Armortex® manufactures bullet-resistant glazing, opaque fiberglass wall panels, and transaction equipment across all three UL 752 handgun levels, the range Armortex says usually suits commercial security applications. Its guidance for urban offices treats Level 1 as the baseline and reserves Levels 2 and 3 for elevated handgun threats identified by a security assessment.
When that assessment points above Level 1, the next question is practical: what physically changes in the reception assembly? This article uses Armortex product data for TP 100, TP 200, and TP 300 laminated polycarbonate glazing and O.F. 100, O.F. 200, and O.F. 300 fiberglass panels to show how thickness, weight, and tested threat change from one level to the next.
Quick Answer
Moving an office from UL 752 Level 1 to Level 3 raises the tested threat from three 9mm rounds to three .44 Magnum rounds. In Armortex laminated polycarbonate glazing, nominal thickness grows from 0.77″ (TP 100) to 1.2″ (TP 300), and weight grows from 4.8 to 7.7 pounds per square foot. Armortex opaque fiberglass doubles from 1/4″ (O.F. 100) to 1/2″ (O.F. 300).
What Are UL 752 Levels 1, 2, and 3?
UL 752 is the Underwriters Laboratories standard for rating the ballistic resistance of architectural building components. Levels 1 through 3 are its handgun levels. Each is tested with three shots, and the difference between them is the round:
| UL 752 Level | Round Tested | Bullet Weight | Velocity | Shots |
| Level 1 | 9mm full metal copper jacket, lead core | 124 grain | 1,175 fps | 3 |
| Level 2 | .357 Magnum | 158 grain | 1,250 fps | 3 |
| Level 3 | .44 Magnum lead semi-wadcutter, gas checked | 240 grain | 1,350 fps | 3 |
Armortex products are tested to UL 752, 11th Edition. Because all three levels share the same shot count, stepping up is a matter of stopping a heavier, faster handgun round rather than more rounds.
How Does a Higher Level Change an Armortex Barrier?
A higher-energy round needs more material to stop it, so Armortex raises the level by making the same product family thicker and heavier rather than switching to a different material.
Armortex O.F. panels are multiple layers of woven roving ballistic-grade fiberglass, woven in-house, impregnated with a thermoset polyester resin, and compressed into flat rigid sheets designed to capture projectiles. O.F. 100, O.F. 200, and O.F. 300 share that makeup and differ in thickness.
Armortex TP glazing is laminated polycarbonate for interior applications. TP 100, TP 200, and TP 300 are each listed as no spall, and each must be installed in a bullet-resistant frame to form a complete bullet-resistant window system.
Armortex Level 1–3 Glazing and Panel Specifications
| Product | UL 752 Level | Material | Nominal Thickness | Nominal Weight |
| TP 100 | Level 1 (no spall) | Laminated polycarbonate | 0.77″ | 4.8 lb/ft² |
| TP 200 | Level 2 (no spall) | Laminated polycarbonate | 1.00″ | 6.4 lb/ft² |
| TP 300 | Level 3 (no spall) | Laminated polycarbonate | 1.2″ | 7.7 lb/ft² |
| O.F. 100 | Level 1 | Opaque fiberglass | 1/4″ | Confirm with Armortex |
| O.F. 200 | Level 2 | Opaque fiberglass | 3/8″ | 4.1 lb/ft² |
| O.F. 300 | Level 3 | Opaque fiberglass | 1/2″ | 5.25 lb/ft² |
All three O.F. panels are one-hour fire rated to ASTM E119-00a and come in 3′ or 4′ widths and 8′, 9′, or 10′ lengths. Confirm the O.F. 100 weight with Armortex before calculating wall loads.
