06.10.2025
In recent years, schools across North America have taken increasingly proactive steps to upgrade their physical security infrastructure, especially when it comes to school doors and windows. These openings are often the weakest points in a school building’s envelope, making them common targets for vandalism or forced entry as well as prone to accidental damage.
Whether you're a facilities manager, a district administrator, or a school safety consultant, understanding the different types of impact that school doors and windows can potentially face — and the solutions available to protect them — is essential.
What Types of Impact Do School Windows + Doors Face?
School windows and doors can be compromised in a variety of scenarios. Some are intentional, such as break-in attempts, acts of vandalism, or worst-case scenario active threat attacks. Others are accidental or weather-related. Each of these threats presents different challenges, but they can all be addressed with the right combination of materials and retrofits.
1. Forced Entry (Including Active Threat Scenarios)
Would-be intruders may attempt to force entry through school doors and windows using tools or brute force. In worst-case active threat scenarios, bad actors may try to gain access through glass to harm people inside.
Even when locked, traditional school windows and door vision panels made from annealed or tempered glass can be easily shattered, giving an intruder fast access to interior spaces.
2. Vandalism
Broken windows and doors are among the most common results of school vandalism. Rocks, bricks, and other blunt objects can all be used to cause property damage that’s costly to repair and disruptive to learning.
Schools without adequate impact protection often end up replacing broken glass repeatedly, draining time and resources.
3. Storm Damage
In many regions, schools must also be prepared for extreme weather. High winds, heavy hail, and flying debris from storms or tornadoes can turn unprotected windows and doors into major safety hazards.
A single broken window can allow wind and rain to enter and cause interior damage — or worse, lead to structural pressurization during a particularly severe weather event, such as a hurricane.
4. Accidental Impacts
Accidental impacts are more common than many realize. Students running in hallways, stray sports equipment, or custodial equipment can all collide with school window or door glass. Without the right safety measures in place, these impacts can result in injuries or glass breakage, resulting in avoidable maintenance costs and liability concerns.
Secure Retrofit Solutions for School Windows + Doors
Many school buildings still rely on conventional commercial glass, which does little to protect against high-force impacts. Even tempered safety glass can easily crumble upon impact. While it won’t fly dangerously inwards like annealed glass, it can still provide easy access to intruders or the elements.
Fortunately, there are modern, cost-effective retrofit solutions available that can significantly improve the impact resistance of existing school windows and doors without requiring full replacement.
1. Riot Glass: Retrofit Security Glazing for School Windows + Doors
Riot Glass is a cutting-edge security glazing solution designed to protect vulnerable glass openings against a wide range of threats, including forced entry, vandalism, and storm impacts. Unlike tempered glass or window film, Riot Glass panels are often virtually unbreakable under prolonged attack or after repeated accidental impacts.
Riot Glass security glazing for school doors and windows is made from heavy-duty laminated glass or polycarbonate glazing that is installed over or in place of existing glass. It’s often used as a clear retrofit layer that reinforces window and door glass, protecting the existing glass behind without changing the appearance or functionality of the opening.
If someone tries to smash through a glass door panel or classroom window, Riot Glass absorbs the impact and stays in place, preventing entry even if the outer layer is damaged. This delays or deters intruders while giving staff time to initiate lockdown protocols or alert authorities in the event of an active threat scenario.
Benefits of Riot Glass for School Windows + Doors:
- Withstands prolonged blunt force attacks.
- Maintains a clear, welcoming appearance.
- Can meet or exceed industry testing standards for forced entry and windborne debris.
- Ballistic-grade options available for stronger active threat protection.
- Compatible with existing frames (uses retrofittable framing adapters), making it budget-friendly.
2. Stainless Steel Security Screens for School Windows
For windows that require ventilation, such as those in classrooms or administrative offices, stainless steel security screens provide an excellent layer of protection.
These are high-tensile woven stainless steel mesh screens mounted in tamper-resistant aluminum frames. They look similar to (and double as) insect screens, but are designed to withstand strong impacts and resist cutting or prying attempts.
When installed over exterior windows, stainless steel security screens act as a physical barrier against thrown objects, tools, and attempted intrusions. They can prevent vandalism while allowing windows to remain operable (both fixed and egress-enabled varieties are available).
Benefits of Security Window Screens for Schools:
- Strong protection against rocks, bricks, and other blunt objects.
- Enables secure natural ventilation.
- Resistant to rust and corrosion (low maintenance).
- Adds an extra layer of forced-entry resistance, especially when paired with security glazing
- Ideal for ground-floor windows and high-risk areas, especially where airflow is needed and operability is a priority.
Final Thoughts: Safer Schools Start With Stronger Openings
Windows and doors are among the most vulnerable and visible parts of a school building, but they don’t have to be the weakest link.
With modern retrofit solutions like Riot Glass and stainless steel security screens from QMi, schools can defend against vandalism, break-ins, active threats, storm damage, and accidental impacts — without turning their campuses into fortresses.
At QMi, we’re committed to helping schools upgrade their physical security in a way that’s both effective and budget-conscious. Whether you're looking to secure an entryway, protect classroom windows from breakage, or add another layer of defense against unauthorized access, our team can help design a solution tailored to your school’s needs.
Contact QMi today to learn more about how we can help protect your school’s windows and doors from impact to create a safer learning environment for everyone inside.
