Interior and exterior openings are not interchangeable in a ballistic glazing specification, and the distinction is easy to lose because the UL 752 level looks identical either way. Armortex®, a specialty manufacturer of bullet, blast and forced entry resistant products, draws the line clearly in its published product data: its laminated glass and glass-and-laminated-polycarbonate make-ups are suitable for interior or exterior applications, while its acrylic and laminated polycarbonate products are described as suitable for interior applications. Getting this wrong produces a correctly rated unit in the wrong place.
Quick Answer
Armortex® bullet-resistant glazing products made from laminated glass, or from a combination of glass and laminated polycarbonate, are suitable for interior or exterior applications. The Armortex TA 100 acrylic and TP 100, TP 200 and TP 300 laminated polycarbonate products are described by Armortex as suitable for interior applications.
What Determines Whether Glazing Can Go on an Exterior Opening?
The determining factor is the exposed face material. Armortex offers many different bullet-resistant glazing products, including laminated glass products as well as combinations of glass and laminated polycarbonate. These make-ups are suitable for interior or exterior applications, and Armortex describes their advantage directly: they provide the durability of glass together with the aesthetics and lighter weight characteristics of polycarbonate.
That phrase — the durability of glass — is the whole exterior argument. A glass face is what allows the assembly to be used on an opening exposed to weather, sunlight and outward-facing wear, while the polycarbonate component behind it contributes the ballistic performance and weight advantage.
The plastic-faced products are specified differently. Armortex TA 100 acrylic and the TP 100, TP 200 and TP 300 laminated polycarbonate products are each described in their published product data as suitable for interior applications.
How Do the Two Groups Compare?
| Glazing group | Materials | UL 752 coverage | Application | Published products |
| Glass-faced | All glass, or glass and laminated polycarbonate | UL 752 11th edition Levels 1–10 | Interior or exterior | Configured per project |
| Plastic | Acrylic; laminated polycarbonate | Levels 1–3 in published data | Interior | TA 100, TP 100, TP 200, TP 300 |
The glass-faced group also carries the wider rating range. Armortex glazing is rated to UL 752 11th edition Levels 1 through 10 in all-glass or glass-and-laminated-polycarbonate construction, while the published interior products cover Levels 1 through 3. For any opening requiring rifle-level protection, the glass-faced make-ups are the relevant group regardless of whether the opening is interior or exterior.
Nominal thickness and weight for the glass-faced make-ups vary by configuration, and Armortex asks that these be confirmed with the company for the specific project. The interior products publish fixed figures: TP 100 at 0.77 inches and 4.8 pounds per square foot, TP 200 at 1.00 inch and 6.4 pounds, TP 300 at 1.2 inches and 7.7 pounds, and TA 100 at 1.25 inches and 7.6 pounds.
Framing for Exterior Openings
Exterior glazing needs an exterior-appropriate rated frame, and Armortex manufactures across three framing material families. The aluminum range includes fixed frames, baffle frames, clamp-on frames and a Bullet & Blast Resistant Frame configuration. Hollow metal framing covers fixed, split, sliding and operable frames. Stainless steel framing covers fixed, sliding and transaction configurations.
Armortex also provides bullet-resistant aluminum storefront door and window systems that can be modified to specific user requirements — the relevant product family where an exterior building line is being protected rather than an individual punched opening.
Where Is Each Group Used?
- Exterior, glass-faced: building perimeter glazing, storefront lines, exterior-facing guard booths and entry vestibule outer openings.
- Exterior, glass-faced: any opening where the assembly must handle weather exposure as well as a ballistic threat.
- Interior, plastic: reception and intake counters, teller lines and transaction windows inside the building envelope.
- Interior, plastic: control rooms, dispatch positions, borrowed lites and secure corridor vision panels.
- Either group: openings in courthouses, police stations, schools, corporate offices, military bases and GSA projects, selected according to where the opening sits.
What Should Architects and Specifiers Consider?
State the application in the specification, not just the level. A schedule that lists UL 752 Level 3 without identifying interior or exterior leaves the single most consequential product decision undefined.
