Why Isn’t Bullet-Resistant Laminate on the Rise on Corporate Campuses?

As someone who has spent the better part of three decades helping organizations identify and manage risk, I’ve learned this: the threats that matter most are often the ones we see the least—until it’s too late.

At Safe Haven Defense, we focus on physical protection solutions for buildings—specifically bullet resistant glass laminate that can delay or prevent intrusions through glass. It’s an innovation saving lives in schools, government buildings, and faith-based institutions. But there’s a question that keeps surfacing in corporate security circles:

If bullet-resistant laminate can save lives, why aren’t more corporate campuses using it?

The Awareness Gap
‍Most decision-makers in the corporate world don’t know bullet-resistant glass laminate exists—let alone that it can be retrofitted onto existing glass without changing a building’s appearance. That awareness gap is significant. Unlike cybersecurity or fire suppression, physical protection at the perimeter—particularly for glass—is often overlooked or misunderstood.

Perception vs. Probability
A major barrier is the way executives assess threat likelihood. Physical violence is often seen as a “low probability” event, while more abstract risks like data breaches or market fluctuations dominate strategic thinking.

The assumption is: “That won’t happen here.”
But the data says otherwise.

From 2000 to 2013, the FBI tracked 160 active shooter incidents. Of those, nearly 46% occurred in commercial or business environments—compared to just over 24% in educational settings (FBI). More recent data from 2024 shows that businesses and schools each accounted for about 17% of active shooter events (FBI). In both cases, the risk is clear and consistent.

So why does adoption lag in the private sector?

The “Smarter” Security Bias
In many organizations, investments lean heavily toward technology—surveillance cameras, access control, AI-driven monitoring. These systems are important. But they don’t physically stop an intruder.

Bullet-resistant laminate does.

And yet, because it’s not digital, not connected, not “smart,” it’s often deprioritized. I’ve seen security budgets bypass physical hardening altogether in favor of data-rich platforms. But when the threat is physical, only physical barriers provide the time needed to respond.

Cost Perception vs. Value Reality
‍Another misconception: bullet-resistant laminate is seen as high cost with low return. That’s a short-term lens.

In reality, this is a one-time infrastructure upgrade—not unlike reinforcing a firewall or installing a sprinkler system. It provides passive protection, requires no active maintenance, and functions silently for years. And in the event of an incident, it buys what no software can: time.

Why Education Is Moving Faster Than Business
Take a look at public education. States like Texas are now mandating security film on all K–12 campuses. That’s because school systems are beginning to understand the importance of buying time during an active threat—and they’re taking action.

What’s striking is that corporations—many of which serve larger populations and face similar or greater risks—haven’t followed suit. There’s no shortage of risk. What’s missing is the sense of urgency.

A Reactive Industry
Across corporate real estate, I’ve seen a pattern: physical upgrades often don’t happen until something tragic happens nearby. Unlike fire suppression or cybersecurity protocols—both of which are embedded into operational planning—ballistic protection is still treated as optional, not essential.

Waiting for a “close call” is not a strategy. It’s a gamble.

Rethinking Responsibility
Some leaders worry that installing physical security sends the wrong message to employees—that it makes the workplace feel unsafe.

But we don’t say that about seatbelts, fire alarms, or backup generators. We consider those a reflection of good planning.

Ballistic protection should be no different. The goal isn’t to create fear—it’s to demonstrate readiness.

A Larger Conversation for Security Leaders
The real conversation here isn’t just about bullet-resistant laminate. It’s about how corporate America evaluates risk, and how we balance perceived probability with real-world vulnerability.

Are we directing resources where the threat surface actually exists?

Are we focusing only on visibility, or are we building true resilience into our physical spaces?

These are questions every facility manager, security director, and executive team should be asking. Because when it comes to protecting lives, time is the most valuable resource we have.

And your glass shouldn’t be the reason that time runs out.