The European standard EN 1063 regulates the testing procedure for bullet-resistant glass in 9 different ballistic classes. The lowest ballistic class is BR1, the highest BR7. The classes SG1 and SG2 represent hunting shotguns.
The 4 lower ballistic classes (BR1 to BR4) represent weapons ranging from sporting rifles to pistols or revolvers. The ballistic classes above represents long weapons, such as the American M16 rifle or the NATO G36 and G3 rifles. These are weapons that are effective and precise at long distance.
The following table shows the weapons and ammunition types used for testing of bullet-resistant glass in accordance with EN 1063. Incidentally: the fastest projectile speed is 950 m/s. That's at least 3,400 km/h.
Resis tance class | Type | Calibre | Bullet | Test condition | |||
Type | Mass [g] +/-1 | Energy [Joule] | Shot distance [m] +/-0.5 | Impact speed [m/s] +/-10 | |||
BR1 | Gun | .22 LR | L/RN | 2.6 | 168 | 10 | 360 |
BR2 | Handgun | 9 mm Luger | FJ1)/RN/SC | 8.0 | 640 | 5 | 400 |
BR3 | Handgun | .357 Magnum | FJ1)/CB/SC | 10.2 | 943 | 5 | 430 |
BR4 | Handgun | .44 Rem. Magnum | FJ2)/FN/SC | 15.6 | 1,510 | 5 | 440 |
BR5 | Gun | 5.56 x 453) | FJ2)/PB/SCP1 | 4.0 | 1,805 | 10 | 950 |
BR6 | Gun | 7.62 x 51 | FJ1)/PB/SC | 9.5 | 3,272 | 10 | 830 |
BR7 | Gun | 7.62 x 514) | FJ2)/PB/HC1 | 9.8 | 3,295 | 10 | 820 |
SG1* | Shotgun | Shotgun12/70 | Lead shotgun shot5) | 31 | 2,734 | 10 | 420 |
SG2** | Shotgun | Shotgun12/70 | Lead shotgun shot5) | 31 | 2,734 | 10 | 420 |
* one shot, +/- 0.5 g, +/- 20 m/s | L Lead | PB Pointed bullet |
Firing tests:
In the firing tests in accordance with EN 1063, the bullet-resistant glass (500 x 500 mm) to be tested is fastened in a frame.
The panes receive 3 hits in the centre, each hit forming an equilateral triangle at a distance of 12 cm. The angle of impact is 90° and the firing distance is 5m or 10m, depending on the resistance class.
The shot may not penetrate the bullet-resistant glass.
If no glass splinters emerge on the protective side, the ballistic class additionally receives the rating "no splinters" (NS= no splinters). If glass splinters emerge on the protected side of the impact-resistant glass, "Splinters" is added to the test result.