How Much Do Thickness and Weight Increase From Level 1 to Level 3?
| Attribute | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Change, Level 1 to 3 |
| TP glazing thickness | 0.77″ | 1.00″ | 1.2″ | +0.43″ (about 56%) |
| TP glazing weight | 4.8 lb/ft² | 6.4 lb/ft² | 7.7 lb/ft² | +2.9 lb/ft² (about 60%) |
| O.F. panel thickness | 1/4″ | 3/8″ | 1/2″ | +1/4″ (doubles) |
| O.F. panel weight | Confirm | 4.1 lb/ft² | 5.25 lb/ft² | +1.15 lb/ft² from Level 2 |
| TP spall listing | No spall | No spall | No spall | No change |
| O.F. fire rating | 1 hour | 1 hour | 1 hour | No change |
Figure 1. Nominal thickness of Armortex TP laminated polycarbonate glazing and O.F. opaque fiberglass panels at UL 752 Levels 1–3, from Armortex product pages and data sheets.
What the Increase Means for a Reception Window
Using Armortex nominal weights, a 20-square-foot lite of glazing (for example, 4′ × 5′) weighs about 96 pounds in TP 100, 128 pounds in TP 200, and 154 pounds in TP 300. Moving that single lite from Level 1 to Level 3 adds roughly 58 pounds, before the rated frame is counted.
Which Armortex Office Components Are Available at Levels 1–3?
An upgrade only works if every component in the reception assembly carries the new level. Armortex documents these components at handgun levels:
| Component | Armortex Product | Documented UL 752 Levels |
| Transparent glazing | TP 100, TP 200, TP 300 laminated polycarbonate | Levels 1, 2, and 3 (interior) |
| Concealed wall protection | O.F. 100, O.F. 200, O.F. 300 fiberglass panels | Levels 1, 2, and 3 |
| Transaction window | C-Channel Window With Package Receiver (WI-TW-HM-PR2) | Levels 1 to 3 |
| Transaction drawers | 6003 and other drawer styles | Offered in Levels 1 to 8 |
| Transparent package receivers | Transparent 18 x 18, 14 x 14, 12 x 12 | Levels 1 to 3 |
| Steel package receivers | SSPR series | Levels 1 to 8 (listed models) |
Armortex deal trays are formed from 16-gauge stainless steel and can be lined with Hi-Hard ballistic steel to meet ballistic protection requirements; the deal tray category page does not list UL levels, so confirm the level for the selected tray model.
What Should Architects and Specifiers Consider Before Upgrading?
- Set the level first: Armortex advises that the right level depends on the threats the end user faces. Use the security assessment to justify any move above Level 1.
- Frame and sill loads: TP 300 weighs about 60% more per square foot than TP 100. Armortex notes that added weight affects framing loads, sill details, and the capacity of the surrounding wall.
- Rated frame for the new glazing: Each TP product must sit in a bullet-resistant frame. Confirm the frame is rated to the same level and accepts the thicker glazing.
- Wall cavity:F. 300 is twice the thickness of O.F. 100. Check that the wall or casework cavity can take the added 1/4″.
- Panel installation stays the same: All O.F. panels cut with ordinary carpentry tools and install with self-tapping drywall screws. Armortex recommends 4″ overlap strips (battens) at seams, and its pre-drilling note applies only to 1 3/16″ and thicker material, which is above the Level 1–3 range.
- Glazing installation: Armortex specifies installation by competent, experienced installers per GANA guidelines. Armortex is a material supplier and does not provide installation.
Why Choose Armortex?
- Full handgun range: Glazing, fiberglass panels, and transaction equipment are all documented at Levels 1–3, so a reception assembly can be matched from one manufacturer.
- In-house fiberglass: Armortex weaves its ballistic-grade fiberglass in-house, and its panels have been approved by the U.S. Marshal Service and the General Services Administration.
- Tested and certified: Products are tested to UL 752, 11th Edition, and built under an ISO 9001 quality management system.
- Manufacturing base: Armortex has manufactured bullet, blast, and forced entry resistant products in Schertz, Texas, since 1980, with CNC waterjet and fiber optic laser cutting for custom fabrication.
