Frequently Asked Questions

The term “bulletproof” is often misused when referring to flexible fabrics used in body armor or for glass used in buildings and specialty vehicles.  Bulletproof vests or bulletproof glass do not really exist by the definition of being able to stop ALL bullets, ALL of the time.  The term the ballistic industry prefers to use is “bullet-resistant”. This means the product can resist the penetration of specific bullets based on its rating, and up to a certain number of impacts.   Given enough firepower, all body armor, Kevlar fabrics, or most bullet-resistant materials can eventually be overcome.

So, just like body armor and glass, the BBP products are rated as being bullet-resistant for certain calibers, being certified to one of the most common standards UL752.  

BBP not only passes the certification tests, but has done so with a significant margin.  In the armor industry, the material strength is determined by one of two evaluation methods: V0 or V50 testing.  With V0, the product is tested to determine the bullet velocity at which 0% of the rounds penetrated the material (the material will stop everything).  Given the variability of the testing, this method is not generally deemed conclusive in determining the strength of the material.  In V50 testing, the rounds are fired at higher and higher velocities until they begin to penetrate, increasing until a point at which 50% of the rounds at least partially penetrate the material.  This type of testing is done to understand the margin by which the product is passing the standard and in routine testing, determine with greater confidence how the materials are performing in ongoing production, thus ensuring the product will work as advertised.

• The product has been certified by Underwriters Labs to prove that it meets the requirements of the UL 752 Level 3 standard, the highest standard UL has for handgun rounds.
• Passing Level 3 means the product is sufficient to protect against most pistol calibers using the most commonly available ammunition for the caliber (e.g. commercially available and typical for .38 Special, .357, 9mm, .45, .40, 10mm, .44 magnum rounds).
• There are also variants of several of the products that are available as Level 2 certification, which allows the fabric stack to be slightly thinner (making it more flexible and allowing it to roll up to a smaller roll), which also lowers the cost as well.
• Level 2 fabric is tested against .357 Magnum rounds, but most experts would agree that it is sufficiently strong to stand up against typical 9mm and .45 caliber ammunition as well as some 10mm rounds.
• Ballistic Barrier Products cannot make any guarantees about the product outside of this certification testing.
• BBP maintains the certification as a UL-listed product, meaning, UL conducts quarterly audits of the manufacturing facility to confirm the product is being made to the same standard that was originally tested.
• In addition to Level 2 and Level 3 UL certification, BBP has also done informal internal testing to the Level 1 and the Level 6 standard and passed. For the Level 6 testing, 100 consecutive rounds of 9mm FMJ, as well as 100 consecutive rounds of .45 ACP were fired at the same sample (both rounds fired in full automatic mode) and saw zero penetrations.
• Below is a quick summary of what calibers are within the protection levels for this product (highlighted in green) and the calibers that are not included (highlighted in orange).

‍UL 752 Requirements

Not currently.  There is no issue with passing any of the European standards, but because product certification is a long process, and there are over dozen major standards and quite a few more minor standards, at this time only the UL standard has been tested.  For international use, it will be up to the customer to determine if certification to the UL standards defines the appropriate fitness for use in their country.

The product has been tested with .45 ACP firing at 700 rpm and 9mm firing at 1100 rpm, spread evenly over a 20 sq ft shade.  In both test cases, there were no penetrations through the fabric. In a highly controlled targeting of 30 rounds spread evenly in an area of less than 4 sq ft, the product consistently withstood any penetration. That being said, the more concentrated the fire, the better chance the rounds have at eventually breaking up the fibers and passing through. Regardless of this informal testing, the product has only been certified up to the UL 752 Level 3 standard, and that is the limit of the product guarantee.

In one informal test case, 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition were fired evenly into a 20 sq ft shade without any penetrations through the fabric.  However, the product has only been certified up to the UL 752 Level 3 standard and that is the limit of the product guarantee.

At this time, the design is limited to handgun fire.

After the material has absorbed the impact of actual live rounds, it is no longer certified as the fibers around the impact point will have been weakened.  Given the amount of variation of damage that could exist, it is nearly impossible to assess the exact amount of fiber-weakening that occurred and allow the product to be certified for a second, separate attack.

Once your shades have had any kind of impact from live rounds, please contact us to discuss what components must be replaced for the shades to maintain certification.

The product is designed so that the window shades can be deployed daily and used as a normal window treatment.  Life testing shows that it will withstand daily use for a period of at least seven years.

The window shade and door cover shield products are designed for interior use; however, they can be modified to work outdoors with some customization. If you have an outdoor application, please contact us directly.

The fabric is warrantied to remain viable for at least seven years when consistently stored at a temperature range of 32 to 120° F and humidity up to 85%.  It is also critical that the polyester cover fabric remains completely intact and in good condition.  To maintain the certification during this allotted time period, the fabric must be routinely inspected for any signs of damage such as creases in the Kevlar, as well as tears or worn spots in the cover materials that would expose the Kevlar to sunlight (which degrades its strength).

