the officers and civilian staff who work the counter without closing the lobby off from the public.
Below are the Armortex glazing, frame, voice, and pass-through options that make up a reception window, with the product data Armortex publishes for each.
Quick Answer
Armortex builds law enforcement reception transaction windows from four documented parts: UL 752-rated interior glazing such as TA 100, TP 100, TP 200, or TP 300; an aluminum, hollow metal, or stainless steel “C” channel transaction frame of the non-ricochet type; natural voice or speaker-based communication; and a deal tray, transaction drawer, or package receiver. Armortex’s listed transaction frames are rated for interior use and reach 60″ × 96″.
What Is a Law Enforcement Reception Transaction Window?
A law enforcement reception transaction window is a complete bullet-resistant (BR) window system — rated glazing installed in a rated frame — that separates staff from visitors at a police station counter while still allowing conversation and document exchange.
Armortex manufactures transaction windows alongside fixed windows, pass-through transaction equipment, speakers, and gun ports. On its police stations page, Armortex describes reception desks reinforced with completely clear transaction windows that use mechanical speak-through technology, so officers can book suspects and back-office employees can interact with the public without exposure to physical threats.
Armortex also points out that many people working in a police station are non-sworn employees who do not carry firearms, including desk staff, records clerks, radio dispatchers, and correctional officers. A rated transaction window gives these employees a protected position at the counter.
How Does an Armortex Transaction Window Work?
Each component of an Armortex transaction window handles one part of the job:
- Glazing stops the round. Armortex describes bullet-resistant polycarbonate and acrylic as lightweight materials designed to “catch” bullets and reduce spalling. Glass-clad polycarbonate adds outer glass layers for scratch and weather resistance and higher protection levels.
- The frame protects the edges. Armortex transaction frames are a “non-ricochet type,” intended to capture and retain attacking projectiles and lessen random injury and lateral penetration. Each frame includes armor to meet the required ballistic level.
- Interior stops hold the glass. Screw-applied interior stops secure the glazing and accommodate a variety of glazing types and thicknesses.
- Voice travels around the glass. Natural voice frames carry sound around the glazing through the frame. Frames without natural voice are paired with electronic or passive speakers.
- Items pass beneath the glass. Deal trays, transaction drawers, or package receivers move documents and property across the barrier.
Armortex stresses that bullet resistance is a system property: the frame must be rated along with the glazing.
Armortex Transaction Window Specifications
Interior Ballistic Glazing
Armortex publishes the following product data for its interior glazing products.
| Product | Material | UL 752 rating | Primary threat | Nominal thickness | Nominal weight |
| TA 100 | Acrylic | Level 1 (no spall) | Handgun (9mm) | 1.25″ | 7.6 lb/ft² |
| TP 100 | Laminated polycarbonate | Level 1, 11th edition (no spall) | Handgun (9mm) | 0.77″ | 4.8 lb/ft² |
| TP 200 | Laminated polycarbonate | Level 2, 11th edition (no spall) | Handgun (.357 Mag.) | 1.00″ | 6.4 lb/ft² |
| TP 300 | Laminated polycarbonate | Level 3, 11th edition (no spall) | Handgun (.44 Mag.) | 1.2″ | 7.7 lb/ft² |
Armortex rates all four products as suitable for interior applications, and notes that polycarbonate is lighter than laminated glass or glass-clad polycarbonate and easier to cut, polish, and fabricate. For other conditions, Armortex offers all-glass and glass-and-laminated-polycarbonate make-ups rated across UL 752 Levels 1–10 for interior or exterior use. Because their thickness and weight vary, Armortex asks specifiers to confirm those values directly.
Figure 1. Nominal thickness and weight of Armortex TA 100, TP 100, TP 200, and TP 300 glazing, plotted from the product data on each Armortex product page.
Within the laminated polycarbonate TP series, thickness and weight rise with each UL 752 level. At Level 1, TP 100 polycarbonate is 0.48″ thinner and 2.8 lb/ft² lighter than TA 100 acrylic.