Armortex Resources for Level 1–3 Office Projects
- What UL 752 Level Should an Urban Commercial Office Specify? (how to choose the level)
- Commercial Offices application page
- TP 100 glazing
- TP 200 glazing
- TP 300 glazing
- F. 100 data sheet (Level 1)
- F. 200 data sheet (Level 2)
- F. 300 data sheet (Level 3)
- Bullet-Resistant Fiberglass Panels (specifications, fire test report, installation and cutting instructions, BIM/Revit)
- Threat Levels: Handgun Versus Rifle for Ballistic Protection
- Armortex BIM Library
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between UL 752 Level 1 and Level 3?
Both are handgun levels tested with three shots. Level 1 is tested with a 124-grain 9mm round at 1,175 feet per second, and Level 3 with a 240-grain .44 Magnum round at 1,350 feet per second. In Armortex products, the Level 3 version is thicker and heavier than the Level 1 version of the same product family.
How much thicker is Level 3 bullet-resistant glazing than Level 1?
In Armortex laminated polycarbonate glazing, TP 100 (Level 1) is 0.77″ thick and TP 300 (Level 3) is 1.2″ thick, an increase of 0.43″, or about 56%. TP 200 (Level 2) falls between them at 1.00″. All three are listed as no spall and are intended for interior applications.
How much does Level 3 glazing weigh compared with Level 1?
Armortex TP 100 weighs 4.8 pounds per square foot, TP 200 weighs 6.4, and TP 300 weighs 7.7. Moving from Level 1 to Level 3 adds 2.9 pounds per square foot, about 60%. For a 20-square-foot lite, that is roughly 96 pounds at Level 1 versus 154 pounds at Level 3.
How thick are Armortex Level 1, 2, and 3 fiberglass panels?
Armortex O.F. 100 (Level 1) is 1/4″ thick, O.F. 200 (Level 2) is 3/8″, and O.F. 300 (Level 3) is 1/2″. The panels share the same woven roving fiberglass and thermoset polyester resin makeup, and they come in 3′ or 4′ widths and 8′, 9′, or 10′ lengths.
Are Armortex Level 1–3 fiberglass panels fire rated?
Yes. The Armortex data sheets for O.F. 100, O.F. 200, and O.F. 300 each list a one-hour fire rating to ASTM E119-00a, along with testing to UL 752, 11th Edition. Moving from Level 1 to Level 3 does not change the documented fire rating of the panel.
Does installing Level 3 panels differ from installing Level 1 panels?
Not according to Armortex installation guidance. All O.F. panels are cut with ordinary carpentry tools and fastened with self-tapping drywall screws, with 4″ overlap strips at seams. Armortex notes pre-drilling may be required on 1 3/16″ and thicker material, and Level 1–3 panels are thinner than that.
Can office transaction equipment be matched at Level 3?
Yes. Armortex documents its C-Channel Window With Package Receiver at Levels 1 to 3, its transparent package receivers at Levels 1 to 3, and its transaction drawers in Levels 1 to 8. Confirm that each component in the reception assembly is rated to the same level as the glazing and walls.
How do I decide whether an office needs Level 2 or Level 3?
Armortex advises that the protection level depends on the threats the end user faces, established through a security assessment. Its office guidance treats Level 1 as the commercial baseline and Levels 2 and 3 as options for elevated handgun threats. Once the level is set, use the thickness and weight data above to plan the assembly.
Conclusion
Moving an office from UL 752 Level 1 to Level 3 changes the tested threat from a 9mm round to a .44 Magnum round, and Armortex products grow to match. TP glazing rises from 0.77″ to 1.2″ and from 4.8 to 7.7 pounds per square foot, while O.F. fiberglass doubles from 1/4″ to 1/2″. Spall listing, fire rating, and panel installation stay the same. Armortex® documents glazing, panels, and transaction equipment at all three handgun levels, so the full reception assembly can be matched once the security assessment sets the level.