Check the rating range against the group. If the threat assessment produces a rifle-level requirement, the published interior products do not reach it, and the glass-faced make-ups are the applicable family.
Confirm configuration data early for exterior work. Because thickness and weight vary by configuration for the glass-faced make-ups, these figures need to come from Armortex during design rather than at submittal, when frame and structural decisions are already fixed.
Coordinate frame and glazing as one assembly. Armortex specifies that bullet-resistant glazing should be installed in a bullet-resistant frame to form a complete bullet-resistant window system, and that installation should be performed by competent and experienced installers per GANA guidelines.
Use the Armortex BIM and Revit library to model the assembly, including the framing system, during design development.
Why Choose Armortex®?
Armortex manufactures across all four common glazing make-ups — laminated glass, glass-clad polycarbonate, acrylic and laminated polycarbonate — so an interior and an exterior opening in the same project can be specified from one manufacturer without changing suppliers at the building line. Armortex is a single source supplier for doors, windows, wall panels and related products for building fortification, manufactures in Schertz, Texas under an ISO 9001 quality management system, and operates waterjet and laser CNC cutting for custom fabrication. The company works closely with architectural project managers so that security windows and doors fit the aesthetic of the building.
Internal Resources
- Glazing product category page
- TP 100, TP 200 and TP 300 product data pages
- TA 100 product data page
- Windows product category page
- Aluminum Storefront page
- BIM / Revit library
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Armortex glazing can be used outside?
Armortex laminated glass products and combinations of glass and laminated polycarbonate are suitable for interior or exterior applications. These make-ups provide the durability of glass together with the aesthetics and lighter weight characteristics of polycarbonate, and are rated to UL 752 11th edition Levels 1 through 10.
Is TP 300 suitable for an exterior window?
Armortex describes TP 300 laminated polycarbonate as suitable for interior applications. For an exterior opening requiring the same .44 Magnum protection, the laminated glass or glass-and-laminated-polycarbonate make-ups are the applicable Armortex products.
Why does the exterior group use a glass face?
Armortex identifies durability as the property glass contributes to a combined make-up, alongside the aesthetics and lighter weight that polycarbonate contributes. That durability is what makes the glass-faced assemblies suitable for openings exposed on the exterior of a building.
What UL levels are available for exterior glazing?
Armortex all-glass and glass-and-laminated-polycarbonate glazing is rated to UL 752 11th edition Levels 1 through 10. The Armortex published interior products — TA 100, TP 100, TP 200 and TP 300 — cover Levels 1 through 3.
How do I get thickness and weight for an exterior make-up?
Armortex lists nominal thickness and nominal weight for these make-ups as varying by configuration and asks that they be confirmed with the company. Contact Armortex with the opening and level requirements to obtain the figures for the specific configuration.
What frames suit exterior bullet-resistant glazing?
Armortex manufactures aluminum, hollow metal and stainless steel bullet-resistant window framing in fixed, baffle, clamp-on, sliding and operable configurations, including a Bullet & Blast Resistant Frame aluminum window. Bullet-resistant aluminum storefront door and window systems are available for building-line applications.
Can spall performance be specified on exterior glazing?
Armortex notes that some of its glazing products can be UL Listed as no spall or low spall. The applicable designation depends on the make-up, so it should be confirmed with Armortex for the specific exterior configuration being specified.
Can Armortex fabricate custom exterior assemblies?
Yes. Armortex designs and custom fabricates windows, doors and panels to meet specified needs, and its aluminum storefront door and window systems can be modified to specific user requirements. The company operates numerous CNC machines including waterjet and laser cutting equipment.
Conclusion
Whether an Armortex® bullet-resistant glazing product can be used on an exterior opening comes down to the make-up. Laminated glass and glass-and-laminated-polycarbonate products are suitable for interior or exterior applications and cover UL 752 Levels 1 through 10; TA 100, TP 100, TP 200 and TP 300 are suitable for interior applications. Name the application alongside the level in the specification, and confirm configuration data with Armortex during design.