Transaction Frames
Armortex offers transaction frames in aluminum, hollow metal, and stainless steel. Key stats from the Armortex product pages:
| Frame | UL 752 level | Primary material | Finish | Size |
| Aluminum transaction frame (WI-TW-AL-NV) | 1–10 | 6061-T6 extruded aluminum | Clear anodized or polyester powder coat | 6″–96″ H and W; 60″ × 96″ or 96″ × 60″ max. |
| Aluminum natural voice clamp frame (WI-TW-CT-NV) | 1–8 | 6061-T6 extruded aluminum | Clear anodized or polyester powder coat | 6″–96″ H and W; 60″ × 96″ or 96″ × 60″ max.; 6¼″ deep |
| Hollow metal transaction frame | 1–10 | Cold-rolled steel or stainless steel | Primed or stainless steel | 6″–96″ H and W; 60″ × 96″ or 96″ × 60″ max. |
| Stainless steel “C” channel transaction frame (WI-TW-CW-NV) | 1–10 | 12 ga. stainless steel | Primed or stainless steel | 60″ × 96″ or 96″ × 60″ max. |
All four frames are listed for interior application and accept glass/polycarbonate composite, glass-clad polycarbonate, multi-ply polycarbonate, or acrylic-polycarbonate composite glazing. The “C” channel frame is factory glazed with natural voice setting blocks. Armortex also offers speak-thru, sliding, hinged panel, and package receiver versions of its transaction frames, and each transaction window can be supplied with a laminate or stainless steel counter or built to install on an existing counter.
What UL 752 Ratings Are Available for Reception Glazing?
Armortex products are tested to UL 752 Levels 1–10, the Underwriters Laboratories standard Armortex identifies for bullet-resistant building materials such as glass and walls. According to Armortex:
- Levels 1–3 generally cover handgun threats, including 9mm, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum.
- Levels 4–8 cover rifle and submachine gun threats, including .30-06, 5.56mm, and 7.62mm.
The TA 100 and TP-series products carry a “no spall” designation, and Armortex notes that some of its glass and polycarbonate make-ups can be UL Listed as “no spall” or “low spall.”
Armortex states that the correct protection level depends on the threats the end user is trying to protect against. Handguns are the most common weapon used in shootings, so high-powered handgun protection is the most widely used across applications, while rifle-rated protection is available where specific rifle threats, such as those faced by tactical law enforcement, are anticipated. Confirm the level for each reception opening against the facility’s assessed threats and with Armortex.
Where Are Law Enforcement Transaction Windows Used?
Armortex documents the following police station locations for bullet-resistant transaction windows and related glazing.
| Location | What Armortex documents |
| Reception desk | Completely clear transaction windows with mechanical speak-through let officers and back-office staff interact with the public. |
| Public lobby counter | Teller-style ballistic windows with intercoms and pass-through trays protect front-desk staff while keeping communication open. |
| Booking | Bullet-resistant glazing can form a screen in front of the booking clerk or receptionist. |
| Interview rooms, intake areas, observation points | Small bullet-resistant windows provide visibility for supervision without introducing a structural vulnerability. |
Armortex installations include the New Braunfels Police Department and a police station in Schertz, Texas, both pictured on the Armortex police stations page.
What Should Architects and Specifiers Consider?
- Rate the whole opening. Armortex states that BR glazing belongs in a BR frame, and that ratings should stay consistent across glazing, doors, and walls. Armortex fiberglass panels can add protection to partition walls around the counter.
- Confirm exposure. The listed transaction frames and TP/TA glazing are interior products; Armortex identifies glass-clad polycarbonate for exterior applications.
- Choose the voice method. Specify natural voice framing, or pair a frame without natural voice with Armortex electronic or passive speakers. The STS series includes the STS-K002 security window intercom system with hearing loop.
- Choose the exchange device and counter. Deal trays are formed from 16 ga. stainless steel and can be lined with HI-Hard ballistic steel; recessed RMDT trays fit a cutout in 2″-high counters, and surface-mount SMDT trays sit on the counter. Transaction drawers come in 7″ and 10″ heights, and SPR package receivers use an interlocking device so only one door opens at a time.
