Securing School Vestibule Entrances

School Security Vestibule Retrofits for Safer Campuses

As a school administrator, your priority is keeping students and staff safe. Yet most school vestibules are made of glass and aluminum frames that can’t withstand forced entry or active shooter threats, making school main entrances the most vulnerable: lots of glass, multiple doors, heavy traffic.

With DefenseLite’s retrofit solutions, you can upgrade those entrance vestibules by installing bullet-resistant glazing, fortified door systems, and vestibule design elements that stop forced entry attempts, protect against active shooters, and retain natural light. These retrofits are designed to blend in: you don’t sacrifice the welcoming design your school has, but you gain a layer of protection that can stand up to serious threats.

Why School Vestibules Matter

A school’s front vestibule is the first line of defense. Yet many schools are designed with large areas of unprotected glass, leaving students and staff vulnerable.

Upgrade your school vestibule into a bullet-resistant security barrier without costly reconstruction. With state and federal school safety grants available, there’s never been a better time to invest in security vestibule retrofits.

DefenseLite specializes in school security vestibule retrofits, providing architect-friendly solutions that blend seamlessly with existing designs while delivering powerful protection against forced entry and ballistic threats.

By retrofitting school vestibules with reinforced glazing and security vestibule doors, administrators gain:

• Active shooter protection with ballistic-rated glazing
• Controlled entry zones for staff and visitor management
• Architecturally integrated security vestibule design that preserves aesthetics
• Cost-effective retrofits compared to full rebuilds

Solutions for Schools

DefenseLite offers retrofit systems that transform existing entryways into fortified safety zones. Our polycarbonate and ballistic glazing systems are engineered to stop forced entry attempts, slow active threats, and meet strict safety standards — without replacing your entire vestibule.

Bulletproof Vestibules & Security Vestibule Doors for Schools

In high-risk scenarios, vestibules serve as buffer zones: they separate the outside threat from the internal environment. BulletShield’s ballistic glazing and reinforced doors can be used to create vestibules that are “bullet resistant” (sometimes called “bulletproof” in lay terms), meeting UL-752 or similar ballistic standards. These security doors + glazing panels are engineered to absorb and deflect ballistic force, delay forced entry, and help protect students, staff, and visitors.

Security Vestibule Doors
DefenseLite integrates ballistic-resistant doors and framing systems that pair with retrofit glazing. The result: a vestibule door system that is both welcoming and protective, giving administrators time to react in a crisis.

Plan Vestibule and Bulletproof Vestibule Doors with Confidence

As an architect specifying school buildings or renovations, integrating vestibule design early ensures better aesthetics, smoother integration of security doors and glazing, and compliance with evolving codes and test standards. DefenseLite provides spec sheets, design support, and test-data (UL, ASTM F3561, etc.) to help you design vestibule doors and glass systems that meet ballistic resistance, forced entry resistance, blast protection, and forced entry performance.

Architects across the country are re-thinking school vestibule design to meet new safety mandates and security grant requirements. DefenseLite supports architects with:

• Specification support (CSI 3-Part Specs, BIM files, cut sheets)
• RiotLite™: Tested & certified systems (ASTM F3561 forced entry, UL-752 ballistic)
• Aesthetic options that maintain natural daylight and visibility
• Consultation on school vestibule layout to balance safety and flow

Whether designing a new school or modernizing an existing campus, DefenseLite provides a partner that makes it easy to incorporate security vestibule doors and bullet-resistant glazing into your projects.

Protect What Matters Most
Schools nationwide are taking proactive steps to create safer learning environments. With DefenseLite, you can retrofit your existing school vestibule into a secure, bulletproof vestibule that protects against forced entry and ballistic attacks — while still looking like part of the original design.