Under Fire: The Top Industries Investing in Bulletproof Windows in 2024
Security threats are no longer a distant concern — they’re a daily reality for businesses, institutions, and public facilities across the United States. Bulletproof glass has long been a popular solution for commercial buildings and government facilities, but demand has increased even more in recent years, driven by increases in violent crimes, mass shootings, and general unrest in communities around the country. As a result, a growing number of industries are making serious investments in ballistic protection — and the market is responding. The global bulletproof glass market was valued at USD 9.97 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow to USD 24.69 billion by 2034, demonstrating a CAGR of 10.60%.
So which industries are leading the charge? Here’s a look at the sectors making the biggest moves toward ballistic protection in 2024 — and why the investment makes sense.
1. Banking and Financial Services
Banks, credit unions, and check-cashing businesses are classic examples of industries that rely on bulletproof barriers to protect staff and money. In the financial sector, teller windows, vault entrances, and cash-handling areas are the most common targets. Bandit barriers made of bullet-resistant glass and fiberglass-backed counters create a protective envelope around staff, while transaction drawers and voice ports facilitate daily operations. The rising application of transparent ballistics-resistant laminations in bank security continues to create significant market opportunities.
2. Retail and Commercial Businesses
Retail establishments often face the threat of smash-and-grab robberies, and Organized Retail Crime (ORC) has increased across major retailers, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Old Navy. Jewelry stores, pawn shops, art galleries, and electronics retailers often display valuable items near storefront windows — without protection, a single smash-and-grab can cause losses in the tens of thousands. Retail environments tend to center their ballistic defenses around point-of-sale counters, display areas, and entrance vestibules, often using transaction windows, package passers, and secure mantraps to prevent rapid intrusion.
3. Government and Law Enforcement Facilities
Courthouses, federal offices, and law enforcement agencies require enhanced security measures because of their public nature and the sensitive information they handle. Bullet-resistant glass is installed at transaction windows in community and council buildings, windows for government buildings, and witness boxes in courtrooms. One of the most effective ways to harden the physical security of government facilities is by retrofitting them with bullet-resistant windows and doors, which can be done using various types of ballistic-grade security glazing.
4. Schools and Educational Institutions
Schools and other community buildings are investing in bullet-resistant glass and similar protective solutions in record numbers, driven in large part by the increased number and news coverage of mass shootings in these locations. Reports from September 2024 showed that 417 cases of gun violence had occurred in schools since the Columbine shooting in 1999, with 56 school shootings occurring in 2024 alone. Suppliers and installers are now better able to retrofit solutions to existing facilities, allowing school districts to enjoy enhanced protection without taking on huge construction projects that are often out of reach of their tight budgets.
5. Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities face unique challenges. Emergency rooms, behavioral health units, and pharmacy windows are common areas for ballistic upgrades, and these spaces often require anti-ligature features and custom-engineered components that support both patient care and protection. Prescription drugs are a prime target for thieves, and installing bullet-resistant glazing at the counter protects pharmacists while securing controlled substances.
6. Military and Defense
The military and defense sector uses bulletproof glass in viewports and windows in ground vehicles and aircraft, mine detection, armory equipment, fighting vehicles, and battle tanks. The product is also used at military bases, bunkers, and guard posts to protect from terrorist or accidental attacks.
7. Religious Institutions and Places of Worship
Places of worship have sadly become targets in recent years. As a result, churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious facilities are increasingly turning to ballistic glazing as part of comprehensive security upgrades. It is always recommended to have layers of protection as part of an overall security infrastructure, which could include bulletproof windows complemented by technologies such as visual AI gun detection, metal detectors, and automatic door locks.
Choosing the Right Bullet-Resistant Solution
Several converging trends are driving increased specification of bullet-resistant glazing across commercial and institutional construction. Active threat incidents have made physical security a baseline design consideration rather than a niche requirement, and the frequency of active shooter events at schools, government facilities, healthcare campuses, and retail environments continues to elevate this priority.
Not all ballistic protection products are created equal, which is why working with a trusted, experienced manufacturer matters. For organizations across any of these industries, exploring purpose-built bulletproof windows designed to meet specific threat levels is a critical first step.
Action Bullet Resistant, led by Edward Simonetti and Joseph Hayes, PE, LEED AP, has evolved from a regional supplier into a global provider of advanced ballistic protection solutions, now designing and manufacturing UL 752 Levels 1–10 bullet resistant systems for a wide range of applications including bullet resistant windows, ballistic doors, security transaction windows, and reinforced storefront systems. Headquartered in West Islip, New York, Action Bullet Resistant specializes in fabricating bullet resistant windows and doors, blast resistant windows and doors, and architectural metal systems.
Proudly made in the USA, their products are crafted with precision to seamlessly integrate into any environment while meeting the highest safety standards, specializing in designing and manufacturing advanced security solutions to protect what matters most. Engineering and testing are central to everything they build, with systems designed to meet or exceed recognized industry standards including UL 752 ballistic protection levels, ensuring reliable defense against firearm threats.
Whether you manage a bank branch, a school district, a government facility, or a retail chain, the question is no longer if you should invest in ballistic protection — it’s when. In 2024 and beyond, the industries that prioritize physical security today are the ones best positioned to protect their people, their assets, and their futures tomorrow.