SCHOTT glass laminates successfully tested against simultaneous multiple attacks

The glass products from the PYRANOVA® secure and the NOVOLAY® secure series were subjected to a fire test and bullet attack immediately after one another. This type of trial involving a barrage of potentially destructive assaults was performed for the first time anywhere in the world. The test results were monitored and confirmed by the Beschussamt Ulm (Ballistic test facility in Ulm) and the Institute for Building Materials, Solid Construction and Fire Protection (IBMB) at the Technical University of Braunschweig. The glasses met both of the test standards DIN EN 357 (Fire Protection) and DIN EN 1063 (Bullet Resistance).

Bombardment of a pane of PYRANOVA® secure that was subjected to a fire test for 30 minutes with a 9 mm Luger army pistol. The extremely hot glass laminate from SCHOTT resists three shots fired from a 9 mm caliber gun at a speed of 400 m/s. Photo: SCHOTT



The safety glasses previously available on the market offer protection against various types of attacks, but always only against one form of attack in case of an emergency. The unique thing about the new PYRANOVA® secure laminates from SCHOTT is that they successfully stand up against successive and/or simultaneous attacks: a SCHOTT glass laminate damaged by gunshot still offers reliable protection from a fire. In the same manner, the SCHOTT laminated pane still stands up to gunshot after being exposed to a fire.

Fire test performed on NOVOLAY® secure glass laminates that had already been subjected to shots from a gun and shattered. These panes from SCHOTT stood up to fire for over 60 minutes during a fire test that was conducted in accordance with the DIN EN 357 standard. Photo: SCHOTT



“This is a world first,” explains Helmut Kugelmann, Sales Manager for SCHOTT Technical Glass Solutions in Jena. “We have developed new special constructions for meeting these types of unique demands that are made of highly tempered glasses and extremely effective fire protection glasses that consist of compact multifunctional laminates. This type of complex structure is necessary in order to ensure that our new products are able to resist multiple simultaneous attacks,” he adds.



Testers from two independent institutes, the Beschussamt Ulm (Bombardment Office in Ulm)  and the Institute for Building Materials, Solid Construction and Fire Protection at the Technical University of Braunschweig, approved the tests and issued a test certificate for the products that belong to the new generation of laminates from the PYRANOVA® secure family. Due to the fact that the European legislator only requires that protective glasses meet various DIN EN standards on an individual basis, SCHOTT became the world's first company to voluntarily subject its safety laminates to a combination of tests.

A glass laminate was subjected to either 30 minutes of fire (uniform temperature curve) at a temperature of more than 800°C or for a period of 5 minutes (simulation of a Molotov cocktail) and then bombarded at the world's first fire and bombardment facility in Thuringia, Germany. Photo: SCHOTT



“With our safety glasses, we now offer the chance to effectively protect buildings from multiple attacks, for example bombardment following an attack with a Molotov cocktail. For this reason, we are quite confident that our glass products will be of great interest when it comes to developing security strategies for government buildings, embassies and consulates,” Kugelmann notes.



The development of the new safety glasses has received support from the Thuringian State Government and the European Regional Development Fund EFRE as part of the research project “2nd Generation Multifunctional Safety Glazing” (2011 FE 0156) since October 2011.



Background information:



PYRANOVA® secure is a special construction on the basis of PYRANOVA®, the special glass that has proven itself in fire resistant glazing. In its standard composition, PYRANOVA® refers to a compact multipane laminated glass for use in fire protection glazing of the fire resistance class EI (F). In the event of a fire, it provides effective protection against the entry of fire, smoke and hot gases for up to two hours. Thanks to the enclosed transparent fire resistant layers that foam up when a fire breaks out, this glazing also offers an effective barrier against heat radiation.



Moreover, PYRANOVA® secure also meets extremely high security requirements in addition to its reliable fire resistant properties. It impressively combines fire protection with resistance to bullets in accordance with the DIN EN 1063 standard.



PYRANOVA® secure and NOVOLAY® secure are registered trademarks of SCHOTT AG. 



SCHOTT is an international technology group with more than 125 years of experience in the areas of specialty glasses and materials and advanced technologies. SCHOTT ranks number one in the world with many of its products. Its core markets are the household appliance, solar power, pharmaceuticals, electronics, optics, transportation and architecture industries. The company is strongly committed to contributing to its customers’ success and making SCHOTT an important part of people’s lives with high-quality products and intelligent solutions. SCHOTT is committed to managing its business in a sustainable manner and supporting its employees, society and the environment. The SCHOTT Group maintains close proximity to its customers with manufacturing and sales units in 35 countries. Its workforce of around 16,000 employees generated worldwide sales of approximately 2 billion euros for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. SCHOTT AG, with its headquarters in Mainz (Germany) is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.