Article Summary
- Many homeowners gravitate toward fiberglass panels for home protection because they’re relatively affordable and easy to install.
- Steel tiles outperform fiberglass panels in areas that matter most.
- Hidden Door Store — one of the most trusted suppliers of UL®-rated bullet-resistant wall panels — explains why SecuriWall™ is superior to fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) panels.
Why Securiwall Outperforms Fiberglass Panels for Protecting Your Home
FRP panels (short for Fiberglass Reinforced Panels) are a popular choice for home bulletproofing. Although they can stop some projectiles, they have inherent weaknesses that the SecuriWall modular panel system addresses. Discover why Hidden Door Store’s wall armor paneling solution offers superior protection against threats compared to fiberglass wall panels.
What Are SecuriWall and Fiberglass Wall Panels Made Of? Material Breakdown
SecuriWall is a two-layer modular armor system with ¼-inch wall security panels and thick joiner plates. This ensures uninterrupted protection despite perforations for light switches, power outlets and vents. In contrast, FRP panels need to be cut on-site around all light switches, outlets, vents, plumbing etc, creating obvious vulnerabilities in the bulletproofing. Security wall steel panels are available in hot rolled pickled and oiled (HRPO) mild steel and bullet-resistant sheet options, each offering different levels of ballistic protection. This product’s ballistic-rated steel wall panels meet or exceed Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Level 3, 5 and 8.
FRP is a composite consisting of polyester resin reinforced with fiberglass. It’s plastic made stronger by fiberglass, which becomes bullet-resistant when layered with glass, aramid or another high-strength fiber. Thickness, number of layers and type of fiber determine this material’s bullet resistance.
Bullet and Impact Resistance: Security Ratings
Bullet and impact resistance go hand in hand. The former refers to the ability of a bullet-resistant wall to defend against specific ballistic threats, while the latter refers to a wall armor’s ability to withstand forced-entry attempts.
Bullet-resistant wall panels with weak impact resistance don’t offer complete protection. Physical force is enough to dislodge fiberglass panels. Someone can kick them off the screws or cut them with any battery-operated saw such as a jig saw or circular saw.
SecuriWall offers well-rounded steel wall protection. Hidden Door Store incorporates stiff horizontal-running struts into this armor paneling system’s installation, allowing you to screw the strut to all available studs and mount steel wall panels securely. Tearing them out would take a heavy sledgehammer and considerable time. Virtually all intruders are ill-prepared to compromise a panic room paneled with this security wall.
Are Fiberglass Wall Panels Toxic?
Installing security wall panels made of fiberglass can be hazardous. Cutting them releases dust, which may cause respiratory issues when inhaled and other health problems when ingested. This material may also irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat.
Wearing personal protective equipment may limit your fiberglass exposure, but your HVAC system can spread particulate pollution throughout the rest of the house.
Off-gassing can occur with finished FRP panels. This process releases volatile organic compounds, polluting indoor air indefinitely. Some of these chemicals may cause cancer in humans or animals, while others may damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.
FRP panels are easy to cut and install. They fit inside the room like puzzle pieces, but they present a trade-off in terms of safety and durability.
Putting Them Both to the Test
Security wall panels that meet or exceed respected ballistic standards like UL 752 can protect you against attacks involving firearms. The sort of weapons they can resist depends on their rating level.
For example, SecuriWall UL Level 5 or 8 panels can potentially stop ammunition from automatic weapons, assault rifles and large-caliber rifles. Fiberglass wall panels with the same UL levels can do the same.
However, UL-rated security walls with poor impact resistance are susceptible to catastrophic damage during break-ins. Compared to bullet-resistant FRP panels, SecuriWall can more successfully thwart forcible entry attempts.
SecuriWall’s impact resistance can vary from installation to installation, so it ultimately depends on your wall’s strength. Nevertheless, Hidden Door Store can assure you that this steel paneling system will cover your walls thoroughly, and your walls will almost certainly fail before it does. The company even offers a 10-year warranty — an unmatched promise that this product is free of manufacturing defects.
Regarding environmental wear, SecuriWall has less impact on indoor air quality. Hidden Door Store laser cuts each panel with precision to fit your space, so it’s ready to install when it arrives. You can also order a version that’s painted black to minimize the release of harmful chemicals inside the house.
Conversely, FRP panel manufacturers sell sheets in standard sizes, which require some cutting to ensure proper wall coverage. Painting them at home can cause indoor air pollution.
Cost vs. Value
Steel tiles and fiberglass wall panels are low-maintenance and last a long time. Although steel is generally more expensive than FRP per square foot, SecuriWall is worth the initial expense.
The improvements with the highest returns in the Journal of Light Construction’s 2024 Cost vs. Value report involved steel-reinforced home features, meaning this bullet-resistant wall can drive up your property’s price and recoup most — if not more — of what you spent if you sell.
Like high-security front doors, a steel-clad storage room for valuables may also enjoy lower homeowners’ insurance premiums if homeowners negotiate a lower rate.
Which Panel Type Truly Protects Your Family and Property
A ballistic-rated custom-made steel wall offers full-spectrum protection against bullets, impact, weather and fire. It’s also safer for residential interiors because it’s nontoxic. SecuriWall’s strength inspires peace of mind in security-conscious homeowners and offers protection for decades, not years.
Upgrade From Fiberglass to SecuriWall With Hidden Door Store
Use a UL-rated bullet-resistant wall panel supplier like Hidden Door Store to enjoy maximum protection in your panic room. To customize SecuriWall to fit your needs, contact the team today and get an estimate.