- Consider gun ports. Armortex security windows can be modified with gun ports.
- Plan installation. Armortex is a material supplier only and does not install, but can help locate a local contractor. Installation should be performed by competent, experienced installers per GANA guidelines.
Why Choose Armortex?
- Manufacturing history: bullet, blast, and forced entry resistant products made in Schertz, Texas, since 1980.
- Quality system: ISO 9001 certified, with UL Listed products available and factory technical support.
- Single product line: glazing, transaction frames in three materials, deal trays, transaction drawers, package receivers, speakers, gun ports, doors, and fiberglass panels.
- Fabrication capability: in-house CNC equipment, including waterjet and fiber optic laser cutting.
- Custom work: Armortex is a custom manufacturer that can design products to project requirements.
Armortex Resources for Transaction Window Projects
- Police Stations
- Bullet-Resistant Windows
- Bullet-Resistant Glazing
- Aluminum Transaction Frame
- Stainless Steel “C” Channel Transaction Frame
- Security Speakers and Intercoms
- Deal Trays
- Transaction Drawers
- Package Receivers
- BIM Library
- Armortex FAQs
- Protecting Police Stations: A Guide to Defense Level Selection
- The Best Places to Put Bullet-Resistant Windows and Doors in a Police Station
- Ballistic Glazing for Municipal Buildings and Public Service Counters
- Electronic vs. Passive: Which Security Speaker System Is Best for High-Noise Lobbies?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a police station transaction window?
A police station transaction window is a bullet-resistant window system installed at a reception or booking counter. Armortex builds it from UL 752-rated glazing set in a rated, non-ricochet transaction frame, plus a voice method and a pass-through device. It lets officers and civilian staff communicate with and serve the public while remaining behind a ballistic barrier.
What glazing does Armortex use in interior reception windows?
Armortex documents four interior glazing products: TA 100 acrylic (UL 752 Level 1) and TP 100, TP 200, and TP 300 laminated polycarbonate (Levels 1, 2, and 3), all with a no-spall designation. Its transaction frames also accept glass-clad polycarbonate, glass/polycarbonate composite, multi-ply polycarbonate, and acrylic-polycarbonate composite make-ups.
What is the difference between natural voice and speak-thru transaction frames?
A natural voice frame transmits the voice around the glazing through the frame itself. Frames without natural voice rely on a speak-thru or on electronic or passive speakers. Armortex’s stainless steel “C” channel transaction frame is factory glazed with natural voice setting blocks, and speak-thru transaction frames are available in aluminum, hollow metal, and stainless steel.
How do staff pass documents or property through the window?
Armortex supplies three pass-through options. Stainless steel deal trays mount recessed in the counter or on its surface and can be lined with ballistic steel. Transaction drawers are available in 7″ and 10″ heights. Package receivers use an interlocking device so only one door opens at a time, with transparent models in 12″ × 12″, 14″ × 14″, and 18″ × 18″ sizes.
Does Armortex install transaction windows?
No. Armortex is a material supplier only and does not offer installation services, but it can help locate a contractor in the project’s region. Armortex products are designed for competent, experienced installers, often those with general construction experience, and glazing installation should follow GANA guidelines.
Where can I get drawings, specifications, and BIM files?
Armortex transaction frame product pages provide PDF and DWG drawings, installation instructions, BIM/Revit downloads, and, for many frames, three-part specifications. Armortex also maintains a BIM Library on its website. For quotes or project data, contact Armortex at 1-800-880-8306 or info@armortex.com.
Conclusion
Armortex® builds law enforcement reception transaction windows by combining documented components: interior glazing such as TA 100 acrylic or TP 100, TP 200, and TP 300 laminated polycarbonate; non-ricochet transaction frames in aluminum, hollow metal, or stainless steel; natural voice or speaker-based communication; and deal trays, transaction drawers, or package receivers. Specified as one rated system, these parts let officers and civilian staff serve the public from behind a clear ballistic barrier, and Armortex product pages supply the drawings, specifications, and BIM files needed to detail the opening.