Two UK companies have joined forces to develop, test and bring to market one of the world’s safest security screens – so safe that Dirty Harry himself couldn’t get through it.
Safetell, based in Dartford, designs, manufacturers and installs a range of fixed and reactive security screens, counters, security glazing systems, and security doors, that are in daily use in banks, post offices, railway stations and petrol forecourt stores.
Safetell’s systems provide protection for staff against violence and attack in the workplace and prevent robbery. These protection systems can either be bullet-resistant or manual-attack resistant from implements like hammers, knives, axes, or simply bare-fisted aggression.
In partnership with Wrightstyle, the steel glazing systems specialist, Safetell has designed and tested a bullet-resistant glazing system that combines high levels of protection with exceptional value.
The independent tests were successfully carried out by Wiltshire Ballistic Services and passed to BS EN 1522/1523 threat level FB4 (against a .44 or .357 Magnum hand gun) and threat level FSG (against a 12-guage shotgun with a solid lead slug) without spalling on the safe side.
Wrightstyle was chosen by Safetell because of the company’s high performance but ultra-slim SR6040 curtain walling system, that can also be fitted using hidden fixing brackets – and therefore providing a safe and aesthetic solution for counter top or ticket booth applications.
Increased awareness of health and safety legislation, and the need to provide staff with a safe working environment, has prompted companies and utilities to take more stringent measures to protect their employees.
For example, while the incidence of bank robbery has decreased, during 2005-2007 armed robbery on betting shops in the greater London area increased by some 40%, and by nearly 300% in Glasgow.
“There are many situations where physical or armed attack on employees is a real and daily risk, and our systems are designed to give staff, and those responsible for staff safety, complete peace of mind,” said David Rudkins, Sales Manager for Safetell.
“We are also mindful of the difficult trading conditions that many companies are facing and therefore conscious of the need to provide our customers with cost-effective security solutions,” he said.
Safetell’s portfolio of products is designed to provide the maximum amount of choice, between open trading environments with reactive security screens, to the most aesthetic security glazing solutions – offering a full range of attack resistance levels. The development of the new bullet-resistant glazing solution is an important addition to the Safetell range.
Putting the significance of the test into perspective, in the 1971 film Dirty Harry, the central character, Harry Callahan played by Clint Eastwood, used a .44 Magnum – “the most powerful handgun in the world,” as he memorably claimed, and whose shots formed part of the Safetell/Wrightstyle test.
“We’re pleased that Wrightstyle was able to provide a glazing solution to Safetell that offers such unprecedented levels of performance, resilience and cost-effectiveness,” said Lee Coates, technical director, Wrightstyle.