Custom solid colors or even prints are possible with the polyester cover fabric.  Please contact us directly with your requirements.

Changing the polyester cover material to a different type of fabric is not possible.  The polyester is a special weave that meets very specific requirements for the design to maintain certification.  However, it is possible to laminate other materials to its surface, such as designer fabrics.

It is critical that the cover fabric that is shipped with the product is never modified.  Doing so can significantly affect the strength of the Kevlar fabric.

The fascia face can be customized to add a fabric or laminated covering that complements the cover material of the shade itself.  Please contact us with your request.

The sheet metal and end caps for the fascia are available in several standard colors or custom painting can ordered to have them color matched to any shade.  Additionally, since they are only cosmetic coverings and serve no structural purpose, they are the only items that we can allow the customer to customize on their own by painting or adding material to the outside surface.  However, they cannot be removed or replaced entirely as doing so may expose the mechanical shade components to unintended wear or damage.

The standard product cannot be customized for this, but please discuss your needs by contacting us as there may be other options that we can suggest.

There are several motor options from two major brands in the window treatment market. These motors are available in 120/220 VAC, 24VDC, and battery-powered 12V systems.

The motor wiring can be plugged into a wall outlet or directly wired to a power source.

Activating the motor can be done with a variety of wired and wireless control options.

The motorized version can be actuated with a handheld remote, wall mount, from a central control system, a security system and a variety of alarm or sensor equipment.  

To meet certification, it is required to attach the upper and lower brackets directly to wall studs, with at least 1” of screw engagement into solid pine wood, per the installation instructions.  If the particulars of your window/door architecture do not allow for this, a custom design may be possible; please contact us directly if this is your need.

If the trim or area around the window/door has some complexity that inhibits normal installation, please include pictures of the area with your quote request so that we can examine the surrounding structure.  We may determine a highly customized installation package is required or recommend you to one of our installation partners.

Yes, we have an ever-expanding network of installation partners that can handle the installation and even take the initial measurements.  Please contact us directly with your request and we will put you in touch with one in your area.

To maintain certification, the installation must be completed according to our instructions and with our supplied hardware.  If there is an issue with using the hardware provided or if it was damaged during the installation process, please contact us for replacements.

The product is warranted to be free of material or workmanship defects for a period of one year from the date of initial purchase.  This warranty includes the cost of repairing or replacing materials (at BBP’s discretion) and any shipping costs involved.  Outside of this, the cost of repairs will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  For more details, see our full disclosure here: warranty and guarantee. 

The product is guaranteed to meet the criteria certified by the UL 752 Level 3 or Level 2 testing in a single attack from a handgun (an “event”). This guarantee extends for a period of seven years from the date of manufacture.  Due to the numerous variables that can be associated with an event (proximity, angle of attack, custom loaded rounds, rate of fire, number of rounds fired, multiple guns used simultaneously, successive events…), it is not practical to test and guarantee the product for all the possible threat variations that could exist.  It is up to the customer to review the certification to determine if the product is appropriate for their needs.  After a single event, it is recommended that the product be replaced in its entirety as it will no longer be certified to the UL 752 standard and the product guarantee will be void.   For more details, see our full disclosure here: warranty and guarantee.

As each product is custom-made to the dimensions submitted, there are no returns or refunds allowed once the order has been started.  For this reason, it is recommended that utmost care be exercised in reading the instructions for taking the dimensions for the door or window.   If there are any questions or doubts about the measurement process or concerns about the framework or trim that might interfere with mounting the hardware, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will assist with the process.

• Never machine wash or machine dry.
• Do not dry clean.
• Surface clean the fabric only, do no soak the material.
• Do not let any chlorine-based products risk contacting the para-aramid fibers, as chlorine can severely degrade their strength.
• They can be vacuumed with an upholstery attachment to remove dust or light debris, or a lint brush can be used.
• Spot treat as needed using a mild commercial detergent. For stubborn stains, use an oxygen-based solution, such as OxiClean™ Max Force Laundry Stain Remover or Tide® Rescue Laundry Stain Remover.
• Scrub with warm water and a soft rag or sponge; never use a stiff bristle brush.
• Test for color fastness on an area out of view before using the detergent in more visible areas.
• Hang and air dry only after any cleaning event, ensuring the fabric has had plenty of time to dry completely before rolling up.

_{OxiClean™ is a registered trademark of Church &Dwight Co., Inc
Tide® is a registered trademark of The Procter &Gamble Company}

• Ironing or pressing should not be required. Due to the weight of the material, the folds and wrinkles dissipate quickly if left deployed.
• If a stubborn wrinkle persists, hand ironing is permissible, using no higher than medium settings as the fabric is sensitive to heat applied directly to the surface.
• No steam can be used at all.