Threats to physical security in critical buildings go beyond theft: protecting personnel, ensuring operational continuity, and reducing exposure are growing priorities. Ballistic protection panels allow for the creation of safe zones in banks, data centers, and government facilities without turning the building into an uninhabitable fortress. When well-designed, these systems reinforce interior perimeters while maintaining functionality and aesthetics.
What are Ballistic Protection Panels and What Problem Do They Solve
A ballistic protection panel is a certified construction element that absorbs projectile impacts and prevents penetration, protecting people and assets. Unlike improvised solutions, its behavior is measured in laboratories under specific regulations, which is key for compliance: it’s not about promises, but about certifiable levels that you can document during audits.
In real projects, the goal is rarely to shield the entire building. It is more common to create specific safe zones: control rooms, bank back offices, panic rooms, or critical areas where personnel can take shelter. When the design is modular and custom-made, the panel integrates without compromising circulation or usability of the space.
Regulations and Levels: How to Choose Without Oversizing
In Europe, ballistic classification is governed by EN 1522 with levels FB2 to FB7. In international projects, NIJ 0108.01 equivalence is also often requested. Each level corresponds to a specific test that defines which calibers and how many impacts the panel can withstand, from 9 mm to 7.62 × 51 mm with hardened core.
The CBX Ballistic Wall Panel declares EN 1522 certification (FB2–FB7) and compliance with NIJ 0108.01, facilitating audits and bids where cross-references to international standards are requested. This combination is particularly useful in projects with global corporate requirements.
Critical Technical Data: Thicknesses and Workability
Thicknesses vary according to the required level. For serious projects, this defines assembly planning, logistics, and compatibility with finishes. The CBX system operates with a maximum height of 3000 mm and a weight per plate of up to 70 kg, facilitating handling in operational buildings without exceptional machinery.
| Level EN 1522 | Thickness (mm) | NIJ Level | Thickness (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FB2 | 2.0 | NIJ II | 2.2 |
| FB4 | 2.5 | NIJ IIIA | 2.5 |
| FB6 | 6.5 | NIJ III | 6.0 |
| FB7 | 14.5 |
This data allows architects and facility managers to anticipate the impact on false ceilings, installation pathways, and loss of usable space—common objections in secure room projects where every meter counts.
Typical Issues in Ballistic Projects and How to Resolve Them
The most common mistake is not choosing the wrong level but underestimating the complete system. An FB7 wall loses effectiveness if joints, anchors, or installation pathways are not designed with the same criteria. That’s why you need to think like an integrator: continuity, weak points, and compatibility with doors, windows, and access control.
Joints and Interfaces: The Critical Point
The designer must control the joints, overlaps, and interfaces with the floor and ceiling. If not managed well, discontinuities arise that reduce effectiveness. A system like Ballistic Wall incorporates floor and ceiling attachment and joints between panels, facilitating a continuous and verifiable interior perimeter.
Retrofit Without Stopping Operations
In banks, data centers, or corporate headquarters, the work is often done in phases while the building is operational. The ideal solution allows for modular assembly, with manageable weights and custom manufacturing that reduces improvisation and speeds up coordination with installations, cabinetry, and finishes.
Integration with Cabinetry and Access Control
A real safe zone needs coherence: if you fortify walls but maintain weak access points, the risk doesn’t decrease. That’s why the whole should be designed: panels + doors + glazing + perimeter security. When the case involves resistant cabinetry, check out the High Baix Series Bulletproof Windows or the Bulletproof Glass Door to avoid having weak points in the openings.
Applications Where They Add the Most Value
These panels fit particularly well when risk is concentrated in specific areas and the cost of operational interruption is high. In data centers, they protect service continuity; in banks, customer service areas and back offices; in government facilities, personnel and sensitive documentation. They are also common in corporate panic rooms and high-risk residential areas.
Checklist for Choosing the Right Level
- Define the Threat Scenario: type of weapon, likely distance, exposure, and access routes. Turn the abstract conversation into measurable technical requirements.
- Choose the Standard and Target Level: EN 1522 or NIJ according to your project framework and audit requirements.
- Design the Complete System: continuity in joints, fixings, and coordination with cabinetry. This provides more security than simply upgrading the level without resolving details.
- Validate Mounting Feasibility: weights, access, phases, and building operation. In retrofit projects, this determines the project’s success.
- Integrate Response and Procedure: CCTV, access control, and internal protocols. Physical protection gains value when it reduces response times.
What CBX Offers in Ballistic Protection Projects
The modern client is not just looking for a material, but a verifiable and integrable solution. The CBX Ballistic Wall Panel is a modular system custom manufactured, with declared certifications and parameters focused on real work. It combines with high-security cabinetry and the design of critical zones to create complete security architecture, not just an isolated product.
If your needs include panic rooms, critical corporate areas, or reinforcement of operational buildings, the next step is to review the system configuration, required level, and integration details. Contact our technical team or call us at +34 928 18 35 96 for specific advice on your project.