Is Bullet Resistance Necessary for My Security Booth?

“Bulletproof” is an exciting word that conjures images of spies and superheroes, adventure and excitement, but do you really need bullet resistance in your guard booth?

The term “bulletproof” has been thrown around a lot lately, especially in regards to a particular brand of highly caffeinated coffee that the manufacturer claims it makes one stronger and the supposedly infallible quick weight-loss Keto diet that is all the rage today. However, neither the coffee, the diet nor the building materials used in security booths are truly “bulletproof”. The term “bulletproof” is often used interchangeably with “bullet resistant”, but this is a fallacy. There is actually no such thing as “bulletproof”. An item can be “bullet resistant” to several degrees against various types of weapons, and it can do a great job of keeping people safe from even extremely aggressive attacks, but none of these materials are “blast proof” or “bulletproof”, which requires significantly more protection and is literally reserved for spies, superheroes, and the secret service.

But Guardian Booth CAN create a very secure bullet resistant guard booth for you that is safe from city and urban criminals, protecting your people and your assets, if that’s what you really need.

Society Today

Regardless of the semantics of the verbiage, the old adage “better safe than sorry” is perhaps more pertinent today than ever before. Over the past three years, death by gun violence has been on the rise in the United States. In fact, a recent article in Time magazine online tells us that the Center for Disease Control says we are experiencing an all-time high for gun related deaths in the U.S. Suffice to say, many of these deaths were preventable. With that in mind, now is as good a time as ever to give some thought to the question, is bullet resistance necessary for my security booth?

The first step to answer that question is to assess the potential risk and exposure that will be faced by the security personnel in your booth. Police officers are, of course, more likely to meet with gun violence than say a barista at a coffee shop. So naturally, they take extra precautions to further their safety. Bulletproof vests and body armor are standard issue for law enforcement officers but not necessarily appropriate for a security guard at an upscale resort hotel.

However, as we have all seen in the news, gun violence can occur anywhere. Nevertheless, statistically speaking, problems are less likely to arise in a rural small town where it seems everyone knows everyone else, whereas a safety officer stationed in a large inner-city area prone to gun violence might be more secure in a guard booth outfitted with bullet resistant windows. So, it makes sense that you would want to consider whether bullet resistance materials are necessary for your application. But the fact is, even in a large inner city, it is probably not really necessary, and likely not affordable, unless you are securing a military base or dealing with a project that requires protection from very dangerous people.

Certainly, there are truly dangerous jobs where only the highest quality building materials will suffice.

The Value of a Guard Booth

Regardless of the locale, simply the knowledge that a security guard is present can make your property more safe and bring people comfort. In fact, a staffed guard booth serves as a deterrent to potential ne’er-do-wells, regardless of the design and material of the booth, and a bullet resistant guard booth is probably not necessary in most situations. Rather, a well-built security booth enhanced with features such as exterior lighting and closed-circuit surveillance is enough in most situations to protect your property and bring peace of mind to your customers and staff.

Keeping Your People Safe

Naturally, the safety and well-being of both employees and guests is paramount to any organization. And if your guard booth or the facility it is protecting holds a significant amount of money, valuables, cherished individuals, or sensitive information, it could be more vulnerable to potential violence. Using bullet resistant guard booths can decrease the vulnerability factor and lessen the likelihood of visitors and workers falling victim to firearm-related injury or death. But you will naturally pay a higher price for this level of protection that bullet resistant booths provide.

Keeping Your Property Secure

After ensuring the people within your charge are safe, the second most important focus is usually asset security. Equipping your guard booth with technology such as video cameras can help protect your property by deterring criminals, allowing remote monitoring, and sometimes catching those who do threaten, damage, or steal your assets.

Is Bullet Resistance Necessary – A Checklist

Maybe you are unsure whether a bulletproof guard house is really necessary. Certainly, there are several things to consider when trying to decide whether a bulletproof guard shack is truly warranted or not. Check out the following considerations before going ahead with a bulletproof security booth:

• Location: Will the booth be located in a high crime area? If your guard booth is going to be located in an area prone to gun violence, it may make some sense to consider the addition of bullet resistant materials. Locations near expressway on-ramps can be especially prone to theft and vandalism as the perpetrator has an easy, fast escape route.
• Purpose: Is the guard booth being used to store valuables? A guard booth housing valuable items (or people) may find itself more prone to violent criminals.
• Application: Is the guard booth to be located in an especially dangerous area or in a location that could be prone to violence (such as a military base)?
• Cost: Is the significantly more expensive bullet resistant guard booth in your budget? If you are managing the property for someone else, can you pass that cost on to your customer without damaging your business relationship?

When asking Does bullet resistance help, it is important to consider both the pros and cons of a bullet resistant guard booth:

Pros:

• Peace of mind
• Maximum security
• Superior protection

Cons:

• Significantly more expensive (can cost up to ten times as much as a standard booth depending on the size and the level of resistance)
• Takes longer to design and build
• Not available to rent

Keeping Your People and Property Secure

It’s not always necessary to fight fire with fire, and it is considerably easier to prevent a fire than to extinguish one. Likewise, being proactive with bullet resistance can go a long way towards preventing a gun-related tragedy. But spending money on something that you do not really need is a waste of funds that could be invested in more productive security measures, so considering a bullet resistant guard booth should be done carefully.

Of course, if you have a serious reason for needing a high level of security, then certainly that is the best choice to be made. As they say, it is often better to be safe than sorry, and we should often err on the side of caution. But perhaps the most important thing is simply being informed, and making the best decision for your specific situation.

Learn More!

• Concerned about job site security? Learn How to Properly Secure a Construction Site.
• Read more about our security guard booths and find out if they’re right for you.
• Learn more about potential additions to-and features of-guard booths.