UL 752 Ballistic Standards: How to Read the Chart and Choose the Right Level

When you specify bullet-resistant buildings, windows, or panels, the right standard makes all the difference. UL 752 ballistic standards construction defines how materials are tested against specific calibers, velocities, shot counts, and groupings. Because the UL 752 chart is not a simple step-by-step escalation (levels are not strictly linear), understanding what each level actually stops—and where it’s commonly used—helps you balance risk, cost, and performance.

What UL 752 Covers

UL 752 evaluates bullet-resistant materials against defined firearm threats. Each level specifies:

• Caliber and ammunition type
• Number of shots and grouping pattern
• Minimum impact velocity at test
• Pass/fail based on complete penetration

These tests are conducted on representative samples (glazing, opaque wall assemblies, transaction windows, doors, booths, etc.) to establish a consistent baseline of protection.

Use this practical summary to align threats with protection. Shot counts assume tight group patterns unless noted.

• Level 1: Three shots of 9 mm. Common for robbery deterrence at retail points of sale and reception windows.

• Level 2: Three shots of .357 Magnum. Higher handgun threat environments, including financial institutions.

• Level 3: Three shots of .44 Magnum. Popular for public facilities and critical infrastructure where handgun threats are a concern.

• Level 4: One shot of .30-06 soft-point (rifle). Transition point from handguns to rifles; used in higher risk government or utility sites.

• Level 5: One shot of 7.62 mm (.308) military ball (rifle). Higher-energy rifle round for elevated threat profiles.

• Level 6: Five shots of 9 mm at increased velocity. Sub-machine-gun scenarios; specialized government applications.

• Level 7: Five shots of 5.56 mm (.223) at high velocity. Rifle threats with very high impact velocity; select critical security projects.

• Level 8: Five shots of 7.62 mm (.308) military ball. Among the highest practical building protections before specialty shotgun/other protocols.

Note the non-linearity: Level 6 returns to 9 mm but increases shot count and velocity versus Level 1. Levels 7 and 8 raise both rifle threat and shot count.

Start with a clear threat assessment

• Likely weapon type: Handgun vs. rifle
• Attack likelihood: Opportunistic theft vs. targeted assault
• Site profile: Public-facing retail, finance, education, utilities, government, or defense

Match the level to the use case

• Retail counters, pharmacies, convenience/liquor stores: Level 1
• Banks, higher-value retail, cash rooms: Level 2
• Schools, municipal buildings, police lobbies, control rooms in critical infrastructure: Level 3
• Federal, utility substations, power plant perimeters, sensitive public sites: Levels 4–5
• Embassies, high-threat government facilities, specialized defense sites: Levels 6–8

Consider total system design, not just the panel

A UL rating applies to the tested assembly. To maintain performance, coordinate:

• Glazing and frames: Match the UL level and confirm anchorage details
• Opaque panels: Steel thickness, composite build-up, and backing
• Seams and joints: Overlaps, splines, and bullet-trap details that eliminate straight-through paths
• Doors and hardware: Leaf, vision lite, lockset, and hinge reinforcement to the same level
• Pass-throughs and louvers: Transaction drawers, package receivers, and ventilated components tested to the same level

Plan for budget, weight, and constructability

Higher levels add thickness, mass, and cost. Early coordination with structural, HVAC, and electrical ensures:

• Adequate supports for heavier assemblies
• Door operators sized for added mass
• HVAC capacity for well-sealed, insulated shells
• Installation paths for large preassembled units

Retail and financial

• Objective: Robbery deterrence and employee protection
• Typical levels: 1–2 at transaction fronts; 2–3 at cash handling rooms
• Common components: Counter windows with pass-throughs, secured back-of-house doors, camera integration

Education and public buildings

• Objective: Protect lobbies, reception, and control points from deliberate harm
• Typical levels: 3
• Common components: Service windows, secure vestibules, interior-resistant walls to create safe rooms

Utilities and critical infrastructure

• Objective: Safeguard operations against targeted sabotage
• Typical levels: 3–5 (site-specific)
• Common components: Guard houses, central control rooms, e-house peripherals, access portals

Government, defense, and embassies

• Objective: Resist coordinated, rifle-capable threats
• Typical levels: 6–8 (project-dependent)
• Common components: Hardened enclosures, safe havens, ballistic guard booths, reinforced doorsets

• Write the UL level into the spec for each assembly type (glazing, opaque panels, doors, pass-throughs).
• Require submittals with current test reports referencing the exact build-up proposed.
• Detail corners, seams, and transitions to maintain continuous protection.
• Coordinate ballistic and blast if both are required; they are separate performance domains.
• Combine ballistic protection with visibility, acoustics, and climate control so spaces remain functional, not just hardened.

Why teams choose Panel Built for UL 752 projects

• End-to-end modular solutions: Prefabricated ballistic guard houses, control rooms, and transaction fronts engineered to the target UL 752 level
• Faster, cleaner installation: Factory fabrication reduces on-site disruption and accelerates schedules
• System integration: Matching doors, glazing, opaque walls, and pass-throughs to one rating for a true envelope of protection
• Flexibility: From Level 1 retail countermeasures to higher-level hardened shells for critical infrastructure

• The UL 752 chart defines specific test threats; levels are not strictly linear.
• Choose the level that matches credible threats, then keep that level continuous across all components.
• Early coordination of weight, structure, HVAC, and electrical keeps budgets realistic and installations smooth.
• Modular, pre-engineered assemblies shorten timelines and deliver consistent, documented performance.

Plan a UL 752 Ballistic Project with Panel Built

Share your risk profile, floor plan, and performance goals, and we’ll recommend a right-sized UL 752 solution, from transaction windows and doors to complete ballistic-rated guard houses and control rooms. Request a design review and quote, and our team will help you align protection level, budget, and schedule without compromise.